Korean · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 5 of 12
Society and the environment
사회와 환경Sahoewa hwangyeong
Discuss problems and solutions in Korean: what would happen or would have happened (-ㄹ 텐데, -더라면), worries with -ㄹ까 봐, and “no choice but to”.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Imagine other outcomes with -다면 … -(으)ㄹ 텐데 and -았 / -었더라면
- Express worry with -(으)ㄹ까 봐 and -(으)면 어떡하죠?
- Give a cautious opinion with -지 않을까 싶어요
- Say something is unavoidable with -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
Listen
On a hazy spring morning in Ulsan, colleagues Jeon Harin and Bae Donggeun talk about the fine dust and what could have been done about it. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Harin
동근 씨, 오늘 미세먼지 봤어요? 매우 나쁨이래요. 아침에 출근하는데 하늘이 완전히 회색이었어요.
Donggeun ssi, oneul misemeonji bwasseoyo? Maeu nappeumiraeyo. Achime chulgeunhaneunde haneuri wanjeonhi hoesaegieosseoyo.
Donggeun, have you seen the fine dust today? They say it's “very bad”. On my way to work this morning, the sky was completely grey.
Donggeun
네, 봤어요. 마스크를 안 가져와서 목이 벌써 아파요. 아이가 밖에서 놀다가 기침이라도 할까 봐 오늘은 밖에 못 나가게 했어요.
Ne, bwasseoyo. Maseukeureul an gajyeowaseo mogi beolsseo apayo. Aiga bakkeseo noldaga gichimirado halkka bwa oneureun bakke mot nagage haesseoyo.
Yes, I have. I didn't bring a mask, and my throat already hurts. I was worried my child would start coughing while playing outside, so I didn't let him go out today.
Harin
잘하셨어요. 뉴스에서 봤는데, 미세먼지는 바람을 타고 다른 나라에서 오기도 하지만 국내 공장이나 자동차에서 나오는 오염 물질도 많대요.
Jalhasyeosseoyo. Nyuseueseo bwanneunde, misemeonjineun barameul tago dareun naraeseo ogido hajiman gungnae gongjangina jadongchaeseo naoneun oyeom muljildo mantaeyo.
You did the right thing. I saw on the news that some fine dust is carried here by the wind from other countries, but a lot of the pollution also comes from factories and cars here in Korea.
Donggeun
맞아요. 울산은 공장이 많아서 더 그렇죠. 좀 더 일찍 제대로 된 대책을 세웠더라면 지금쯤은 공기가 훨씬 깨끗했을 텐데요.
Majayo. Ulsaneun gongjangi manaseo deo geureochyo. Jom deo iljjik jedaero doen daechaegeul sewotdeoramyeon jigeumjjeumeun gonggiga hwolssin kkaekkeutaesseul tendeyo.
That's right. It's even worse in Ulsan because there are so many factories. If proper measures had been taken a bit earlier, the air would be much cleaner by now.
Harin
그래도 요즘은 공장들도 환경을 위해 노력을 많이 하고 있대요. 정부 정책도 점점 강해지고 있고요. 그런데 문제는 개인이 할 수 있는 일이 별로 없다는 거예요.
Geuraedo yojeumeun gongjangdeuldo hwangyeongeul wihae noryeogeul mani hago itdaeyo. Jeongbu jeongchaekdo jeomjeom ganghaejigo itgoyo. Geureonde munjeneun gaeini hal su inneun iri byeollo eopdaneun geoyeyo.
Still, they say the factories are making a big effort for the environment these days. And government policy is getting stricter too. The problem is that there isn't much an individual can do.
Donggeun
그렇긴 한데, 그렇다고 아무것도 안 할 수는 없잖아요. 저는 요즘 일회용품을 안 쓰려고 해요. 커피도 텀블러에 받고, 분리수거도 꼼꼼하게 하고요.
Geureokin hande, geureotago amugeotdo an hal suneun eopjanayo. Jeoneun yojeum ilhoeyongpumeul an sseuryeogo haeyo. Keopido teombeulleoe batgo, bullisugeodo kkomkkomhage hagoyo.
That's true, but that doesn't mean we can do nothing. These days I try not to use anything disposable. I get my coffee in a travel mug, and I sort my rubbish carefully.
Harin
저도 해 봤는데, 솔직히 분리수거는 좀 헷갈려요. 이게 재활용이 되는 건지 안 되는 건지 몰라서 버릴 때마다 고민돼요. 잘못 버릴까 봐 걱정되고요.
Jeodo hae bwanneunde, soljiki bullisugeoneun jom hetgallyeoyo. Ige jaehwaryongi doeneun geonji an doeneun geonji mollaseo beoril ttaemada gomindwaeyo. Jalmot beorilkka bwa geokjeongdoegoyo.
I've tried it too, but to be honest, sorting rubbish is a bit confusing. I never know whether something can be recycled or not, so I hesitate every time I throw something away. And I'm afraid of putting it in the wrong bin.
Donggeun
맞아요, 처음에는 저도 그랬어요. 그래도 다들 조금씩 노력하면 적어도 쓰레기는 줄일 수 있지 않을까 싶어요. 물론 더 큰 책임은 기업하고 정부에 있지만요.
Majayo, cheoeumeneun jeodo geuraesseoyo. Geuraedo dadeul jogeumssik noryeokhamyeon jeogeodo sseuregineun juril su itji aneulkka sipeoyo. Mullon deo keun chaegimeun gieopago jeongbue itjimanyo.
I know, I was the same at first. Still, I think if everyone makes a small effort, we might at least reduce the rubbish. Of course, companies and the government have the bigger responsibility.
Harin
그건 그래요. 그런데 이대로 가다가 우리 아이들이 봄마다 집에만 있어야 하면 어떡하죠? 기후 변화 때문에 여름도 점점 더 더워지고 있잖아요.
Geugeon geuraeyo. Geureonde idaero gadaga uri aideuri bommada jibeman isseoya hamyeon eotteokajyo? Gihu byeonhwa ttaemune yeoreumdo jeomjeom deo deowojigo itjanayo.
That's true. But if things go on like this, what if our children have to stay indoors every spring? And the summers keep getting hotter because of climate change.
Donggeun
그러게요. 상황이 이렇게 심각하니까 정부도 기업도 결국 더 강한 대책을 만들 수밖에 없을 거예요. 너무 늦지 않았으면 좋겠어요.
Geureogeyo. Sanghwangi ireoke simgakhanikka jeongbudo gieopdo gyeolguk deo ganghan daechaegeul mandeul subakke eopseul geoyeyo. Neomu neutji anasseumyeon jokesseoyo.
I know. With things this serious, the government and companies will have no choice but to come up with stronger measures in the end. I just hope it won't be too late.
Harin
정말 그래요. 만약 모든 회사가 일회용 컵을 안 쓴다면 쓰레기가 훨씬 줄 텐데요. 우리 회사부터 한번 바꿔 보자고 제안해 볼까요?
Jeongmal geuraeyo. Manyak modeun hoesaga ilhoeyong keobeul an sseundamyeon sseuregiga hwolssin jul tendeyo. Uri hoesabuteo hanbeon bakkwo bojago jeanhae bolkkayo?
Absolutely. If every company stopped using disposable cups, there'd be far less rubbish. Shall we suggest that our company tries changing first?
Donggeun
좋은 생각이에요. 회의 때 제가 먼저 말해 볼게요. 사장님이 반대하실까 봐 좀 걱정되지만요.
Joeun saenggagieyo. Hoeui ttae jega meonjeo malhae bolgeyo. Sajangnimi bandaehasilkka bwa jom geokjeongdoejimanyo.
Good idea. I'll bring it up at the meeting. Though I'm a little worried the boss might say no.
Understand
What would happen, what would have happened
-(으)ㄹ 텐데 (-(eu)l tende) means “it would …, I'd expect …”, and often carries a wish or a regret. After the B1 hypothetical -다면 (-damyeon), if, it gives the imagined result: (modeun hoesaga ilhoeyong keobeul an sseundamyeon sseuregiga hwolssin jul tendeyo), if every company stopped using disposable cups, there'd be far less rubbish.
For a past that didn't happen, use -았 / -었더라면 (-at / -eotdeoramyeon), if … had, and -았 / -었을 텐데 (-asseul / -eosseul tende), would have: (iljjik daechaegeul sewotdeoramyeon gonggiga kkaekkeutaesseul tendeyo), if measures had been taken early, the air would have been clean. It's a stronger, slightly more formal version of the B1 pattern -았 / -었으면 … -았 / -었을 거예요 (-asseumyeon … -asseul geoyeyo), which you can also use.
| Situation | If … | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| real, possible | -(으)면 (-(eu)myeon) | -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (-(eu)l geoyeyo) | (biga omyeon an gal geoyeyo) |
| imagined | -다면 (-damyeon) | -(으)ㄹ 텐데요 (-(eu)l tendeyo) | (doni itdamyeon yeohaenghal tendeyo) |
| unreal past | -았 / -었더라면 (-at / -eotdeoramyeon) | -았 / -었을 텐데요 (-asseul / -eosseul tendeyo) | (aratdeoramyeon dowajwosseul tendeyo) |
| wish or regret alone | — | -(으)면 좋을 텐데요 (-(eu)myeon joeul tendeyo) | (biga omyeon joeul tendeyo), I wish it would rain |
Worries and cautious opinions
-(으)ㄹ까 봐 (-(eu)lkka bwa) means “worried that, in case”: the first part is what you fear, the second what you feel or do because of it. (gichimhalkka bwa mot nagage haesseoyo), I didn't let him go out in case he started coughing; (jalmot beorilkka bwa geokjeongdwaeyo), I'm afraid I'll throw it in the wrong bin. The second part is never a request or a suggestion.
-(으)면 어떡하죠? (-(eu)myeon eotteokajyo?), what if …?, voices a worry as a question; with friends, (eotteokaji?). -지 않을까 싶어요 (-ji aneulkka sipeoyo), literally “I wonder if it isn't …”, is a cautious way to give your opinion: (juril su itji aneulkka sipeoyo), I think we might be able to reduce it.
- 늦을까 봐 택시를 탔어요.Neujeulkka bwa taeksireul tasseoyo.I took a taxi in case I was late.
- 시험에 떨어지면 어떡하죠?Siheome tteoreojimyeon eotteokajyo?What if I fail the exam?
- 지금 출발하는 게 좋지 않을까 싶어요.Jigeum chulbalhaneun ge jochi aneulkka sipeoyo.I think it might be better to leave now.
No choice: -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다
-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (-(eu)l subakke eopda) is literally “there is no way except …”: have no choice but to, can only. (daechaegeul mandeul subakke eopseul geoyeyo), they'll have no choice but to come up with measures. With adjectives it means “is bound to be”: (bissal subakke eopseoyo), it's bound to be expensive.
The same (bakke), only, that you know from -밖에 안 (-bakke an) is behind it. Compare (hal su eopseoyo), I can't do it, with (hal subakke eopseoyo), I have to do it, there's no other way.
- 버스가 끊겨서 걸어갈 수밖에 없었어요.Beoseuga kkeunkyeoseo georeogal subakke eopseosseoyo.The buses had stopped, so I had no choice but to walk.
- 재료가 좋으니까 맛있을 수밖에 없죠.Jaeryoga joeunikka masisseul subakke eopjyo.The ingredients are good, so it's bound to taste good.
More in the grammar: If sentences: -(으)면, -(으)려면, -다면, -았/었더라면 · Guesses: -(으)ㄹ 것 같다, -겠-, -나 보다
New words
- 미세먼지misemeonjifine dust, particulate air pollution · forecast levels: (joeum, botong, nappeum, maeu nappeum); (haneuri hoesaegieyo), the sky is grey
- 공장gongjangfactory · (gungnae gongjangina jadongcha), factories and cars in the country (, gungnae, domestic; , jadongcha, car)
- 오염oyeompollution · (daegi oyeom), air pollution; (oyeom muljil), pollutants
- 대책daechaekmeasures, countermeasures · (daechaegeul seuda), to take measures
- 환경hwangyeongenvironment · (hwangyeongeul bohohada), to protect the environment
- 노력noryeokeffort · (noryeokhada), to make an effort, to try hard
- 정책jeongchaekpolicy · (jeongchaegi jeomjeom ganghaejyeoyo), policy is gradually (, jeomjeom) getting stricter
- 일회용품ilhoeyongpumdisposable items · (ilhoeyong keop), disposable cup
- 분리수거bullisugeosorting rubbish for recycling · (bullisugeoreul kkomkkomhage haeyo), I sort my rubbish carefully; (hetgallida), to be confusing
- 재활용jaehwaryongrecycling · (jaehwaryongi doeda), to be recyclable
- 쓰레기sseuregirubbish, waste · (sseuregireul beorida), to throw away rubbish
- 책임chaegimresponsibility · (gieop), company, business; (gaein), individual
- 기후 변화gihu byeonhwaclimate change
- 심각하다simgakhadato be serious (a problem) · (munjega simgakhaeyo), it's a serious problem; (sanghwang), situation
Practise
1.How do you say “If proper measures had been taken earlier, the air would have been clean”?
2.Harin is unsure about recycling. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I'm afraid I'll throw it in the wrong bin.
3.Match the Korean with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
4.You took an umbrella because you were worried it might rain. What do you say?
5.The shop is closed and there's no other shop nearby. Which sentence fits?
6.Which sentence gives your opinion most cautiously?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
좀 더 일찍 시작했더라면 좋았을 텐데요.
Jom deo iljjik sijakhaetdeoramyeon joasseul tendeyo.
It would have been good if we'd started a bit earlier.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.