Korean for Dummies (29 page)

In this chapter, I stick mostly to formal polite form of Korean speech, when doing business at the office and when going to the meetings. At other times, I will use informal polite Korean, which was the form used throughout this book.

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Getting Down to Work

Whether you’re working at a
hoesa
(
hwae-sa;
company), or teaching at a
hakgyo
(
hak-gyo;
school),
il
(
il;
work) is
il
. In this section, I’ll teach you some useful words and phrases to use while getting to and from workplace and also while working at the office.

Finding things at the office

For starters, you need to know at least one of the following crucial phrases you cannot live without:

keopi gigyega eodie itseumnikka?
(
kuh-pee-gee-gye-ga uh-dee-ae ee-sseumni-kka
; Where is the coffee machine?) and

hwajangsiri eodie itseumnikka?
(
hwajang-shi-ree uh-dee-ae ee-sseum-nikka;
Where’s the restroom?)

Notice that both sentences end identically:

[some word] i/ga eodie itseumnikka?
([some word]
i/ga-uh-dee-ae ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where’s [some word] ?)

If you want to specifically ask for men’s or women’s restrooms
,
substitute

[some word]
with
namja hwajangsil
(
nam-ja hwajang-shil;
men’s restroom) and
yeoja hwajangsil
(
yuh-ja hwajang-shil;
women’s restroom):
Namja hwahangsiri eodie itseumnikka?
(
nam-ja hwajang-shi-ree uh-dee-ae ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where is men’s restroom?)
Yeoja hwahangsiri eodie itseumnikka?
(
yuh-ja hwajang-shi-ree uh-dee-ae
ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where is women’s restroom?)

You use
i
or
ga,
depending on whether the word ends in a consonant or a vowel. The rule is similar to how you choose
an
or
a,
but in Korean, you place the marker at the end of the word and add it as a suffix.

Office supplies

If you need to make some finishing touches on a
bogoseo
(
bo-go-suh;
report), send off a
paekseu
(paek-sseu
;
fax) or sign a document, you need to know a few words for
samuyongpum
(
sa-moo-yong-poom;
office supplies).

In Table 10-1, you can find a few things found in, on, or around a
chaeksang
(
chaeg-sang;
desk):

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167

Hanging out at the water purifier

In Korea, it’s hard to find water fountains.

(chan-mool; cold water). Sometimes, though,

Instead, you’ll find water purifiers with

you may find instant
keopi
(kuh-pee; coffee)

jongikeop
(jong-ee-keop; paper cups). Most

and/or
cha
(cha; tea) next to or near the water

water purifiers dispense
tteugeoun mul
(tteu—

purifiers. If you do, feel free to help yourself.

guh-oon-mool; hot water) and
chan mul

Table 10-1

Things Around the Office

Korean Word

Pronunciation

Translation

bolpen

bol-pen

Ballpoint pen

chak

chaeg

Books

gomubaendeu

go-moo-baendeu

Rubber band

gongchaek

gong-chaeg

Notebooks

hochikiseu

ho-chi-ki-sseu

Stapler

hyeonggwangpen

hyoung-gwang-pen

Highlighter

jongi

jong-ee

Paper

keullip

keullip

Clip

munseo

moon-suh

Documents

pyeonjibongtu

pyuhn-jee-bong-too

Envelope

seoryu

suh-ryoo

Papers

seukachi teipeu

tae-ee-peu

Scotch tape

sseuregitong

sseu-rae-gee-tong

Wastebasket

syapeu

sya-peu

Mechanical pencils

upyo

oo-pyo

Stamp

yeonpil

yuhn-pil

Pencils

If you need any of these items, you may want to ask [some word]
eul/reul
eodieseo guhalsu itseumnikka?
( [some word]
eul/reul uh-dee-ae-suh goo-hal-soo ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where may I get a/some[some word]?). Substitute [some word] with the office supplies you need (see Table 10-1).

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If you want to borrow something, ask [some word]
eul/reul jom billilsu itgetseumnikka?
(
[some word] eul/reul jom bil-lil-soo it-get-sseumni-kka;
May I borrow a/some [some word]?). Substitute [some word] with the office supplies you need (see Table 10-1).

Office machines

If you want to use communal office equipment, you need to ask where it is and how to use it. Most of the time, the menus and user instructions are in Korean.

Use the following phrases to ask about office equipment:

[some word] i/ga eodie itseumnikka?
(
[some word] i/ga uh-dee-ae
ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where is [some word]?)

[some word] eul/reul jom sseodo doegetseumnikka?
(
[some word]

eul/reul jom ssuh-do dwae-get-sseumni-kka;
May I use [some word]?)

[some word] eul/reul bonaego sipeunde, jom dowa jusigetseumnikka?

(
[some word] eul/reul bo-nae-go shi-peun-dae, jom do-wa joo-shi-getseumni-kka;
I want to send a [some word], can you please help me?)

[some word] eul/reul boksahago sipeunde, jom dowa jusigetseum-

nikka?
(
[some word] eul/reul bok-sa-ha-go shi-peun-dae, jom do-wa-ju-si-get-sseum-ni-kka;
I want to copy [some word], can you please help me?) If you’re pressed for time, the most important phrase is
jom dowa jusigetseumnikka?
(
jom do-wa joo-shi-get-sseum-ni-kka;
Can you please help me?). Just point to a thing and say it. Then the person you’re speaking to will pick up on what you need.

If you need help with using certain office equipments, use the phrase

eul/reul sseuneungeoseul jom dowa jusigetseumnikka?
(
[some word]

eul/reul sseuneun-guh-seul jom do-wa-joo-shi-get-sseum-ni-kka;
Can you please help me to use [some word] ?). Table 10-2 lists some office equipments you may need to use to get your work done. Substitute [some word] with the office equipment you need to use.

Table 10-2

Office Equipment

Korean Word

Pronunciation

Translation

boksagi

bok-sa-gee

Copier

jeonhwa

juhn-hwa

Telephone

keompyuteo

keompyu-tuh

Computer

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Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House

169

Korean Word

Pronunciation

Translation

paekseu

paek-sseu

Fax

peurinteo

peu-rin-tuh

Printer

peurojekteo

peu-ro-jek-tuh

Projector

Using computers

Whether you have to print out a report, read up on company updates, or check your e-mail, computers will most likely play an integral part of your work at the office. Sure, you may be a computer guru, but when you ask to use someone’s computer and find that everything is in Korean, you may want to know how to ask for a little assistance.

The following phrases may help you get help:

keompyuteoreul jom sseulsu itgetseumnikka?
(
keompyu-tuh-reul jom
sseul-soo it-get-sseumni-kka;
May I please use a/the computer?)
yeongeo japaneuro jom bakkwo jusilsu itgetseumnikka?
(
young-uh-japaneu-ro jom ba-kkwo joo-shi-get-sseum-ni-kka;
Could you please change the keyboard input into English?)
imeileul jom hwaginhalsu itgetseumnikka?
(
ee-mae-il-eul jom hwaginhal-soo it-get-sseumni-kka;
May I check my e-mail?)

inteonet beuraujeoreul jom ttuiwojusigetseumnikka?
(
in-tuh-net beu-ra-oo-juh-reul jom ttui-wo-joo-shi-get-sseum-ni-kka;
Could you open up a Web browser for me?)

i munseoreul chullyeokhae jusilsu itgetseumnikka?
(
ee moon-seo-reul
chullyeok-hae-joo-shil-soo it-get-sseumni-kka;
Could you print out this document for me?)

paireul ryeoreo jusilsu itgetseumnikka?
(
pa-ee-reul yuh-ruh joo-shil-soo
it-get-sseumni-kka;
Could you open this file for me?)

pail jom bonae jusilsu itgetseumnikka?
(
pa-il yom bo-nae joo-shil-soo
it-get-sseumni-kka;
Could you send this file for me?)

Afterward, use this phrase to thank the person who helped you:

keompyuteoreul jal sseotseumnida, gamsahamnida.
(
keompyu-tuh-reul
jal-ssut-sseumni-da, gam-sa-ham-ni-da;
Thanks for letting me use the computer.)

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What to call your peers and superiors

For someone of equal or lower position, use that

sa jang nim.
The
nim
placed after a person’s

person’s full name or family name, followed by

position is a sign of further respect.

his or her position. For someone named Son

Here are a few common business titles:

Jihoon, for example, the syllable that comes

first, Son, is the family name, and Jihoon is the

sajang

sa-jang

President

first name. Hence, you address him as Son

busajang
boo-sa-jang Vice president

Jihoon position, Son position, or just position.

gwang

gwajang

Section chief

Never address a
sangsa
(sang-sa; superior) by

his or her first name. Korean society follows a

bujang

boo-jang

Department chair

strict hierarchy that requires you to address

chajang

chajang

Vice chief

superiors with their job title as well as their

family name or full name. If your boss is vice

daeri

dae-ree

Representative/

president of the company, and her name is Erica

assistant

Choi, you should call her Erica Choi
busajang-

timjang

timjang

Team leader

nim
(boo-sa-jangnim; vice president), Choi

sajangnim
(sa-jang-nim; president), or even just

Remember to add
nim
after each of these words

when you are addressing a superior.

or in general, you can say:

dowa jusyeoseo jeongmal gamsahamnida
. (
do-wa-joo-syuh-suh jeongmal
gam-sa-ham-ni-da;
Thank you so much for helping me.)

Finding people at the office

If you need to track someone down, the following passages may be of help:

[some word] jariga eodi imnikka?
( [some word]
ja-ree-ga uh-dee-imnikka;
Where is [some word] ’s seat?)

[some word] kkeseo jarie gyesimnikka?
( [some word]
kke-suh ja-ri-ae
gyeshim-ni-kka;
Is [some word] in the office?)

jamsiman gidaryeo jusipsiyo.
(
jam-shi-man gee-da-ryuh-joo-ship-shi-yo;
One moment please.)

jarie gyesinji hwagin haedeurigetseumnida
. (
ja-ree-ae gyeshim-jee hwaginhae-deu-ree-getseum-ni-da;
I’ll check if he/she is there.) 15_037188-ch10.qxp 6/24/08 11:12 PM Page 171

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171

ye, jeogi imnida.
(ye, juhgi im-ni-da
;
Yes, it’s over there.)
ye, jarie gyesimnida.
(ye, ja-ree-ae gyeshim-ni-da
;
Yes, his/her seat is over there.)

jigeum jarie an gyesimnida.
(jee-geum ja-ree-ae an gyeshim-ni-da
;
No, he/she isn’t here.)

meseji namgyeo deurilkkayo?
(mae-sae-jee nam-gyuh-deu-ril-kka-yo
;
Do you want to leave a message?)

Asking for directions

If you are looking for a office, meeting room, restroom, rest area, and so on, use the following phrase to ask for directions:

[some word] i/ga eodie itseumnikka?
( [some word]
i/ga uh-dee-ae
it-sseum-ni-kka;
Where is [some word] ?). Substitute [some word] for the office, meeting room, restroom, and so on. For example:
Hoeuisiri
eodie itseumnikka?
(
hwae-ui-shi-ree uh-dee-ae ee-sseum-ni-kka;
Where is the meeting room?) Answer to above question might be something like:

a, je samusil yeope itseumnida
(
a, jae sa-moo-shil yuh-pae ee-sseum-ni-da;
Ah, it’s next to my office.)

Some useful words to know might be:
ape
(
a-pae;
infront),
yeope
(
yuh-pae;
next to) and
dwie
(
dwee-ae;
behind).

Talkin’ the Talk

Brian is looking for Mr Kim. He stops by his office to see whether

Mr. Kim is in.

Brian:

gim timjangnimkkeseo jarie gyesimnikka?
gim tim-

jangnim-kke-suh ja-ree-ae gyeshim-ni-kka?

Is Mr. Kim at his seat?

Secretary: