The Routledge Course in Business Korean
The Routledge Course in Business Korean (비즈니스 한국어) by Young-Key Kim-Renaud and Miok Pak introduces the reader to the necessary vocabulary, grammar, and cultural knowledge to navigate the complex world of doing business in South Korea. The book is structured in 15 units and 3 business cases. Each unit starts with a dialogue about a specific business situation, such as a job interview or a business trip. The dialogue is then followed by a convenient vocabulary list that includes the new words introduced by the dialogue, along with their hanja reading and their English translation (note: romanization is not provided). New grammar patterns used in the dialogue are also discussed; the grammar points in this book are rather advanced and I think most suitable for upper intermediate to advanced learners of Korean. Units end with a reading passage, its associated vocabulary, and exercises to practice the vocabulary and grammar introduced in the unit. The three business cases included consist of longer reading passages with the corresponding vocabulary.
Pattern V–아/어 보다: to try to V
The common pattern V-아/어 보다, meaning "to try to V," is used with a conjugated verb and is more frequent in conversations. See the sentences below for examples.
Formation
| Verb | Note | 아/어 form | V-아/어 보다 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 갚다 (to repay) | 갚아 | 갚아 보다 (갚아 봐요) | |
| 먹다 (to eat) | 먹어 | 먹어 보다 (먹어 봐요) | |
| 씻다 (to wash clean) | 씻어 | 씻어 보다 (씻어 봐요) | |
| 가다 (to go) | 가 | 가 보다 (가 봐요) | |
| 매다 (to tie) | 매 | 매 보다 (매 봐요) | |
| 오다 (to come) | 와 | 와 보다 (와 봐요) | |
| 주다 (to give) | 줘 | 줘 보다 (줘 봐요) | |
| 이기다 (to win) | 이겨 | 이겨 보다 (이겨 봐요) | |
| 듣다 (to listen) | ㄷ/ㄹ irregular | 들어 | 들어 보다 (들어 봐요) |
| 짓다 (to build) | ㅅ/ㅇ irregular | 지어 | 지어 보다 (지어 봐요) |
| 부르다 (to sing) | ㄹ doubling irregular | 불러 | 불러 보다 (불러 봐요) |
| 놀다 (to play) | ㄹ dropping irregular | 놀아 | 놀아 보다 (놀아 봐요) |
| 눕다 (to lie down) | ㅂ/ㅜ verb | 누워 | 누워 보다 (누워 봐요) |
Sentence Examples
Notes
- Make sure to use correct spacing when using this pattern. The verb V and 보다 need to be separated by a space; e.g., "가 보다" (O) vs. "가보다" (X). Many Koreans write this pattern all attached, but points will be taken off during TOPIK.
- To convey the idea of trying but failing, consider using the pattern V-려고 하다 which may be more appropriate in some cases.
- If using honorifics, put the honorific marker -시- with 보다, not with verb V as it is overkill (you may still hear it from Koreans nonetheless). However, if verb V has an honorific form, use that one instead. E.g., "드셔 보세요" and not "먹어 보세요". Read more about honorifics.
See Also
Buying Clothes (Dialogue and Vocabulary)
Have you ever wondered how to buy clothes in Korean? With the following dialogue and vocabulary, you will be able to do so naturally in any Korean clothing store.
Buying Clothes: Dialogue
| 직원: | 어서오세요. 에잇세컨즈입니다. 찾으시는 물건 있으세요? |
| 빅터: | 네, 이번에 새로 들어온 청바지를 찾고있어요. |
| 직원: | 아~ 광고에 나온 바지요? |
| 빅터: | 네, 맞아요. 혹시 그거 34사이즈 있어요? |
| 직원: | 혹시 재고가 있는지 확인해 보고 오겠습니다. |
| (3분 뒤에) | |
| 직원: | 고객님, 죄송합니다. 지금 저희가 가지고 있는 재고는 32사이즈랑 36사이즈 밖에 없는데... 혹시 이 중에 착용해 보고 싶은것이 있으신가요? |
| 빅텉: | 32사이즈 입어봐도 될까요? |
| 직원: | 탈의실 이쪽에 있습니다. |
The grammar pattern V–아/어 보다 (to try to V) is used a lot in this dialogue. Check out the grammar page for the pattern V–아/어 보다 for more examples as well the translation of some sentences from this dialogue.
Everyday Sentences to Use at Home
The sentences in this post can be used at home in everyday situations. Practice them every day with family members!
Meals
Pattern [거의/하마터면] ... V(으)ㄹ 뻔하다: To Come Close To
Meaning: to come close to, to be on the verge of doing V (but did not do it eventually).
Going for a Picnic (Dialogue and Vocabulary)
This dialogue is between two friends, 빅터 and 수진, going for a picnic at the Han River in Seoul. While at the river, they order pizza and chicken. The dialogue is followed by the relevant vocabulary used in the dialogue. Some supplemental example sentences are also provided.
Picnic: Dialogue
| 수진: | 오~~ 날씨 진짜 좋다! 우리 한강으로 소풍 갈까? |
| 빅터: | 응, 좋아! |
| 수진: | 한강 가서 뭐 먹고싶어? |
| 빅터: | 아무거나 괜찮아. 음식 싸갈까? |
| 수진: | 아니. 배달 시켜먹자! |
| 빅터: | 그래, 좋아! 돈은 니가 내라! |
| 수진: | 아유~ 오케이! 담요랑 돗자리랑 휴지 챙겨 가자! |
| (한강에서) | |
| 수진: | 뭐 시킬까? 피자나 치킨? |
| 빅터: | 둘다 시키자! |
| 종업원 (전화로): | 여보세요. 네네치킨입니다. |
| 수진: | 안녕하세요. 양념 반 후라이드 반이랑 피자 한 판 배달해 주세요. 무 많이 갖다 주세요. 그리고, 비닐장갑 갖다 주세요. |
| 종업원: | 어디로요? |
| 수진: | 뚝섬역 3번출구로 갖다 주세요. |
| 종업원: | "출발할때 전화해 드릴께요. |
| 수진: | 카드요. |
| 종업원: | 네, 알겠습니다. |
| (배달 온 후에) | |
| 빅터: | 맛있겠다! 아, 음료 안 시켰어! |
| 수진: | 내가 콜라 싸온다고 했잖아! |
| 빅터: | 아니, 너 말 안 했어! 난 착한 남자니까 편의점에 갔다올게. |
| 수진: | 나 먼저 먹고있을께! |
Picnic: Vocabulary
| 소풍 | picnic (also an excursion) |
| 공원 | park |
| 배달 | delivery (in general) |
| 배달음식 | food that can be delivered |
| 음식배달 | food delivery |
| 담요 | blanket |
| 돗자리 | mat |
| 숟가락 | spoon |
| 젓가락 통 (桶) | a chopstick case |
| 휴지 | tissue (also toilet paper) |
| 편의점 | convenience store |
| 현금 | cash |
| 3[삼]번 출구 | exit number 3 (subway) |
| 비닐 장갑 | plastic gloves |
| 출발 | departure |
| ...역 (驛) (강남역) | station (e.g., Gangnam st.) |
| 짐을 챙기다/싸다 | to pack up (2) |
| 배달을 시키다 | to order delivery (1/2) |
| 배달을 주문하다 | to order delivery (2/2) |
| 배달 시켜 먹다 | to order and then eat delivery food |
| 저녁을 준비하다 | to prepare/fix dinner (1/2) |
| 저녁을 마련하다 | to prepare/fix dinner (2/2) |
| 도시락을 싸다 | to pack a lunch box |
More Example Sentences
Review this lesson
Review the flashcards for this lesson! Click on the buttons or use the keyboard to review the cards. Once you get a card right five times, the card is moved to the known cards stack, and a new card will be added to your working cards stack. Try to learn them all!
Pattern sb께 N을/를 드리다; sb께 V어/아 드리다: Doing a Favor
The honorific 드리다 replaces 주다 when the recipient is an esteemed person. Use this whenever you are doing a favor to somebody older than you to whom you talk respectfully, such as your grandparents, your professor, your boss, etc.
You can hear this a lot in restaurants and stores when waiters/store employees ask customers what they want or if they need additional service.
Dialogue: Two Friends at the Korean BBQ Restaurant
Here is a dialogue between two friends and a waiter at a Korean restaurant. The dialogue starts with a phone conversation between the two friends, with 준형 asking if Victor is busy. They then go to the Korean restaurant and order some meat and drinks, before splitting the bill at the end.
Tip: Hover over the highlighted terms to see their translation! More vocabulary and example sentences are also available.
| 준형 (전화로): | 빅터야, 지금 바빠? 우리 삼겹살 먹으러 갈까? |
| 빅터: | 나 안 바빠. 그래, 가자! |
| (식당에서) | |
| 식당 종업원: | 안녕하세요. 혹시 예약하셨어요? |
| 준형: | 아니요. 예약 안 했어요. |
| 식당 종업원 : | 몇 분이세요? |
| 빅터: | 두 명이에요. |
| 종업원: | 따라오세요. |
| (...) | |
| 준형: | 술은 뭐가 좋아? |
| 빅터: | 난 소맥 먹고 싶어. |
| 준형: | 그래, 좋아. |
| 준형 (종업원한테): | 저기요! 주문할게요 . |
| 종업원: | 네. 무엇을 드시겠어요? |
| 준형: | 삼겹살 이인분이랑요... 밥 두 공기 주세요. |
| 종업원: | 네. 음료 는 무엇으로 하시겠어요? |
| 빅터: | 소주 한 병이랑 맥주 한 병 주세요. |
| 종업원: | 네, 알겠습니다. |
| (...) | |
| 준형 (종업원한테): | 계산할게요. |
| 종업원: | 네. 삼만팔천원입니다. |
| 빅터 (준형한테): | 야. 반씩 내자! |
| 빅터 (종업원한테): | 따로따로 계산해 주시겠어요? |
| 종업원: | 네. 그럼 만구천원이에요. |
| 준형 (종업원한테): | 신용카드로 해도 돼요? |
| 종업원: | 네. |
You can download a study sheet PDF with this dialogue and all the relevant vocabulary.
At the Korean BBQ Restaurant
Learn some vocabulary about Korean BBQ, the name of some Korean BBQ dishes, as well as how to order and pay your bill! Also included are some example sentences that you can use at the Korean restaurant. For more practice, check out this dialogue between two friends and the waiter of a restaurant!
| 예약 | reservation |
| 음료 [음뇨] | beverage, drinks |
| 소맥 (소주+맥주) | soju and beer cocktail |
| 밥 한/두 공기 | one/two bowl(s) of rice |
| 삼겹살 | pork belly |
| 차돌박이 | beef brisket |
| 소갈비 | beef ribs |
| 돼지갈비 | pork ribs |
| 닭구이 | grilled chicken |
| 제육볶음 | sauteed marinated pork |
| 소불고기 | beef bulgogi |
| 곱창구이 | grilled tripe |
| 생선구이 | grilled fish |
| 계산 | the bill |
| 신용카드 | credit card |
| 선불 | payment in advance |
| 일/이 인분 (人分) | one/two portion(s) |
| 반씩 | half and half |
| 따로따로 | separately |
| 드시다 | to eat (honorifics) |
| 드리다 | to give (to esteemed person) |
| 내다 | to pay |
| 따라오다 | to follow (from behind) |
| 추가하다 | to add |
| N을/를 주문하다 | to order N |
| N을/를 추천하다 | to recommend N |
Example Sentences
Also check out more food-related vocabulary from a previous lesson.
Pattern –기 바라다: polite request
These examples are sentences that could be heard from flight attendants on a commercial flight. Learn more vocabulary about flying.
References