Lesson 85 · Circumstances & Limited Choices

Introduction

사정 here means circumstances. State the reason an alternative is unavailable before using the final grammar pattern.

New words are tagged Focus, and words you’ve already met are tagged Review. Use the romanization only when you get stuck; the Hangul shows the real sound.

Today’s Vocabulary

사정 · Focus

sajeong · circumstances; situation

N · Your personal situation — 사정이 있어요 means “something came up.”

오늘은 사정이 있어요.

oneureun sajeongi isseoyo

I have something to attend to today.

방법 · Focus

bangbeop · method; way

N · A way of doing something.

다른 방법이 있어요.

dareun bangbeobi isseoyo

There is another way.

선택 · Focus

seontaek · choice; selection

N · 선택하다 = choose.

다른 선택이 없어요.

dareun seontaegi eopseoyo

There is no other choice.

돈 · Review

don · money

N · Usually not pluralized.

지금 돈이 없어요.

jigeum doni eopseoyo

I don’t have money now.

시간 · Review

sigan · time; hour

N · Duration uses native numbers: 한 시간.

시간이 있어요.

sigani isseoyo

I have time.

버스 · Review

beoseu · bus

N · 버스를 타다; 버스로 가다.

버스로 학교에 가요.

beoseuro hakgyoe gayo

I go to school by bus.

택시 · Review

taeksi · taxi

N · 택시를 타다.

택시를 타요.

taeksireul tayo

I take a taxi.

약속 · Review

yaksok · appointment; promise

N · A plan to meet someone: 친구하고 약속이 있어요.

주말에 약속이 있어요.

jumare yaksogi isseoyo

I have an appointment this weekend.

취소하다 · Review

chwisohada · cancel

V · An appointment/reservation + 을/를.

예약을 취소해요.

yeyageul chwisohaeyo

I cancel a reservation.

기다리다 · Review

gidarida · to wait

The thing or person you wait for takes 을/를.

버스를 기다려요.

beoseureul gidaryeoyo

I wait for the bus.

걷다 · Review

geotda · to walk

Today means walking. A different 걷다 means collect or roll up.

공원에서 걸어요.

gongwon-eseo georeoyo

I walk in the park.

포기하다 · Focus

pogihada · give up

V · A plan/goal + 을/를.

계획을 포기했어요.

gyehoegeul pogihaesseoyo

I gave up on the plan.

Useful Phrases / Make Sentences

Here are a few sentences you can use right away. Read them aloud, then try changing one word to make your own sentence!

버스가 안 와서 택시를 탔어요.

beoseuga an waseo taeksireul tasseoyo

The bus didn’t come, so I took a taxi.

다른 방법이 없어요.

dareun bangbeobi eopseoyo

There’s no other way.

사정이 있어서 약속을 취소했어요.

sajeongi isseoseo yaksogeul chwisohaesseoyo

Something came up, so I canceled the plan.

돈이 없어서 걸어가요.

doni eopseoseo georeogayo

I don’t have money, so I’m walking.

Mini Practice

1. Choose the meaning of 사정: A. method; way / B. circumstances; situation.
2. Which word means “choice; selection”: 선택 / 돈?
3. Match 1. 시간, 2. 버스, 3. 택시 with A. taxi, B. time; hour, C. bus.
4. Write the Korean dictionary word or phrase for “appointment; promise.”
5. Put these chunks in a natural order: 기다려요. / 버스를.
6. Write one short sentence using 포기하다.

Today’s Key Point

Today’s new words: 사정, 방법, 선택, 포기하다. Choose one of these words and make a sentence about your own day. For example: 사정이 있어서 약속을 취소했어요. — Something came up, so I canceled my plans.