K-Biz Scheduling: Sound Like a Pro!

K-Biz Scheduling: Sound Like a Pro!

Hello! This is Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever needed to schedule a meeting with a Korean colleague or friend? It can be a little nerve-wracking, right? Don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn some essential phrases for scheduling meetings that will make you sound professional and polite.

Lately in Korea, there are so many exciting global collaborations, from K-pop groups working with international artists to webtoon creators partnering with overseas companies. Being able to schedule meetings smoothly is a super important skill in this fast-paced environment. Let’s learn how to do it like a pro you see in K-dramas!

Core Expressions for Scheduling

Here are three key phrases that will help you schedule any meeting with confidence.

1. 혹시 … 시간 괜찮으세요? (Are you perhaps available at…?)

• Korean: 혹시 수요일 오전에 시간 괜찮으세요?
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Hoksi suyoil ojeone sigan gwaenchaneuseyo?
• English Meaning: Are you perhaps available on Wednesday morning?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the go-to phrase for politely asking about someone’s availability.
  • 혹시 (hoksi) means “by any chance” or “perhaps.” Adding it to your question makes it sound softer and less demanding.
  • 괜찮으세요? (gwaenchaneuseyo?) is the honorific and polite form of “Is it okay?”. You use this form when speaking to someone older or in a higher position.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The ‘ㅎ’ in 괜찮으세요 [gwaenchaneuseyo] is very weak. When ‘ㅎ’ (h) is between two sounds, it often becomes silent. So, instead of saying “gwaen-chan-heu-se-yo,” it flows smoothly together as if it were written “괜차느세요” [gwaenchaneuseyo]. It makes the pronunciation much smoother!

2. 저는 그때는 좀 어려울 것 같아요. (I think it might be a bit difficult for me then.)

• Korean: 저는 그때는 좀 어려울 것 같아요.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jeoneun geuttaeneun jom eoryeoul geot gatayo.
• English Meaning: I think it might be a bit difficult for me at that time.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a very common and polite way to say “no” or decline a suggestion in Korean. Directly saying “안 돼요” (No, I can’t) can sound too strong.
  • 어려울 것 같아요 (eoryeoul geot gatayo) literally means “it seems it will be difficult.” This indirect expression is key to polite communication in Korea.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Pay attention to 같아요 [gatayo]. The final consonant ‘ㅌ’ (t) in ‘같’ moves over to the next syllable when followed by a vowel like ‘아’. This sound-linking rule, called 연음 (yeon-eum), is fundamental in Korean. So, you don’t pronounce it as “gat-ayo,” but as one smooth word: [ga-ta-yo].

3. 그러면 …은/는 어떠세요? (Then how about…?)

• Korean: 그러면 금요일 오후는 어떠세요?
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Geureomyeon geumyoil ohuneun eotteoseyo?
• English Meaning: Then how about Friday afternoon?
• Detailed Explanation: When the first suggestion doesn’t work, this is the perfect phrase to propose an alternative.
  • Use -은 (eun) after a noun ending in a consonant (e.g., 목요일은 – mogyoireun).
  • Use -는 (neun) after a noun ending in a vowel (e.g., 화요일는 – hwayoireun).
  • 어떠세요? (eotteoseyo?) is the polite form of “How is it?”.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The pronunciation of 어떠세요 [eotteoseyo] is interesting! The ‘ㅎ’ in ‘떻’ is silent here as well, and the ‘ㄸ’ (tt) sound is a strong, tense consonant. You make this sound by building up pressure in your mouth and releasing it without a puff of air. It’s not “eo-ddeo-se-yo” but a sharp [eo-tteo-se-yo].

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation! Mina and Alex are trying to schedule a meeting for their new K-drama script project.

• A (Mina): Alex 씨, 안녕하세요. 다음 주에 대본 회의를 하고 싶은데, 혹시 월요일 오전에 시간 괜찮으세요?
  • (Alex-ssi, annyeonghaseyo. Daeum jue daebon hoeuireul hago sipeunde, hoksi woryoil ojeone sigan gwaenchaneuseyo?)
  • (Hi Alex. I’d like to have a script meeting next week, are you perhaps available on Monday morning?)
• B (Alex): 미나 씨, 안녕하세요. 음… 저는 그때는 좀 어려울 것 같아요. 다른 미팅이 있어서요.
  • (Mina-ssi, annyeonghaseyo. Eum… jeoneun geuttaeneun jom eoryeoul geot gatayo. Dareun mitingi isseoseoyo.)
  • (Hi Mina. Hmm… I think it might be a bit difficult for me at that time. I have another meeting.)
• A (Mina): 아, 그러시군요. 그러면 수요일 오후는 어떠세요?
  • (A, geureosigunyo. Geureomyeon suyoil ohuneun eotteoseyo?)
  • (Oh, I see. Then how about Wednesday afternoon?)
• B (Alex): 네, 수요일 오후는 좋아요! 그때 뵙겠습니다.
  • (Ne, suyoil ohuneun joayo! Geuttae boepgetseumnida.)
  • (Yes, Wednesday afternoon is great! I’ll see you then.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korean work culture, being indirect and considerate of the other person’s feelings is very important. This is related to the concept of 체면 (chaemyeon), which means “saving face.”

Using phrases like “어려울 것 같아요” (It seems difficult) instead of “안 돼요” (I can’t) helps the other person “save face.” It shows that you respect their suggestion, even if you can’t accept it.

You’ll see this all the time in Korean dramas set in an offices, like Start-Up or Misaeng. The characters who are good at their jobs are also experts at this kind of polite communication. Mastering these phrases will not only improve your Korean but also help you understand this important part of Korean culture!

Let’s Practice!

Time to check what you’ve learned!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to ask your colleague if they are available on Friday.
   • “김 대리님, 혹시 금요일에 시간 ___________?” (Kim daeri-nim, hoksi geumyoir-e sigan ___________?)
2. Make a sentence: Your friend suggests meeting tomorrow, but you’re busy. How would you politely refuse using the phrase we learned today?

You did an amazing job today! Try using one of today’s expressions to make your own sentence in the comments below. We’d love to see it