Sudden Plan Change? Ask “Is This Time Okay?” in Korean!
Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever had to suddenly change plans with a friend? It happens all the time! Today, we’re going to learn some essential Korean phrases for rescheduling and politely asking if a new time works for someone. This is super useful for changing study sessions, coffee dates, or movie nights.
You know, lately in Korea, things are always moving fast. Even the famous K-pop group ‘Starlight Dreamers’ had to suddenly reschedule their online fan meeting last week! Just like in K-dramas, plans can change in a second. So, let’s learn how to handle these situations smoothly and politely, just like a native speaker!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three key expressions to help you master the art of changing plans.
1. 혹시 (hok-si)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: hok-si
- English Meaning: By any chance / Perhaps
- Detailed Explanation: 혹시 (hok-si) is a magical word that makes your questions sound softer and more considerate. When you have to ask for a favor or change a plan, starting your sentence with 혹시 shows that you recognize you might be inconveniencing the other person. It’s incredibly polite and used very often in daily conversation.
2. ~ 괜찮으세요? (~ gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
- English Meaning: Are you okay with ~? / Is ~ okay for you?
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and polite way to check if someone is okay with a suggestion. It comes from the verb 괜찮다 (gwaenchanta), meaning “to be okay.” You attach it to a noun, like a time or a place.
- Example: 3시 괜찮으세요? (Sam-si gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?) -> Is 3 o’clock okay for you?
3. ~ 어떠세요? (~ eo-tteo-se-yo?)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: eo-tteo-se-yo?
- English Meaning: How about ~?
- Detailed Explanation: This is another fantastic, polite way to make a suggestion. It comes from the word 어떻다 (eotteota), meaning “to be how.” Using ~ 어떠세요? feels like you are actively asking for their opinion. It’s very similar to 괜찮으세요? and they can often be used interchangeably.
- Example: 금요일은 어떠세요? (Geum-yo-il-eun eo-tteo-se-yo?) -> How about Friday?
Example Conversation
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real-life chat! Mina needs to change her study time with Brian because of a surprise K-pop live stream.
- A (Mina): 브라이언 씨
