Finding a Home

Korean Basic Conversation 3

Chapter 4 Β· Looking for a Place to Live: Viewings & Renting

🏠 Finding a Home β€” 집 κ΅¬ν•˜κΈ°

Looking for a flat means describing exactly what you want: "a room that gets a lot of light", "the flat I saw yesterday", "the place I will live in". Korean builds these phrases by putting a verb in modifier form before the noun: -λŠ”, -(으)γ„΄, -(으)γ„Ή. This is the main new tool of the chapter, and it unlocks long, natural sentences. The vocabulary covers viewings, 보증금 (deposit), μ›”μ„Έ (monthly rent) and contracts. Dialogs have a Hard words note, and a short reading text closes the chapter.

eo = γ…“ (short, open "uh") eu = γ…‘ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants

β‘  At the Estate Agent β€” λΆ€λ™μ‚°μ—μ„œ

A:μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš”. μ‚΄ 집을 κ΅¬ν•˜κ³  μžˆλŠ”λ°μš”.Hello. I'm looking for a place to live.
B:μ–΄μ„œ μ˜€μ„Έμš”. 원룸을 μ›ν•˜μ„Έμš”, νˆ¬λ£Έμ„ μ›ν•˜μ„Έμš”?Welcome. Do you want a studio or a two-room flat?
A:혼자 μ‚΄μ•„μ„œ 원룸이면 λΌμš”. μ§€ν•˜μ² μ—­μ—μ„œ κ°€κΉŒμš΄ 곳이 μ’‹μ•„μš”.I live alone, so a studio will do. I'd like somewhere close to a subway station.
B:μ˜ˆμ‚°μ€ μ–΄λŠ 정도 μƒκ°ν•˜κ³  κ³„μ„Έμš”?What kind of budget do you have in mind?
A:보증금 천만 원에 μ›”μ„ΈλŠ” μ˜€μ‹­λ§Œ 원 μ΄ν•˜λ‘œ μ°Ύκ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.I'm looking for a 10 million won deposit with monthly rent under 500,000 won.
B:μ•Œκ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. 였늘 μ˜€ν›„μ— λ³Ό 수 μžˆλŠ” 집이 λͺ‡ ꡰ데 μžˆμ–΄μš”.Understood. There are a few places you can see this afternoon.
Hard words: 뢀동산 bu-dong-san Β· κ΅¬ν•˜κ³  μžˆλŠ”λ°μš” gu-ha-go in-neun-de-yo Β· 원룸 wol-lum Β· μ˜ˆμ‚° ye-san Β· 보증금 bo-jeung-geum Β· μ›”μ„Έ wol-sse Β· μ΄ν•˜ i-ha

β‘‘ The Viewing β€” 집 ꡬ경

A:이 방은 ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” 남ν–₯μ΄μ—μš”.This room faces south and gets plenty of sun.
B:정말 λ°λ„€μš”. 창문으둜 λ³΄μ΄λŠ” κ²½μΉ˜λ„ μ’‹μ•„μš”.It's really bright. The view from the window is nice too.
A:μ—μ–΄μ»¨ν•˜κ³  냉μž₯κ³ λŠ” 이미 μžˆλŠ” μ˜΅μ…˜μ΄μ—μš”.The air conditioner and fridge are options already here.
B:세탁기도 μžˆλŠ” μ§‘μ΄μ—μš”?Is it a place that has a washing machine too?
A:λ„€, 세탁기, 책상, μΉ¨λŒ€κΉŒμ§€ μžˆλŠ” ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜μ΄μ—μš”.Yes, it's fully furnished, with a washing machine, desk and even a bed.
B:μ’‹λ„€μš”. 그런데 이 집은 μ™œ μ΄λ ‡κ²Œ μ‹Έμš”?Nice. But why is this place so cheap?
Hard words: ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” hae-ga jal deu-neun Β· 남ν–₯ nam-hyang Β· 경치 gyeong-chi Β· μ˜΅μ…˜ op-ssyeon Β· 세탁기 se-tak-gi Β· ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜ pu-rop-ssyeon

β‘’ Asking About Costs β€” κ΄€λ¦¬λΉ„λŠ” μ–Όλ§ˆμ˜ˆμš”?

A:κ΄€λ¦¬λΉ„λŠ” λ”°λ‘œ λ‚΄μ•Ό ν•΄μš”?Do I have to pay the maintenance fee separately?
B:λ„€, ν•œ 달에 칠만 μ›μ΄μ—μš”. 인터넷 μš”κΈˆμ€ 관리비에 포함돼 μžˆμ–΄μš”.Yes, it's 70,000 won a month. Internet is included in the maintenance fee.
A:μ „κΈ°μ„Έν•˜κ³  κ°€μŠ€λΉ„λŠ”μš”?What about electricity and gas?
B:그건 μ“΄ 만큼 λ”°λ‘œ λ‚΄μ‹œλŠ” κ±°μ˜ˆμš”. κ²¨μšΈμ—λŠ” 더 많이 λ‚˜μ˜¬ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.You pay for those separately, according to what you use. They can be higher in winter.
A:μ•Œκ² μ–΄μš”. 계약 기간은 μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ λΌμš”?I see. How long is the contract?
Hard words: λ”°λ‘œ tta-ro Β· 포함돼 μžˆμ–΄μš” po-ham-dwae i-sseo-yo Β· μ „κΈ°μ„Έ jeon-gi-se Β· κ°€μŠ€λΉ„ ga-seu-bi Β· 계약 κΈ°κ°„ gye-yak gi-gan

β‘£ Thinking It Over β€” μ–΄λŠ 집이 더 μ’‹μ•„μš”?

A:μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ μ§‘ν•˜κ³  였늘 λ³Έ 집 쀑에 μ–΄λ””κ°€ 더 λ§ˆμŒμ— λ“œμ„Έμš”?Of the place you saw yesterday and the one you saw today, which do you like more?
B:μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ 집은 μ—­μ—μ„œ κ°€κΉμ§€λ§Œ μ’€ μ–΄λ‘μ› μ–΄μš”.The place I saw yesterday was close to the station but a bit dark.
A:였늘 λ³Έ 집은 밝고 μ‘°μš©ν•΄μ„œ μ‚΄κΈ° μ’‹μ•„μš”.The place you saw today is bright and quiet, so it's good to live in.
B:λ§žμ•„μš”. μ œκ°€ 찾던 집이 λ°”λ‘œ 이런 μ§‘μ΄μ—μš”.That's right. A place like this is exactly what I was looking for.
A:그럼 λ‚΄μΌκΉŒμ§€ 생각해 λ³΄μ‹œκ³  연락 μ£Όμ„Έμš”.Then please think it over until tomorrow and contact me.
Hard words: λ§ˆμŒμ— λ“œμ„Έμš” ma-eu-me deu-se-yo Β· μ–΄λ‘μ› μ–΄μš” eo-du-wo-sseo-yo Β· μ‘°μš©ν•΄μ„œ jo-yong-hae-seo Β· 찾던 chat-tteon Β· 연락 yeol-lak

β‘€ Signing the Contract β€” κ³„μ•½ν•˜λ €κ³  μ™”μ–΄μš”

A:κ·Έ μ§‘μœΌλ‘œ κ³„μ•½ν•˜λ €κ³  μ™”μ–΄μš”.I've come to sign the contract for that place.
B:λ„€. κ³„μ•½μ„œλ₯Ό 천천히 읽어 λ³΄μ„Έμš”. λͺ¨λ₯΄λŠ” 말이 있으면 λ¬Όμ–΄λ³΄μ„Έμš”.Yes. Please read the contract slowly. If there are words you don't know, ask.
A:이사 κ°€λŠ” λ‚ μ§œλŠ” μ–Έμ œλ‘œ ν•˜λ©΄ λΌμš”?What date should I move in?
B:이번 달 말에 λ“€μ–΄μ˜€μ‹€ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”. μ§€κΈˆ μ‚¬λŠ” 뢄이 κ·Έλ•Œ λ‚˜κ°€μš”.You can move in at the end of this month. The person living there now leaves then.
A:그리고 κ³„μ•½ν•˜κΈ° 전에 확인할 게 더 μžˆμ„κΉŒμš”?And is there anything more I should check?
B:집 주인이 λ§žλŠ”μ§€ 등기뢀등본을 κΌ­ ν™•μΈν•˜μ„Έμš”.Be sure to check the property registration to confirm it's the real owner.
Hard words: κ³„μ•½μ„œ gye-yak-sseo Β· 읽어 λ³΄μ„Έμš” il-geo bo-se-yo Β· 이사 i-sa Β· λ“€μ–΄μ˜€μ‹€ 수 deu-reo-o-sil su Β· 집 주인 jip ju-in Β· λ“±κΈ°λΆ€λ“±λ³Έ deung-gi-bu-deung-bon

β‘₯ Two Friends (casual) β€” 이사 갈 집 μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄?

A:이사 갈 집은 μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄?Have you found a place to move to?
B:응, μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ μ§‘μœΌλ‘œ μ •ν–ˆμ–΄. 햇빛이 잘 λ“œλŠ” 방이야.Yeah, I decided on the one I saw yesterday. It's a room that gets lots of sunlight.
A:λŒ€λ°•! μ›”μ„ΈλŠ” μ–Όλ§ˆμ•Ό?Awesome! How much is the rent?
B:μ˜€μ‹­λ§Œ 원인데 ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜μ΄λΌμ„œ μ‚΄ 게 λ³„λ‘œ μ—†μ–΄.It's 500,000 won, but since it's fully furnished I hardly have to buy anything.
A:μ’‹κ² λ‹€! 집듀이 ν•˜λ©΄ λ‚˜λ„ 뢈러 쀘.Lucky you! When you have the housewarming, invite me too.
Hard words: μ •ν–ˆμ–΄ jeong-hae-sseo Β· ν–‡λΉ› haet-bit Β· λŒ€λ°• dae-bak Β· λ³„λ‘œ byeol-lo Β· 집듀이 jip-tteu-ri Β· 뢈러 쀘 bul-leo jwo

πŸ—οΈ Key Phrases β€” μ€‘μš”ν•œ ν‘œν˜„

SituationPoliteCasual
I'm looking for a place to live.μ‚΄ 집을 κ΅¬ν•˜κ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.μ‚΄ 집 κ΅¬ν•˜κ³  μžˆμ–΄.
What's the deposit / monthly rent?보증금과 μ›”μ„Έκ°€ μ–Όλ§ˆμ˜ˆμš”?λ³΄μ¦κΈˆμ΄λž‘ μ›”μ„Έκ°€ μ–Όλ§ˆμ•Ό?
Is the maintenance fee included?관리비 ν¬ν•¨μ΄μ—μš”?관리비 포함이야?
Can I see the room?방을 λ³Ό 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?λ°© λ³Ό 수 μžˆμ–΄?
I'll think about it.생각해 λ³Όκ²Œμš”.생각해 볼게.
I'd like to sign the contract.κ³„μ•½ν•˜κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.κ³„μ•½ν•˜κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄.

πŸ”€ Three Verbs for Homes β€” 동사

VerbEveryday polite (-μš”)Formal (-γ…‚λ‹ˆλ‹€)Casual
to live (μ‚΄λ‹€)μ‚΄μ•„μš”μ‚½λ‹ˆλ‹€μ‚΄μ•„
to move house (μ΄μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€)μ΄μ‚¬ν•΄μš”μ΄μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€μ΄μ‚¬ν•΄
to sign a contract (κ³„μ•½ν•˜λ‹€)κ³„μ•½ν•΄μš”κ³„μ•½ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€κ³„μ•½ν•΄

🧱 The Tool of the Chapter: Verb Modifiers

You know that an adjective can sit in front of a noun in the form -(으)γ„΄: 큰 λ°© (a big room), 밝은 집 (a bright house). A verb can do the same, but the ending shows time: present, past or future. The whole phrase in front of the noun is like an English relative clause ("the room that I saw").

TimeEndingVowel stemConsonant stem
present (is doing)-λŠ”λ³΄λŠ” 집 the house I'm viewingλ¨ΉλŠ” μ‚¬λžŒ the person who is eating
past (did)-γ„΄ / -은본 집 the house I saw읽은 κ³„μ•½μ„œ the contract I read
future / planned-γ„Ή / -을볼 집 the house I'll see읽을 κ³„μ•½μ„œ the contract I'll read

1. Present: -λŠ”

Attach -λŠ” straight to the stem, vowel or consonant: ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” λ°© ("a room that gets plenty of sun"), 창문으둜 λ³΄μ΄λŠ” 경치 ("the view seen from the window"), 세탁기가 μžˆλŠ” 집 ("a place that has a washing machine"). Stems ending in γ„Ή lose the γ„Ή: μ‚΄λ‹€ β†’ μ‚¬λŠ” 집 ("the house where one lives").

2. Past: -(으)γ„΄

-γ„΄ after a vowel and -은 after a consonant: μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ 집 ("the house I saw yesterday"), μ§€κΈˆ μ‚¬λŠ” λΆ„; 전에 μ‚° 집 is "the house I bought/lived in before". With γ„Ή stems the γ„Ή drops and γ„΄ is added: μ‚΄λ‹€ β†’ μ‚°. Note that μžˆλ‹€ and μ—†λ‹€ take -λŠ” even in the present: μžˆλŠ”, μ—†λŠ” (λ§›μžˆλŠ” μŒμ‹, 관리비가 μ—†λŠ” λ°©).

3. Future or intended: -(으)γ„Ή

-γ„Ή after a vowel and -을 after a consonant: 이사 갈 집 ("the house I'm going to move to"), μ‚΄ 집, 읽을 μ‹œκ°„ ("time to read"). It also appears inside patterns you know: -(으)γ„Ή 수 μžˆμ–΄μš” and -(으)γ„Ή κ±°μ˜ˆμš”.

4. Remembered past: -던

A related form, -던, means "used to / was doing": μ œκ°€ 찾던 집 ("the house I was looking for"). It appears in dialog 4 and is often heard in speech and songs.

SentenceEnglish
μ œκ°€ μ‚¬λŠ” 집은 μ„œμšΈμ— μžˆμ–΄μš”.The house where I live is in Seoul.
μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ 집이 더 λ§ˆμŒμ— λ“€μ–΄μš”.I like the house I saw yesterday more.
이사 갈 집은 μ§€ν•˜μ² μ—­μ—μ„œ κ°€κΉŒμ›Œμš”.The house I'll move to is near a subway station.
ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” 방을 μ°Ύκ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.I'm looking for a room that gets lots of sun.

πŸ“– Reading β€” 읽기: 민호 μ”¨μ˜ μƒˆ 집

민호 μ”¨μ˜ μƒˆ 집 민호 μ”¨λŠ” 이번 달 말에 μ΄μ‚¬ν•΄μš”. κ·Έλž˜μ„œ μ§€λ‚œμ£ΌλΆ€ν„° 뢀동산에 κ°€μ„œ 집을 보고 μžˆμ–΄μš”. 첫 번째둜 λ³Έ 집은 μ›”μ„Έκ°€ μ‹Έμ§€λ§Œ μ’€ μ–΄λ‘μ› μ–΄μš”. 두 번째둜 λ³Έ 집은 ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” 남ν–₯μ΄μ—ˆμ–΄μš”. κ·Έ 집은 에어컨과 세탁기가 μžˆλŠ” ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜μ΄μ—ˆμ–΄μš”. 민호 μ”¨λŠ” κ·Έ 집이 λ§ˆμŒμ— λ“€μ–΄μ„œ κ³„μ•½ν•˜κΈ°λ‘œ ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. κ³„μ•½ν•˜κΈ° 전에 등기뢀등본을 ν™•μΈν–ˆμ–΄μš”. 이제 이사 갈 집이 μƒκ²¨μ„œ 마음이 νŽΈν•΄μš”.
Word list: κ·Έλž˜μ„œ (so) Β· μ§€λ‚œμ£Ό (last week) Β· -기둜 ν•˜λ‹€ (to decide to) Β· 생기닀 (to come to have; to appear)

True or false? (맞으면 O, 틀리면 X)

1. 민호 μ”¨λŠ” 이번 달 말에 μ΄μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
2. 첫 번째 집은 λ°μ•˜μ–΄μš”.
3. 두 번째 μ§‘μ—λŠ” 에어컨과 세탁기가 μžˆμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.
4. 민호 μ”¨λŠ” κ³„μ•½ν•œ 후에 등기뢀등본을 ν™•μΈν–ˆμ–΄μš”.

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1. O Β· 2. X (it was cheap but dark) Β· 3. O Β· 4. X (he checked it before signing, κ³„μ•½ν•˜κΈ° 전에)

πŸ“– Vocabulary β€” μ–΄νœ˜

#KoreanSay itEnglishType
1뢀동산bu-dong-sanestate agent; real estatenoun
2원룸wol-lumstudio flatnoun
3보증금bo-jeung-geumdepositnoun
4μ›”μ„Έwol-ssemonthly rentnoun
5관리비gwal-li-bimaintenance feenoun
6κ³„μ•½μ„œgye-yak-sseocontract (document)noun
7집 주인jip ju-inlandlord; ownernoun
8남ν–₯nam-hyangsouth-facingnoun
9μ˜΅μ…˜op-ssyeonoption (built-in furniture/appliances)noun
10세탁기se-tak-giwashing machinenoun
11이사i-samoving housenoun
12μ˜ˆμ‚°ye-sanbudgetnoun
13κ΅¬ν•˜λ‹€gu-ha-dato look for; to findverb
14κ³„μ•½ν•˜λ‹€gye-ya-ka-dato sign a contractverb
15μ΄μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€i-sa-ha-dato move houseverb
16ν¬ν•¨λ˜λ‹€po-ham-doe-dato be includedverb
17ν™•μΈν•˜λ‹€hwa-gin-ha-dato check; to confirmverb
18밝닀bak-ttato be brightadj
19μ–΄λ‘‘λ‹€eo-dup-ttato be darkadj
20μ‘°μš©ν•˜λ‹€jo-yong-ha-dato be quietadj
Deposit and Monthly Rent (check with an agent) Guides for foreign residents describe three common systems: μ›”μ„Έ (a smaller deposit plus rent every month, the usual choice for foreigners), μ „μ„Έ (one large deposit and no monthly rent, harder for foreigners and described by some guides as risky without professional help) and λ°˜μ „μ„Έ (a middle option: a larger deposit and a smaller monthly rent). Contracts are often one to two years. Utilities are usually not included in the rent, and agents often charge a fee based on the rent or deposit. Deposit fraud is a known problem, so guides advise viewing in person and checking the property registration (λ“±κΈ°λΆ€λ“±λ³Έ) before paying. Rules and amounts change, so confirm each point with the agent and, if needed, a lawyer.
남ν–₯, ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜ and 원룸 Agents often list 남ν–₯ (south-facing) as a selling point because of sunlight. ν’€μ˜΅μ…˜ means the home comes with appliances and furniture such as a fridge, washing machine, air conditioner and desk; μ˜΅μ…˜ alone means only some are included. A 원룸 is a studio. These meanings come from common usage, so look at each listing to see exactly what is in the room.
As Heard in Dramas β€” λ“œλΌλ§ˆμ—μ„œ Housing is a favourite drama theme. A character who says λ‚΄ 집 마련이 κΏˆμ΄μ—μš” ("my dream is to have a home of my own") is saving hard, and a housewarming invitation 집듀이 ν•΄μš”! brings friends with gifts such as toilet paper or detergent (a traditional wish for things to "flow" and "foam up" well). Money arguments often mention μ›”μ„Έ λ°€λ Έμ–΄μš” ("the rent is overdue").
Grammar Pointer The adjective form -(으)γ„΄ before a noun is from Korean Basic Conversation 2, Chapter 4 (Describing), and the future -(으)γ„Ή κ±°μ˜ˆμš” and the question -(으)γ„ΉκΉŒμš” from Chapter 3 (Plans). The reason ending -μ•„/μ–΄μ„œ is from Korean Basic Conversation 3, Chapter 3 (Post Office, Bank & Paying Bills). Verb modifiers will keep returning through the rest of this course.

✍️ Try It Yourself β€” μ—°μŠ΅

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I'm looking for a room that gets plenty of sun."

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ν•΄κ°€ 잘 λ“œλŠ” 방을 μ°Ύκ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.

2. Say "The house I saw yesterday was a bit dark."

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μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ 집은 μ’€ μ–΄λ‘μ› μ–΄μš”.

3. Say "The flat I'm going to move to is near the station."

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이사 갈 집은 μ—­μ—μ„œ κ°€κΉŒμ›Œμš”.

4. Ask "Is the maintenance fee included?"

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관리비가 포함돼 μžˆμ–΄μš”? (or 관리비 ν¬ν•¨μ΄μ—μš”?)

5. Say "Please read the contract slowly and ask if there is a word you don't know."

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κ³„μ•½μ„œλ₯Ό 천천히 읽어 λ³΄μ„Έμš”. λͺ¨λ₯΄λŠ” 말이 있으면 λ¬Όμ–΄λ³΄μ„Έμš”.

6. Tell a friend casually "Invite me to the housewarming of the house you're moving to."

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이사 갈 집 집듀이에 λ‚˜λ„ 뢈러 쀘.