Health & Fitness

Korean Basic Conversation 4

Chapter 1 · Health & Fitness: Sport, Diet & Healthy Living

🏃 Health & Fitness — 건강과 운동

Welcome to Course 4. From here on the conversations are longer and more independent, and romanization appears only in the Hard words notes and the vocabulary table. This chapter is about sport, diet and looking after yourself. The grammar: -기로 하다 ("decide to"), -느라고 ("because I was busy doing") and -(으)ㄹ수록 ("the more… the more"). For the grammar behind the patterns you already know, see Korean Grammar 2 6 (Purpose, Time, Condition) and Korean Grammar 2 5 (And, But, So).

① Joining a Gym — 헬스장 등록

A:안녕하세요. 헬스장에 등록하고 싶은데요.Hello. I'd like to join the gym.

B:네, 어서 오세요. 먼저 이용권을 고르셔야 해요. 한 달, 3개월, 1년이 있어요.Welcome. First you need to choose a pass: one month, three months or one year.

A:3개월은 얼마예요?How much is the three-month pass?

B:27만 원인데, 요가 수업도 들으실 수 있어요.270,000 won, and you can also take the yoga class.

A:그럼 3개월로 할게요. 운동복도 빌려 주세요?Then I'll take three months. Do you lend workout clothes too?

B:네, 수건과 운동복은 무료예요. 신청서를 써 주세요.Yes, towels and workout clothes are free. Please fill in the application form.

Hard words: 이용권 i-yong-gwon pass · 운동복 un-dong-bok workout clothes · 무료 mu-ryo free · 신청서 sin-cheong-seo application form

② Deciding to Exercise — 운동하기로 했어요

A:요즘 살이 좀 쪄서 걱정이에요.I've put on a bit of weight lately and I'm worried.

B:그럼 같이 운동할까요?Then shall we exercise together?

A:좋아요. 매주 화요일과 목요일에 저녁 7시에 만나기로 해요.Good. Let's agree to meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm.

B:그리고 이번 달부터는 야식을 먹지 않기로 했어요.And I've decided not to eat late-night snacks from this month.

A:정말요? 저도 따라 해야겠어요.Really? I'd better copy you.

B:같이 하면 더 오래 할 수 있을 거예요.If we do it together, we'll be able to keep it up longer.

Hard words: 살이 찌다 sa-ri jji-da put on weight · 야식 ya-sik late-night snack · 따라 하다 tta-ra ha-da copy, follow

③ Too Busy — 바빠서 못 갔어요

A:어제 왜 헬스장에 안 왔어요?Why didn't you come to the gym yesterday?

B:보고서를 쓰느라고 못 갔어요. 밤 11시까지 일했어요.I couldn't go because I was busy writing a report. I worked until 11 pm.

A:저는 아이를 돌보느라고 요즘 운동을 못 해요.I haven't been able to exercise lately because I'm busy looking after my child.

B:그래도 집에서 스트레칭이라도 해 보세요.Still, try at least some stretching at home.

A:네, 자기 전에 십 분씩 해 볼게요.Yes, I'll try ten minutes each night before bed.

B:작은 것부터 시작하면 돼요.Just start with something small.

Hard words: 보고서 bo-go-seo report · 돌보다 dol-bo-da look after · 스트레칭 seu-teu-re-ching stretching

④ The Running Club — 러닝 동호회

A:민수 씨, 요즘 한강에서 달리고 있다면서요?Minsu, I hear you've been running by the Han River lately?

B:네, 러닝 동호회에 들어갔어요. 처음에는 오 분도 힘들었어요.Yes, I joined a running club. At first even five minutes was hard.

A:지금은 얼마나 달려요?How far do you run now?

B:십 킬로미터쯤요. 달릴수록 몸이 가벼워지는 것 같아요.About ten kilometres. The more I run, the lighter my body seems to feel.

A:저도 해 보고 싶은데, 무릎이 좀 안 좋아서요.I'd like to try too, but my knees aren't great.

B:그럼 먼저 걷기부터 해 보세요. 무리하지 않는 게 중요해요.Then start with walking. The important thing is not to overdo it.

Hard words: 동호회 dong-ho-hoe club · 무릎 mu-reup knee · 무리하다 mu-ri-ha-da overdo it · 가벼워지다 ga-byeo-wo-ji-da become lighter

⑤ Eating Well — 건강한 식단

A:한국 음식은 건강에 좋다고 하던데, 정말이에요?They say Korean food is good for your health. Is that true?

B:채소가 많이 들어가고 기름은 적은 편이에요. 하지만 국물은 짜게 먹기 쉬워요.It has a lot of vegetables and tends to be low in oil. But it's easy to eat too much salt in the soup.

A:그럼 국물을 다 마시지 않는 게 좋겠네요.Then it's better not to drink all the soup.

B:맞아요. 그리고 먹을수록 더 먹고 싶어지니까 천천히 드세요.Right. And the more you eat, the more you want, so eat slowly.

A:저는 이제 밥을 반만 먹기로 했어요.I've now decided to eat only half a bowl of rice.

B:좋은 결심이에요. 그런데 아침을 거르지는 마세요.A good resolution. But don't skip breakfast.

Hard words: 식단 sik-dan diet, meal plan · 국물 gung-mul soup, broth · 결심 gyeol-sim resolution · 거르다 geo-reu-da skip (a meal)

⑥ Between Friends (casual) — 친구끼리

A:야, 나 오늘부터 다이어트하기로 했어.Hey, I've decided to go on a diet from today.

B:진짜? 지난번에도 그렇게 말했잖아.Really? You said that last time too.

A:이번에는 달라. 같이 헬스장 갈래?This time is different. Want to go to the gym together?

B:좋아. 근데 일하느라고 늦을 수도 있어.Okay. But I might be late because I'll be busy working.

A:괜찮아. 운동은 하면 할수록 재밌어.It's fine. The more you exercise, the more fun it is.

Hard words: 지난번 ji-nan-beon last time · 이번에는 i-beo-ne-neun this time · 재밌다 jae-mit-da is fun

🔑 Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

English	Polite (-요)	Casual (friends)
I've decided to exercise.	운동하기로 했어요.	운동하기로 했어.
I couldn't go because I was working.	일하느라고 못 갔어요.	일하느라고 못 갔어.
The more I run, the better I feel.	달릴수록 기분이 좋아져요.	달릴수록 기분이 좋아져.
Let's meet on Tuesdays.	화요일마다 만나기로 해요.	화요일마다 만나기로 하자.
Don't overdo it.	무리하지 마세요.	무리하지 마.
I want to lose weight.	살을 빼고 싶어요.	살 빼고 싶어.

🔤 Three Verbs — 동사

Verb	Dictionary	Polite present	Past	-(으)ㄹ수록
to run	달리다	달려요	달렸어요	달릴수록
to lose (weight)	빼다	빼요	뺐어요	뺄수록
to exercise	운동하다	운동해요	운동했어요	운동할수록

🧰 Grammar Tools — 문법

1. -기로 하다: "decide to / agree to"

Add -기로 하다 to a verb stem to say you have decided to do something, or two people have agreed to. The decision is usually in the past tense (-기로 했어요): "I have decided". The stem always takes -기로, with no change after a consonant. Use -지 않기로 하다 or 안 -기로 하다 for a decision not to do something.

Pattern	Example	Meaning
stem + -기로 했어요	매일 걷기로 했어요.	I've decided to walk every day.
stem + -기로 해요	저녁 7시에 만나기로 해요.	Let's agree to meet at 7.
-지 않기로 했어요	야식을 먹지 않기로 했어요.	I've decided not to eat late-night snacks.

2. -느라고: "because I was busy doing…"

Attach -느라고 to a verb stem (no tense) to give the reason for a negative result: you could not do something because you were busy with something else. It is only for the same subject, and what follows is usually a problem or an excuse. The tense goes at the end: 일하느라고 늦었어요. (I was late because I was busy working.)

Reason (busy doing)	Result	Meaning
보고서를 쓰느라고	못 갔어요.	I couldn't go because I was writing a report.
아이를 돌보느라고	운동을 못 해요.	I can't exercise because I'm busy looking after my child.
게임을 하느라고	잠을 못 잤어요.	I didn't sleep because I was busy playing a game.

3. -(으)ㄹ수록: "the more… the more…"

Add -ㄹ수록 after a vowel stem and -을수록 after a consonant stem, then say what happens as a result: 달릴수록 힘이 나요. (The more I run, the more energy I get.) For -하다 verbs the stem is 하, so you get 운동할수록. A ㄹ-stem verb keeps its ㄹ (살다 → 살수록). Often -면 -ㄹ수록 ("the more you …") is used: 하면 할수록 재밌어요.

Pattern	Example	Meaning
vowel stem + -ㄹ수록	달릴수록 가벼워져요.	The more I run, the lighter I feel.
consonant stem + -을수록	먹을수록 더 먹고 싶어요.	The more I eat, the more I want.
adjective + -(으)ㄹ수록	나이가 많을수록 건강이 중요해요.	The older you are, the more important health is.
-면 -ㄹ수록	하면 할수록 재밌어요.	The more you do it, the more fun it is.

Watch out: -느라고 is only for a busy reason with the same subject -느라고 cannot be used with a different subject in each clause, and it does not suit a happy result. Say 친구가 와서 못 갔어요 (a friend came, so I couldn't go), not 친구가 오느라고. For a good result use -아/어서 (Korean Basic Conversation 3).

4. Body and exercise words

Korean	English
운동 / 스트레칭 / 러닝	exercise / stretching / running
체중 / 몸	body weight / body
살이 찌다 / 살을 빼다	to put on weight / to lose weight
건강검진	health check-up
운동 부족	lack of exercise

📰 Reading — 읽기

Read the text, then check the English and the word list. Then answer the true/false questions.

나의 건강 이야기

저는 작년까지 운동을 거의 하지 않았어요. 회사에서 하루 종일 앉아서 일하느라고 걸을 시간도 없었어요. 점심도 컴퓨터를 보면서 먹었어요. 어느 날 건강검진에서 의사 선생님이 "운동을 좀 하셔야겠어요"라고 말씀하셨어요. 그래서 저는 집 근처 헬스장에 등록하기로 했어요. 처음에는 힘들어서 그만두고 싶었어요. 하지만 음악을 들으면서 달리니까 재미있었어요. 하면 할수록 몸이 가벼워졌어요. 지금은 일주일에 세 번 헬스장에 가요. 밤에는 야식을 먹지 않기로 했어요. 올해는 친구와 함께 마라톤에 나가 보려고 해요.

English: Until last year I hardly exercised. Because I was busy sitting and working all day at the office, I had no time to walk. I even ate lunch while looking at my computer. One day, at my health check-up, the doctor said, "You'd better exercise a bit." So I decided to join a gym near my home. At first it was hard and I wanted to quit. But running while listening to music was fun. The more I did it, the lighter my body became. Now I go to the gym three times a week. I've decided not to eat late-night snacks. This year I'm going to try a marathon with a friend.

Words: 하루 종일 all day long · 그만두다 quit · 일주일에 세 번 three times a week · 마라톤 marathon

1. The writer exercised a lot until last year.

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False: 운동을 거의 하지 않았어요.

2. The doctor told the writer to exercise.

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True: 운동을 좀 하셔야겠어요.

3. The writer found running with music fun.

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True: 음악을 들으면서 달리니까 재미있었어요.

4. The writer goes to the gym every day.

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False: three times a week (일주일에 세 번).

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

20 key words for health and fitness.

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	운동	un-dong	exercise	noun
2	헬스장	hel-seu-jang	gym	noun
3	요가	yo-ga	yoga	noun
4	다이어트	da-i-eo-teu	diet	noun
5	건강	geon-gang	health	noun
6	몸	mom	body	noun
7	체중	che-jung	body weight	noun
8	건강검진	geon-gang-geom-jin	health check-up	noun
9	스트레칭	seu-teu-re-ching	stretching	noun
10	러닝	reo-ning	running (as exercise)	noun
11	마라톤	ma-ra-ton	marathon	noun
12	식단	sik-dan	diet, meal plan	noun
13	채소	chae-so	vegetables	noun
14	야식	ya-sik	late-night snack	noun
15	무릎	mu-reup	knee	noun
16	달리다	dal-li-da	run	verb
17	살을 빼다	sa-reul ppae-da	lose weight	verb
18	살이 찌다	sa-ri jji-da	put on weight	verb
19	등록하다	deung-no-ka-da	register, sign up	verb
20	무리하다	mu-ri-ha-da	overdo it	verb

As Heard in Dramas — "다이어트는 내일부터!" In dramas, characters often say 다이어트는 내일부터! ("The diet starts tomorrow!") as a joke about postponing it. You will also hear 살 빼야 되는데… ("I should lose weight, but…") spoken with a sigh. Both are friendly, casual 반말 or soft -요 talk, never advice to a boss.

Real Korean Tip — Hiking and the Jjimjilbang Hiking (등산) is one of the most popular ways to keep fit in Korea, and many people go to the mountains at weekends in matching outdoor clothes. After exercise some people go to a 찜질방, a public sauna and bathhouse where you wear the provided clothes, sit in hot rooms and often eat boiled eggs. Rules differ between places, so ask at the desk.

Culture — The Health Check Many workplaces and the national health insurance scheme arrange a regular 건강검진 (health check-up). People often talk about the results with colleagues and family, so expect questions like 검진 결과는 어때요?

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

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

1. Say "I've decided to walk every day."

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매일 걷기로 했어요.

2. Say "I couldn't exercise because I was busy working."

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일하느라고 운동을 못 했어요.

3. Say "The more I run, the more fun it is."

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달릴수록 재미있어요.

4. Say "Let's agree to meet at 7 on Thursdays."

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목요일 7시에 만나기로 해요.

5. Tell a friend casually "I've decided to go on a diet from today."

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나 오늘부터 다이어트하기로 했어.

6. Why is 친구가 오느라고 못 갔어요 wrong, and how do you fix it?

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-느라고 needs the same subject in both clauses. Say 친구가 와서 못 갔어요.