Nature & Environment

Korean Basic Conversation 4

Chapter 9 · Nature & Environment: Climate, Recycling & Sustainable Living

🌍 Nature & Environment — 자연과 환경

In this chapter you talk about the weather and climate, fine dust, recycling and living more sustainably. The grammar: -기 때문에 ("because"), -게 하다 ("make or let someone do", revisited) and -(으)ㄹ수록 ("the more… the more", revisited from Korean Basic Conversation 4 1). For the background see Korean Grammar 3 7 (Reasons and Results) and Korean Grammar 3 4 (Causatives). The rubbish-sorting rules here are general: they differ between districts and buildings, so always check the local notice.

① A Dusty Morning — 미세먼지

A:오늘 아침에 하늘이 뿌옇네요. 미세먼지가 심한가 봐요.The sky is hazy this morning. The fine dust must be bad.

B:앱에서 확인해 봤는데 오늘은 "나쁨"이래요. 마스크를 꼭 쓰세요.I checked the app and it says "bad" today. Be sure to wear a mask.

A:미세먼지 때문에 창문도 못 열겠어요.Because of the fine dust I can't even open the windows.

B:맞아요. 오늘은 밖에서 운동하지 않는 게 좋겠어요.Right. Today it's better not to exercise outside.

A:봄에는 황사까지 오기 때문에 더 힘들어요.In spring there's yellow dust as well, so it's even harder.

B:공기청정기를 하나 사야겠어요.I think I should buy an air purifier.

Hard words: 미세먼지 mi-se-meon-ji fine dust · 뿌옇다 ppu-yeo-ta be hazy · 황사 hwang-sa yellow dust · 공기청정기 gong-gi-cheong-jeong-gi air purifier

② Sorting the Rubbish — 분리수거

A:이사 와서 처음인데, 분리수거는 어떻게 해야 해요?I've just moved in, so this is my first time. How do I sort the rubbish?

B:플라스틱, 캔, 유리, 종이, 비닐을 따로따로 모아서 재활용품 통에 넣으세요.Collect plastic, cans, glass, paper and vinyl separately and put them in the recycling bins.

A:일반 쓰레기는요?What about ordinary rubbish?

B:우리 구에서 파는 종량제 봉투에 담아서 버려야 해요. 아무 봉투나 쓰면 안 돼요.You have to put it in the standard rubbish bags sold by our district. You can't use just any bag.

A:음식물 쓰레기는 어디에 버려요?Where do I throw food waste?

B:그건 따로 모으는 통이 있어요. 수거 요일은 공지문에 쓰여 있으니까 한번 확인해 보세요.There's a separate bin for that. The collection days are written on the notice, so please check.

Hard words: 분리수거 bul-li-su-geo sorting of recyclables · 종량제 봉투 jong-nyang-je bong-tu standard rubbish bag · 음식물 쓰레기 eum-sing-mul sseu-re-gi food waste · 공지문 gong-ji-mun notice

③ Disposables at the Café — 일회용품

A:아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. 일회용 컵 말고 텀블러에 담아 주시겠어요?One Americano, please. Could you put it in my tumbler instead of a disposable cup?

B:네, 그럼 텀블러를 가져오시면 할인도 해 드려요.Yes. We also give a discount if you bring your own tumbler.

A:빨대는 필요 없어요. 쓰레기를 줄이고 싶어서요.I don't need a straw. I want to reduce waste.

B:좋은 습관이세요. 요즘은 일회용품을 못 쓰게 하는 곳도 많아요.That's a good habit. These days there are many places where they don't allow disposables.

A:저는 장을 볼 때도 에코백을 가져가요.I take a tote bag when I go grocery shopping too.

B:작은 실천이 모이면 큰 변화가 되겠죠.Small actions add up to big changes, don't they.

Hard words: 일회용품 il-hoe-yong-pum disposables · 텀블러 teom-beul-leo tumbler · 빨대 ppal-dae straw · 에코백 e-ko-baek tote bag · 실천 sil-cheon putting into practice

④ A Hot Summer — 기후변화

A:올여름은 폭염 때문에 정말 힘들었어요.This summer was really hard because of the heatwave.

B:맞아요. 해마다 점점 더 더워지는 것 같아요.True. It seems to get hotter every year.

A:지구가 더워질수록 날씨가 더 극단적으로 변한대요.They say the hotter the earth gets, the more extreme the weather becomes.

B:장마 때는 폭우가 쏟아지고, 겨울에는 한파가 오기도 하잖아요.In the rainy season there are downpours, and in winter cold snaps sometimes come, don't they.

A:그래서 에너지를 아끼는 게 중요해요. 에어컨도 필요할 때만 켜요.So saving energy is important. I only turn on the air conditioning when I need it.

B:저도 전기를 쓰지 않을 때는 플러그를 뽑아 놓으려고 해요.I also try to unplug things when I'm not using electricity.

Hard words: 폭염 pok-yeom heatwave · 극단적 geuk-dan-jeok extreme · 폭우 pok-u heavy rain · 한파 han-pa cold wave · 아끼다 a-kki-da save, cherish

⑤ Bulky Waste — 대형 폐기물

A:오래된 책상을 버리고 싶은데 그냥 내놓으면 돼요?I want to throw away an old desk. Can I just put it out?

B:아니요, 큰 물건은 대형 폐기물이라서 신고를 하고 스티커를 사서 붙여야 해요.No, large items are bulky waste, so you have to report it and buy a sticker to attach.

A:신고는 어떻게 해요?How do I report it?

B:구청 홈페이지나 전화로 신청하시면 돼요. 수수료는 크기에 따라 달라요.You can apply on the district office website or by phone. The fee depends on the size.

A:그럼 오늘 신청해 놓고 수거 날짜를 기다릴게요.Then I'll apply today and wait for the collection date.

B:네, 정해진 날에 맞춰 집 앞에 내놓으세요.Yes, put it out in front of your house on the set day.

Hard words: 대형 폐기물 dae-hyeong pye-gi-mul bulky waste · 신고 sin-go report · 스티커 seu-ti-keo sticker · 크기 keu-gi size · 내놓다 nae-no-ta put out

⑥ Between Friends (casual) — 페트병 라벨

A:야, 그 페트병 그냥 버리면 안 돼. 라벨 떼고 버려야 돼.Hey, you can't just throw that bottle away. You have to remove the label first.

B:진짜? 몰랐어. 왜 그래야 돼?Really? I didn't know. Why do you have to?

A:라벨이 붙어 있으면 재활용하기 어렵기 때문이야.It's because it's hard to recycle if the label is still on.

B:알겠어. 쓰레기를 줄일수록 좋다는 건 알지만 분리수거가 은근히 귀찮아.Okay. I know the less rubbish the better, but sorting is quietly annoying.

A:익숙해지면 괜찮아. 나도 처음엔 힘들었어.Once you get used to it, it's fine. It was hard for me at first too.

Hard words: 페트병 pe-teu-byeong plastic bottle · 라벨 ra-bel label · 떼다 tte-da peel off · 은근히 eun-geun-hi quietly, rather · 익숙해지다 ik-suk-hae-ji-da get used to

🔑 Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

English	Polite (-요)	Casual (friends)
Wear a mask because of the fine dust.	미세먼지 때문에 마스크를 쓰세요.	미세먼지 때문에 마스크 써.
Sort the rubbish.	분리수거를 하세요.	분리수거 해.
Let's reduce disposables.	일회용품을 줄여요.	일회용품 줄이자.
It's hot because of the heatwave.	폭염 때문에 더워요.	폭염 때문에 더워.
The less waste the better.	쓰레기를 줄일수록 좋아요.	쓰레기 줄일수록 좋아.
It's good for the environment.	환경에 좋아요.	환경에 좋아.

🔤 Three Verbs — 동사

Verb	Dictionary	Polite present	Past	-기 때문에	-게 하다
to throw away	버리다	버려요	버렸어요	버리기 때문에	버리게 하다
to reduce	줄이다	줄여요	줄였어요	줄이기 때문에	줄이게 하다
to recycle	재활용하다	재활용해요	재활용했어요	재활용하기 때문에	재활용하게 하다

🧰 Grammar Tools — 문법

1. -기 때문에: "because…"

Add -기 때문에 to a verb or adjective stem to give a reason, in an explaining and slightly formal tone: 미세먼지가 심하기 때문에 마스크를 써요. (Because the fine dust is bad, I wear a mask.) After a noun use only 때문에: 폭염 때문에 힘들어요. (It's hard because of the heatwave.) For the past use the past stem: 비가 왔기 때문에 늦었어요. At the end of a sentence you can answer a "why?" with -기 때문이에요: 귀찮기 때문이에요. (It's because it's a bother.)

Pattern	Example	Meaning
verb + -기 때문에	재활용하기 때문에 쓰레기가 줄어요.	Because we recycle, waste decreases.
adjective + -기 때문에	날씨가 덥기 때문에 에어컨을 써요.	Because it's hot, I use the air conditioning.
noun + 때문에	미세먼지 때문에 못 나가요.	I can't go out because of the fine dust.
past + -기 때문에	비가 왔기 때문에 길이 막혔어요.	It rained, so the road was jammed.
answer: -기 때문이다	귀찮기 때문이에요.	It's because it's a bother.

2. -게 하다, revisited: "make or let"

You met -게 하다 in Korean Basic Conversation 4 6. It says that someone or something makes or lets another do an action: 정부가 일회용품을 줄이게 해요. (The government makes people reduce disposables.) 학교에서 학생들이 분리수거를 하게 해요. (At school they have the students sort the rubbish.) Add -지 못하게 하다 for "not let": 일회용품을 못 쓰게 해요. The context tells you whether it is "make" or "let".

Example	Meaning
회사가 직원들이 텀블러를 쓰게 해요.	The company has its staff use tumblers.
부모님이 아이가 쓰레기를 줍게 했어요.	The parents had their child pick up the rubbish.
그 가게는 비닐봉지를 못 쓰게 해요.	That shop doesn't allow plastic bags.

3. -(으)ㄹ수록, revisited

Use -(으)ㄹ수록 for "the more A, the more B", as in Korean Basic Conversation 4 1, now with environmental topics: 쓰레기를 줄일수록 환경이 좋아져요. (The more you reduce waste, the better the environment gets.) 지구가 더워질수록 날씨가 극단적이 돼요. (The hotter the earth gets, the more extreme the weather becomes.) After 되다 and 지다 the result is often a change: 좋아지다, 심해지다.

The more A…	…the more B
사용할수록	쓰레기가 늘어요.
나무를 심을수록	공기가 깨끗해져요.
미세먼지가 심할수록	밖에 나가기 어려워요.

Watch out: -기 때문에 is for explaining, not for commands -기 때문에 sounds explanatory, and the part after it is usually a statement. For a request or a suggestion use -(으)니까: 미세먼지가 심하니까 마스크를 쓰세요, not 심하기 때문에 마스크를 쓰세요. Also remember that after a noun it is just 때문에: 비 때문에, never 비이기 때문에 for a simple cause.

4. Environment words

Korean	English
기후변화 / 지구온난화	climate change / global warming
미세먼지 / 황사	fine dust / yellow dust
폭염 / 폭우 / 한파	heatwave / heavy rain / cold wave
플라스틱 / 캔 / 유리 / 종이 / 비닐	plastic / cans / glass / paper / vinyl
친환경 / 에너지 절약	eco-friendly / saving energy

📰 Reading — 읽기

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

환경을 위한 작은 습관

요즘 저는 환경을 위해 작은 습관을 만들고 있어요. 먼저 카페에 갈 때 텀블러를 가져가요. 일회용 컵을 쓰지 않기로 했기 때문이에요. 집에서는 쓰레기를 종류별로 나누어서 분리수거 날에 내놓아요. 음식물 쓰레기도 따로 버려요. 처음에는 귀찮았지만 하면 할수록 습관이 됐어요. 미세먼지가 심한 날에는 마스크를 쓰고 가까운 거리는 걸어서 다녀요. 작은 일이지만 모두가 하면 지구가 조금 더 건강해질 거예요.

English: These days I'm building small habits for the environment. First, I take a tumbler when I go to a café, because I decided not to use disposable cups. At home I sort the rubbish by type and put it out on collection day. I also throw food waste away separately. At first it was a bother, but the more I did it, the more it became a habit. On days when the fine dust is bad I wear a mask and walk short distances. It's a small thing, but if everyone does it, the earth will become a little healthier.

Words: 종류별로 by type · 내놓다 put out · 습관 habit · 건강해지다 become healthy

1. The writer takes a tumbler to cafés.

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True: 텀블러를 가져가요.

2. The writer puts all rubbish in one bag.

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False: the rubbish is sorted by type (종류별로 나누어서).

3. At first sorting was a bother.

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True: 처음에는 귀찮았지만.

4. On bad fine-dust days the writer drives everywhere.

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False: the writer wears a mask and walks short distances.

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

20 key words for nature and the environment.

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	기후변화	gi-hu-byeon-hwa	climate change	noun
2	지구온난화	ji-gu-on-nan-hwa	global warming	noun
3	미세먼지	mi-se-meon-ji	fine dust	noun
4	폭염	pok-yeom	heatwave	noun
5	환경	hwan-gyeong	environment	noun
6	친환경	chin-hwan-gyeong	eco-friendly	noun
7	재활용	jae-hwa-yong	recycling	noun
8	분리수거	bul-li-su-geo	sorting recyclables	noun
9	일회용품	il-hoe-yong-pum	disposables	noun
10	쓰레기	sseu-re-gi	rubbish	noun
11	종량제 봉투	jong-nyang-je bong-tu	standard rubbish bag	noun
12	음식물 쓰레기	eum-sing-mul sseu-re-gi	food waste	noun
13	플라스틱	peul-la-seu-tik	plastic	noun
14	텀블러	teom-beul-leo	tumbler (reusable cup)	noun
15	대형 폐기물	dae-hyeong pye-gi-mul	bulky waste	noun
16	버리다	beo-ri-da	throw away	verb
17	줄이다	ju-ri-da	reduce	verb
18	재활용하다	jae-hwa-yong-ha-da	recycle	verb
19	아끼다	a-kki-da	save, economise	verb
20	분리하다	bul-li-ha-da	separate, sort	verb

As Heard in Dramas — "분리수거 하는 날" In dramas set in apartment blocks, the weekly 분리수거 evening is a classic meeting place: neighbours carry out boxes and bags and chat. You will also hear a worried 미세먼지 때문에 머리 아파 ("my head hurts from the fine dust") on hazy days.

Real Korean Tip — How Rubbish Works Household rubbish is generally put into official 종량제 봉투 (standard bags) bought from shops, which means the more you throw away, the more you pay. Recyclables and food waste are collected separately, and bulky items need a report and a sticker. The exact rules, bin types and collection days differ by district and building, so read the notice and ask a neighbour or the building manager.

Register — Talking About Rules Notices use the formal style: 분리배출을 해 주시기 바랍니다 ("please separate your waste"). Neighbours speaking to each other use polite -요: 이건 여기에 버리세요. Between friends, a short 이거 따로 버려 is fine.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

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

1. Say "I can't go out because of the fine dust."

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미세먼지 때문에 못 나가요.

2. Say "Because it's hot, I use the air conditioning."

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날씨가 덥기 때문에 에어컨을 써요.

3. Say "The more you reduce waste, the better it is."

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쓰레기를 줄일수록 좋아요.

4. Say "That shop doesn't allow plastic bags."

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그 가게는 비닐봉지를 못 쓰게 해요.

5. Tell a friend casually "Take the label off before throwing it away."

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라벨 떼고 버려.

6. Why is 미세먼지가 심하기 때문에 마스크를 쓰세요 awkward?

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-기 때문에 explains and is not usually followed by a command. Say 미세먼지가 심하니까 마스크를 쓰세요.