KIIP 2: Unit 4–Essential Words and Phrases about Mobile Phones

KIIP 2 Unit 4 Mobile phones

Welcome to KIIP Level 2: Unit 4! In this lesson, we will learn how to talk about mobile phones in Korean. You’ll learn essential vocabulary, key grammar points, and useful phrases to describe phone usage, send messages, and make calls.

This unit introduces two important grammar structures: Verb + -을 수 있다/없다, which expresses ability or inability, and 반말 (informal speech), which is used in casual conversations.

Essential Vocabulary and Phrases

Mobile Phone Vocabulary

Korean	English
스마트폰	Smartphone
전화를 걸다	To make a phone call
전화를 받다	To answer a phone call
전화를 끊다	To hang up a phone call
문자를 보내다	To send a text message
문자를 받다	To receive a text message
문자를 지우다	To delete a text message
전화를 바꾸다	To change phones
국제 전화를 하다	To make an international call
영상 통화를 하다	To make a video call

 

Common Phone Phrases

Korean	English
여보세요?	Hello? (when answering the phone)
전화를 잘못 걸었어요.	I dialed the wrong number.
통화 중이에요.	The line is busy.
매너 모드로 해요.	Put it on silent mode.
진동으로 해요.	Put it on vibrate mode.
휴대 전화 배터리가 없어요.	My phone battery is dead.
답장이 없어요.	There’s no reply.
전화번호가 몇 번이에요?	What is your phone number?
010-12345678이에요.	It’s 010-12345678.
전화 왔어요.	You have a call.
지금 안 계세요.	They’re not available right now.

Grammar Notes & Example Sentences

1. Verb + -을 수 있다/없다 (Ability or Inability)

Use -을 수 있다 to express the ability to do something, and -을 수 없다 to express the inability to do something.

Conjugation Rules:

·         If the verb stem ends in a consonant → -을 수 있다/없다

·         If the verb stem ends in a vowel → -ㄹ 수 있다/없다

Examples:

·         팀장님, 지금 통화할 수 있어요? - 네, 괜찮아요.
(Manager, can you talk now? - Yes, it’s fine.)

·         한국어로 문자를 보낼 수 있어요? - 네, 한국어로 문자를 보낼 수 있어요.
(Can you send a text in Korean? - Yes, I can send a text in Korean.)

·         내일은 일이 있어서 한국어 센터에 갈 수 없어요.
(I have work tomorrow, so I can’t go to the Korean language center.)

·         저는 한국 음식을 만들 수 있어요.
(I can cook Korean food.)

·         저는 자전거를 탈 수 없어요.
(I can’t ride a bicycle.)

2. 반말 (Informal Speech)

Use 반말 when speaking casually with close friends or people younger than you.

Conjugation Rules:

·         -아: 받다 → 받아, 좋다 → 좋아

·         -어: 먹다 → 먹어, 예쁘다 → 예뻐

·         -해: 전화하다 → 전화해, 운동하다 → 운동해

Examples:

·         아나이스, 나 안젤라야. - 응, 안젤라. 그런데 무슨 일이야?
(Anais, it’s Angela. - Yeah, Angela. What’s up?)

·         라민, 그럼 이만 끊을게. 다음에 또 통화해. - 응, 그래.
(Ramin, I’ll hang up now. Let’s talk again later. - Okay, sure.)

·         주말에 시간 있어? - 아니. 약속이 있어.
(Are you free this weekend? - No, I have plans.)

·         이따가 같이 쇼핑하러 갈 거야.
(I’ll go shopping with you later.)

Reading Comprehension

이링: 안젤라, 오늘 한국어 수업에 왜 안 왔어? 혹시 무슨 일이 있어? 걱정이 돼서 연락했어.
안젤라: 아, 아니. 고향에서 부모님이 오셔서 못 갔어. 지금 시내에서 구경하고 있어.
이링: 그렇구나. 부모님과 즐거운 시간 보내. 그런데 다음 시간에 시험이 있어. 알지?
안젤라: 아, 맞다! 시험이 있지? 이따가 전화할게. 시험 범위 좀 알려 줘.

 

New Words:

·         혹시: by any chance

·         걱정이 되다: to be worried

·         구경하다: to look around, to sightsee

·         시험 범위: exam scope

 

Translation:

Iling: Angela, why didn’t you come to Korean class today? Is something wrong? I was worried, so I contacted you.
Angela: Oh, no. My parents came from my hometown, so I couldn’t go. I’m sightseeing downtown now.
Iling: I see. Have a good time with your parents. By the way, there’s an exam next class. You know that, right?
Angela: Oh, right! There’s an exam, isn’t there? I’ll call you later. Tell me the exam scope.

Quiz

Translate the following sentences into Korean using the grammar structures and phrases from this lesson:

1.    Can you send a text message in Korean?

2.    I can’t answer the phone right now.

3.    Let’s hang up and talk again later.

4.    My phone battery is dead.

 

Answers:

1.    한국어로 문자를 보낼 수 있어요?

2.    지금 전화를 받을 수 없어요.

3.    전화를 끊고 다음에 또 통화해요.

4.    휴대 전화 배터리가 없어요.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned essential vocabulary related to mobile phones, how to express ability or inability using Verb + -을 수 있다/없다, and how to use 반말 (informal speech) in casual conversations.

Practicing these patterns will help you communicate more effectively about phone usage and daily life in Korean. Keep practicing and try using these expressions in real conversations!

Happy studying! 😊