Asking About a Missing Cable in Korean

Communicating effectively in a Korean workplace often involves asking about shared resources or items that might be misplaced. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for inquiring about a missing cable, specifically in an office or IT setting, helping you navigate these common situations professionally.

Core Expression

• Expression: 혹시 이 케이블 못 보셨어요?
  Pronunciation: hok-si i ke-i-beul mot bo-syeoss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: By any chance, have you seen this cable? (A polite way to ask if someone has seen a specific cable)

Basic Questions About the Missing Cable

• Expression: 여기 있던 케이블 어디 갔는지 아세요?
  Pronunciation: yeo-gi itt-deon ke-i-beul eo-di gann-neun-ji a-se-yo?
  Meaning: Do you know where the cable that was here went?
• Expression: 제가 케이블을 찾고 있는데 안 보이네요.
  Pronunciation: je-ga ke-i-beul-eul chat-go itt-neun-de an bo-i-ne-yo.
  Meaning: I’m looking for a cable, but I can’t see it.
• Expression: 이 파란색 랜 케이블 보셨어요?
  Pronunciation: i pa-ran-saek raen ke-i-beul bo-syeoss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Have you seen this blue LAN cable?
• Expression: 혹시 케이블 가져가셨어요?
  Pronunciation: hok-si ke-i-beul ga-jyeo-ga-syeoss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Did you happen to take the cable?
• Expression: IT 비품실에 케이블이 하나 없어졌어요.
  Pronunciation: IT bi-pum-sil-e ke-i-beul-i ha-na eop-seo-jyeoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: One cable is missing from the IT supply closet.
• Expression: 누가 마지막으로 사용했는지 아시나요?
  Pronunciation: nu-ga ma-ji-mak-eu-ro sa-yong-haett-neun-ji a-si-na-yo?
  Meaning: Do you know who used it last?
• Expression: 케이블 찾아봐야 할 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: ke-i-beul cha-ja-bwa-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: I think I need to look for the cable.
• Expression: 다른 케이블이라도 괜찮을까요?
  Pronunciation: da-reun ke-i-beul-i-ra-do gwaen-chan-eul-kka-yo?
  Meaning: Would another cable be okay?
• Expression: 이 근처에 케이블이 있었는데…
  Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e ke-i-beul-i iss-eott-neun-de…
  Meaning: There was a cable around here…
• Expression: 케이블 찾는 것 좀 도와주실 수 있어요?
  Pronunciation: ke-i-beul chat-neun geot jom do-wa-ju-sil su iss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Could you help me find the cable?
• Expression: 분명히 여기에 뒀는데 없어졌네요.
  Pronunciation: bun-myeong-hi yeo-gi-e dwott-neun-de eop-seo-jyeonn-ne-yo.
  Meaning: I definitely put it here, but it’s gone.
• Expression: 혹시 어디 있는지 짐작 가시는 곳 있으세요?
  Pronunciation: hok-si eo-di itt-neun-ji jim-jak ga-si-neun got iss-eu-se-yo?
  Meaning: Do you have any idea where it might be?

Describing the Specific Cable

• Expression: 그건 랜 케이블이에요.
  Pronunciation: geu-geon raen ke-i-beul-i-e-yo.
  Meaning: It’s a LAN cable.
• Expression: USB 케이블을 찾고 있어요.
  Pronunciation: USB ke-i-beul-eul chat-go iss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I’m looking for a USB cable.
• Expression: 모니터용 전원 케이블이 필요해요.
  Pronunciation: mo-ni-teo-yong jeon-won ke-i-beul-i pil-yo-hae-yo.
  Meaning: I need the power cable for the monitor.
• Expression: 좀 긴 케이블이었어요.
  Pronunciation: jom gin ke-i-beul-i-eoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: It was a rather long cable.
• Expression: 짧은 검은색 케이블 못 보셨어요?
  Pronunciation: jjalb-eun geom-eun-saek ke-i-beul mot bo-syeoss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Have you seen a short black cable?
• Expression: 서버에 연결하는 케이블이에요.
  Pronunciation: seo-beo-e yeon-gyeol-ha-neun ke-i-beul-i-e-yo.
  Meaning: It’s the cable that connects to the server.
• Expression: 새로 산 케이블인데 없어졌어요.
  Pronunciation: sae-ro san ke-i-beul-in-de eop-seo-jyeoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: It’s a newly bought cable, but it’s missing.
• Expression: 이 특정 케이블이 꼭 필요해요.
  Pronunciation: i teuk-jeong ke-i-beul-i kkok pil-yo-hae-yo.
  Meaning: I really need this specific cable.
• Expression: 혹시 HDMI 케이블 보셨나요?
  Pronunciation: hok-si HDMI ke-i-beul bo-syeonn-na-yo?
  Meaning: Have you perhaps seen an HDMI cable?
• Expression: 흰색 충전 케이블을 찾고 있습니다.
  Pronunciation: huin-saek chung-jeon ke-i-beul-eul chat-go iss-seum-ni-da.
  Meaning: I am looking for a white charging cable.
• Expression: 그 케이블은 좀 낡았어요.
  Pronunciation: geu ke-i-beul-eun jom nalg-ass-eo-yo.
  Meaning: That cable is a bit old.

Possible Responses from a Coworker

• Expression: 아니요, 못 봤는데요.
  Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, mot bwann-neun-de-yo.
  Meaning: No, I haven’t seen it.
• Expression: 글쎄요, 어디 있는지 잘 모르겠네요.
  Pronunciation: geul-sse-yo, eo-di itt-neun-ji jal mo-reu-genn-ne-yo.
  Meaning: Well, I’m not sure where it is.
• Expression: 혹시 김 대리님이 가져가신 거 아닐까요?
  Pronunciation: hok-si gim dae-ri-nim-i ga-jyeo-ga-sin geo a-nil-kka-yo?
  Meaning: Maybe Assistant Manager Kim took it?
• Expression: 저쪽 창고도 한번 확인해 보세요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-jjok chang-go-do han-beon hwa-gin-hae bo-se-yo.
  Meaning: Try checking the storage room over there too.
• Expression: 제가 어제 썼던 것 같은데, 다시 제자리에 뒀어요.
  Pronunciation: je-ga eo-je sseott-deon geot gat-eun-de, da-si je-ja-ri-e dwoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I think I used it yesterday, but I put it back in its place.
• Expression: 아까까지는 분명히 여기 있었어요.
  Pronunciation: a-kka-kka-ji-neun bun-myeong-hi yeo-gi iss-eoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: It was definitely here until a little while ago.
• Expression: 같이 한번 찾아볼까요?
  Pronunciation: ga-chi han-beon cha-ja-bol-kka-yo?
  Meaning: Shall we look for it together?
• Expression: 이거 찾으시는 거 맞아요?
  Pronunciation: i-geo cha-jeu-si-neun geo ma-ja-yo?
  Meaning: Is this the one you’re looking for?
• Expression: 없으면 새로 주문해야 할 수도 있겠네요.
  Pronunciation: eops-eu-myeon sae-ro ju-mun-hae-ya hal su-do itt-genn-ne-yo.
  Meaning: If it’s not here, we might have to order a new one.
• Expression: IT 지원팀에 문의해 보시는 게 어때요?
  Pronunciation: IT ji-won-tim-e mun-ui-hae bo-si-neun ge eo-ttae-yo?
  Meaning: How about asking the IT support team?
• Expression: 아, 저기 책상 밑에 있는 거 아니에요?
  Pronunciation: a, jeo-gi chaek-sang mit-e itt-neun geo a-ni-e-yo?
  Meaning: Oh, isn’t that it under the desk over there?
• Expression: 제가 본 것 같기도 하고… 확실하지 않네요.
  Pronunciation: je-ga bon geot gat-gi-do ha-go… hwak-sil-ha-ji an-ne-yo.
  Meaning: I think I might have seen it… but I’m not sure.

Korean Culture Notes

When asking about missing items in a Korean workplace, politeness is key. Always use formal language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal), especially with seniors (선배 – seon-bae) or those you aren’t close with. Adding 혹시 (hok-si – by any chance) makes the question softer and less accusatory.

Avoid directly accusing someone. Phrases like “혹시 가져가셨어요?” (hok-si ga-jyeo-ga-syeoss-eo-yo? – Did you happen to take it?) are gentler than directly asking “가져갔어요?” (ga-jyeo-gass-eo-yo? – Did you take it?).

Shared resources like cables in an IT closet are often seen as communal property. It’s generally acceptable to ask colleagues if they’ve seen or used an item, as long as it’s done politely.

Offering to look together (같이 찾아볼까요? – ga-chi cha-ja-bol-kka-yo?) is a common and helpful gesture in Korean workplace culture, showing teamwork and consideration.

If the item belongs to a specific department like IT, it might be more appropriate to check with them first or inquire if anyone knows who manages those supplies.

Real Conversation Example

Situation: Worker A (Minjun) cannot find a specific network cable in the IT supply closet and asks his coworker B (Sujin) about it.

Roles: A = Minjun (Worker looking for the cable), B = Sujin (Coworker)

• Expression: A: 수진 씨, 혹시 IT 비품실에서 파란색 랜 케이블 못 봤어요? 아까 있었는데 없어졌네요.
  Pronunciation: su-jin ssi, hok-si IT bi-pum-sil-e-seo pa-ran-saek raen ke-i-beul mot bwass-eo-yo? a-kka iss-eott-neun-de eop-seo-jyeonn-ne-yo.
  Meaning: Sujin, by any chance, have you seen a blue LAN cable in the IT supply closet? It was there earlier, but it’s gone now.
• Expression: B: 파란색 랜 케이블이요? 글쎄요, 저는 못 본 것 같은데요. 혹시 다른 분이 가져가셨나?
  Pronunciation: pa-ran-saek raen ke-i-beul-i-yo? geul-sse-yo, jeo-neun mot bon geot gat-eun-de-yo. hok-si da-reun bun-i ga-jyeo-ga-syeonn-na?
  Meaning: A blue LAN cable? Hmm, I don’t think I’ve seen it. Maybe someone else took it?
• Expression: A: 그런가 봐요. 서버 연결해야 하는데 꼭 그 케이블이 필요해서요.
  Pronunciation: geu-reon-ga bwa-yo. seo-beo yeon-gyeol-hae-ya ha-neun-de kkok geu ke-i-beul-i pil-yo-hae-seo-yo.
  Meaning: I guess so. I need to connect the server, and I really need that specific cable.
• Expression: B: 아, 그래요? 그럼 같이 한번 찾아볼까요? 저쪽 선반 위는 확인해 봤어요?
  Pronunciation: a, geu-rae-yo? geu-reom ga-chi han-beon cha-ja-bol-kka-yo? jeo-jjok seon-ban wi-neun hwa-gin-hae bwass-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Oh, really? Then shall we look for it together? Did you check the shelf over there?
• Expression: A: 네, 거기도 봤는데 없더라고요. 혹시 누가 마지막으로 썼는지 아세요?
  Pronunciation: ne, geo-gi-do bwann-neun-de eop-deo-ra-go-yo. hok-si nu-ga ma-ji-mak-eu-ro sseonn-neun-ji a-se-yo?
  Meaning: Yes, I looked there too, but it wasn’t there. Do you happen to know who used it last?
• Expression: B: 음… 어제 오후에 박 팀장님이 뭔가 찾으시는 것 같던데… 한번 여쭤보세요.
  Pronunciation: eum… eo-je o-hu-e bak tim-jang-nim-i mwon-ga cha-jeu-si-neun geot gat-deon-de… han-beon yeo-jjwo-bo-se-yo.
  Meaning: Hmm… I think Team Leader Park was looking for something yesterday afternoon… Try asking him.
• Expression: A: 아, 네! 알겠습니다. 고마워요, 수진 씨.
  Pronunciation: a, ne! al-get-seum-ni-da. go-ma-wo-yo, su-jin ssi.
  Meaning: Ah, okay! I understand. Thanks, Sujin.

Practice Tips

Practice makes perfect~! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or language partner. Imagine you’re in a Korean office and need to find a specific item. Use the phrases for asking, describing, and responding. Pay close attention to the pronunciation, especially the syllable breaks! You can also try labeling cables or office supplies around you with their Korean names to help remember vocabulary. Watching Korean office dramas can also expose you to natural workplace conversations. Good luck! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)