Misplacing small items like pens is common in any office environment. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for politely asking a coworker if they have seen your missing pen, specifically within the context of an office supply room. You’ll learn how to inquire about the item, describe it, and understand potential responses, ensuring smooth communication with your colleagues.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 혹시 제 펜 못 보셨어요?
Pronunciation: hok-si je pen mot bo-syeot-seo-yo?
Meaning: By any chance, have you seen my pen? (Polite)
Asking About the Pen
-
Expression: 여기 있던 제 펜 어디 갔는지 아세요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi it-deon je pen eo-di gat-neun-ji a-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you know where my pen that was here went? -
Expression: 제 펜 혹시 보셨어요?
Pronunciation: je pen hok-si bo-syeot-seo-yo?
Meaning: Have you perhaps seen my pen? -
Expression: 이 근처에서 제 펜 못 보셨어요?
Pronunciation: i geun-cheo-e-seo je pen mot bo-syeot-seo-yo?
Meaning: Have you seen my pen around here? -
Expression: 제 펜이 없어졌어요.
Pronunciation: je pen-i eop-seo-jyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: My pen has disappeared / is missing. -
Expression: 혹시 제 펜 가져가셨어요?
Pronunciation: hok-si je pen ga-jyeo-ga-syeot-seo-yo?
Meaning: Did you perhaps take my pen? (Use cautiously, can sound accusatory) -
Expression: 펜을 찾고 있어요.
Pronunciation: pen-eul chat-go i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’m looking for a pen. -
Expression: 제 펜이 어디 있는지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: je pen-i eo-di it-neun-ji mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know where my pen is. -
Expression: 아까 여기 뒀는데…
Pronunciation: a-kka yeo-gi dwot-neun-de…
Meaning: I put it here earlier… -
Expression: 혹시 펜 하나 빌릴 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si pen ha-na bil-lil su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could I possibly borrow a pen? (If you can’t find yours)
Describing the Pen
-
Expression: 파란색 펜이에요.
Pronunciation: pa-ran-saek pen-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a blue pen. -
Expression: 검은색 볼펜이었어요.
Pronunciation: geom-eun-saek bol-pen-i-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: It was a black ballpoint pen. -
Expression: 제 이름이 써 있는 펜이에요.
Pronunciation: je i-reum-i sseo it-neun pen-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a pen with my name written on it. -
Expression: 뚜껑이 있는 펜인데요.
Pronunciation: ttu-kkeong-i it-neun pen-in-de-yo.
Meaning: It’s a pen with a cap. -
Expression: 약간 두꺼운 펜이었어요.
Pronunciation: yak-gan du-kkeo-un pen-i-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: It was a slightly thick pen. -
Expression: 회사 로고가 그려진 펜이에요.
Pronunciation: hoe-sa ro-go-ga geu-ryeo-jin pen-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a pen with the company logo on it. -
Expression: 은색 클립이 달린 펜이에요.
Pronunciation: eun-saek keul-rip-i dal-lin pen-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a pen with a silver clip. -
Expression: 그냥 평범한 검은색 펜이에요.
Pronunciation: geu-nyang pyeong-beom-han geom-eun-saek pen-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s just an ordinary black pen.
Possible Responses from Coworker
-
Expression: 아니요, 못 봤는데요.
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, mot bwan-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: No, I haven’t seen it. -
Expression: 글쎄요, 잘 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: geul-sse-yo, jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Well, I’m not sure. -
Expression: 아까 저쪽에 있는 것 같던데요?
Pronunciation: a-kka jeo-jjo-ge it-neun geot gat-deon-de-yo?
Meaning: I think I saw it over there earlier? -
Expression: 혹시 여기 서랍 안에 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si yeo-gi seo-rap an-e i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Maybe it’s inside this drawer? -
Expression: 제가 한번 찾아볼게요.
Pronunciation: je-ga han-beon cha-ja-bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll have a look for it. -
Expression: 이 펜 말씀하시는 건가요?
Pronunciation: i pen mal-sseum-ha-si-neun geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Are you talking about this pen? (While holding/pointing to a pen) -
Expression: 저는 못 본 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun mot bon geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I don’t think I’ve seen it. -
Expression: 다른 분께도 한번 여쭤보세요.
Pronunciation: da-reun bun-kke-do han-beon yeo-jjwo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Try asking someone else too. -
Expression: 아, 이거요? 여기 있었어요.
Pronunciation: a, i-geo-yo? yeo-gi i-sseo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Oh, this one? It was here. -
Expression: 필요하시면 이거 먼저 쓰세요.
Pronunciation: pil-yo-ha-si-myeon i-geo meon-jeo sseu-se-yo.
Meaning: If you need one, use this one for now. (Offering another pen)
General Office Supply Room Phrases
-
Expression: 비품실에 잠깐 다녀올게요.
Pronunciation: bi-pum-sil-e jam-kkan da-nyeo-ol-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll just pop into the supply room. -
Expression: 여기 혹시 A4 용지 있나요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi hok-si ei-po yong-ji in-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there any A4 paper here, by chance? -
Expression: 스테이플러 심이 다 떨어졌어요.
Pronunciation: seu-te-i-peul-leo sim-i da tteo-reo-jyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: We’re out of stapler pins (staples). -
Expression: 포스트잇 좀 가지러 왔어요.
Pronunciation: po-seu-teu-it jom ga-ji-reo wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I came to get some Post-it notes. -
Expression: 이 비품은 어디에 두면 되나요?
Pronunciation: i bi-pum-eun eo-di-e du-myeon doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Where should I put these supplies? -
Expression: 새 토너 카트리지 어디 있는지 아세요?
Pronunciation: sae to-neo ka-teu-ri-ji eo-di it-neun-ji a-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you know where the new toner cartridge is? -
Expression: 가위 좀 빌릴 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: ga-wi jom bil-lil su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could I borrow some scissors? -
Expression: 비품 신청해야 할 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: bi-pum sin-cheong-hae-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think we need to order supplies. -
Expression: 여기 정리 좀 해야겠네요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi jeong-ri jom hae-ya-gen-ne-yo.
Meaning: This place needs some tidying up.
Korean Culture Notes
Politeness is Key: When asking a coworker about a missing item, always use polite language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal). Using phrases like 혹시 (hok-si – perhaps/by any chance) softens the question and makes it less direct or potentially accusatory.
Addressing Coworkers: Use appropriate titles like 팀장님 (tim-jang-nim – Team Leader), 대리님 (dae-ri-nim – Assistant Manager), or 씨 (ssi – Mr./Ms.) attached to their name (e.g., 민지 씨 – Minji-ssi). Avoid using just their first name unless you are very close and of similar rank/age.
Indirect Communication: Koreans often prefer indirect communication, especially for potentially sensitive topics like implying someone might have taken something. Phrasing like “Have you seen…?” or “I can’t seem to find…” is generally better than “Did you take…?”.
Personal vs. Company Property: While office supplies are generally shared, personal items like a specific pen might be considered individual property. It’s polite to ask before borrowing anything, even seemingly small items.
Offering Help: It’s common for coworkers to offer help looking for a lost item or even offer their own pen if you can’t find yours. Accepting graciously or politely declining is appropriate.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun realizes his favorite pen is missing after visiting the supply room. He asks his coworker, Sora, who is also in the room.
Roles:
A: Minjun (Worker looking for his pen)
B: Sora (Coworker in the supply room)
-
Expression: A: 저기, 소라 씨, 죄송한데 혹시 제 펜 못 보셨어요? 아까 여기 책상 위에 뒀던 것 같은데…
Pronunciation: jeo-gi, so-ra ssi, joe-song-han-de hok-si je pen mot bo-syeot-seo-yo? a-kka yeo-gi chaek-sang wi-e dwot-deon geot ga-teun-de…
Meaning: Excuse me, Sora-ssi, sorry to bother you, but have you perhaps seen my pen? I think I left it on the desk here earlier… -
Expression: B: 펜이요? 글쎄요… 어떤 펜인데요?
Pronunciation: pen-i-yo? geul-sse-yo… eo-tteon pen-in-de-yo?
Meaning: Your pen? Hmm… What kind of pen is it? -
Expression: A: 파란색이고 약간 두꺼운 볼펜이에요. 은색 클립이 달려 있고요.
Pronunciation: pa-ran-sae-gi-go yak-gan du-kkeo-un bol-pen-i-e-yo. eun-saek keul-rip-i dal-lyeo it-go-yo.
Meaning: It’s blue and a slightly thick ballpoint pen. It has a silver clip. -
Expression: B: 아, 파란색 펜… 혹시 이거 말씀하시는 거예요? 아까 누가 여기 두고 갔던데요.
Pronunciation: a, pa-ran-saek pen… hok-si i-geo mal-sseum-ha-si-neun geo-ye-yo? a-kka nu-ga yeo-gi du-go gat-deon-de-yo.
Meaning: Oh, a blue pen… Are you perhaps talking about this one? Someone left it here earlier. (Picks up a pen) -
Expression: A: 네, 맞아요! 이거예요! 아, 정말 감사합니다, 소라 씨. 찾고 있었어요.
Pronunciation: ne, ma-ja-yo! i-geo-ye-yo! a, jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da, so-ra ssi. chat-go i-sseo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, that’s right! This is it! Oh, thank you so much, Sora-ssi. I was looking for it. -
Expression: B: 다행이네요. 여기 있었군요.
Pronunciation: da-haeng-i-ne-yo. yeo-gi i-sseot-gun-yo.
Meaning: That’s a relief. So it was here.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect~! Try role-playing the conversation with a friend or language partner. You can also practice describing different pens you own using the descriptive phrases. Pay attention to using polite language (~요/ㅂ니다 endings) when speaking to coworkers. Imagine yourself in the supply room – what other items might you need or ask about? Thinking about related scenarios will help you remember these phrases better!
