Experiencing technical difficulties like a screen freeze at work can be stressful, especially when you need to communicate the issue to a coworker in Korean. This guide provides essential phrases and vocabulary for explaining that your computer screen is frozen, asking for help, and discussing potential solutions within a Korean office environment.
Table Of Content
Core Expression: Screen Freeze
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Expression: 화면이 멈췄어요.
Pronunciation: hwa-myeon-i meom-chwoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My screen froze. / The screen has stopped. (Polite)
Describing the Problem
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Expression: 컴퓨터 화면이 멈췄어요.
Pronunciation: keom-pyu-teo hwa-myeon-i meom-chwoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My computer screen froze. -
Expression: 마우스가 안 움직여요.
Pronunciation: ma-u-seu-ga an um-jik-yeo-yo.
Meaning: The mouse isn’t moving. -
Expression: 키보드가 작동하지 않아요.
Pronunciation: ki-bo-deu-ga jak-dong-ha-ji an-a-yo.
Meaning: The keyboard isn’t working. -
Expression: 아무것도 클릭이 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: a-mu-geot-do keul-lik-i an dwae-yo.
Meaning: I can’t click anything. -
Expression: 프로그램이 응답하지 않아요.
Pronunciation: peu-ro-geu-raem-i eung-dap-ha-ji an-a-yo.
Meaning: The program is not responding. -
Expression: 갑자기 화면이 멈춰 버렸어요.
Pronunciation: gap-ja-gi hwa-myeon-i meom-chwo beo-ryeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The screen suddenly froze. -
Expression: 컴퓨터가 먹통이에요.
Pronunciation: keom-pyu-teo-ga meok-tong-i-e-yo.
Meaning: My computer is completely unresponsive. (Informal slang, use with caution depending on relationship) -
Expression: 작업 중이던 파일이 있었는데…
Pronunciation: jak-eop jung-i-deon pa-il-i iss-eoss-neun-de…
Meaning: I had a file I was working on… (Implies concern about losing work) -
Expression: 계속 이러네요.
Pronunciation: gye-sok i-reo-ne-yo.
Meaning: It keeps doing this. -
Expression: 재부팅해도 똑같아요.
Pronunciation: jae-bu-ting-hae-do ttok-gat-a-yo.
Meaning: It’s the same even after rebooting.
Asking for Help or Suggestions
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Expression: 혹시 이것 좀 봐주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: hok-si i-geot jom bwa-ju-sil su iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Could you possibly take a look at this? -
Expression: 어떻게 해야 할지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke hae-ya hal-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know what to do. -
Expression: 이런 경우 어떻게 하세요?
Pronunciation: i-reon gyeong-u eo-tteo-ke ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What do you usually do in this situation? -
Expression: 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you have a moment? -
Expression: 강제 종료해야 할까요?
Pronunciation: gang-je jong-ryo-hae-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should I force quit? -
Expression: 재부팅해 볼까요?
Pronunciation: jae-bu-ting-hae bol-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should I try rebooting? -
Expression: IT팀에 연락해야 할까요?
Pronunciation: IT-tim-e yeol-lak-hae-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should I contact the IT team? -
Expression: 혹시 아시는 거 있으세요?
Pronunciation: hok-si a-si-neun geo iss-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you happen to know anything about this? -
Expression: 좀 도와주세요.
Pronunciation: jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please help me a little. -
Expression: 좋은 방법 없을까요?
Pronunciation: jo-eun bang-beop eops-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Isn’t there a good way (to fix this)? -
Expression: 제가 뭘 잘못 눌렀나 봐요.
Pronunciation: je-ga mwol jal-mot nul-leoss-na bwa-yo.
Meaning: I think I might have pressed something wrong.
Responding to Suggestions
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Expression: 아, 네. 그렇게 해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: a, ne. geu-reo-ke hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: Ah, okay. I’ll try doing that. -
Expression: 좋은 생각이네요. 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: jo-eun saeng-gak-i-ne-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: That’s a good idea. Thank you. -
Expression: 이미 해 봤는데 안 되더라고요.
Pronunciation: i-mi hae bwass-neun-de an doe-deo-ra-go-yo.
Meaning: I already tried that, but it didn’t work. -
Expression: 그 방법도 있겠네요.
Pronunciation: geu bang-beop-do iss-gess-ne-yo.
Meaning: That could be another way. / That method exists too. -
Expression: IT팀에 문의해 봐야겠어요.
Pronunciation: IT-tim-e mun-ui-hae bwa-ya-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I should probably ask the IT team. -
Expression: 알려주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: al-lyeo-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for letting me know. -
Expression: 네, 한번 시도해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, han-beon si-do-hae bo-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I will give it a try. -
Expression: 그래도 안 되면 다시 여쭤볼게요.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do an doe-myeon da-si yeo-jjwo-bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: If it still doesn’t work, I’ll ask you again. -
Expression: 역시 전문가시네요!
Pronunciation: yeok-si jeon-mun-ga-si-ne-yo!
Meaning: As expected from an expert! (Use when their suggestion works or sounds very plausible) -
Expression: 아, 정말요? 몰랐어요.
Pronunciation: a, jeong-mal-lyo? mol-lass-eo-yo.
Meaning: Oh, really? I didn’t know that.
Relevant Office IT Vocabulary
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Expression: 컴퓨터
Pronunciation: keom-pyu-teo
Meaning: Computer -
Expression: 노트북
Pronunciation: no-teu-buk
Meaning: Laptop (Notebook computer) -
Expression: 화면
Pronunciation: hwa-myeon
Meaning: Screen / Monitor -
Expression: 마우스
Pronunciation: ma-u-seu
Meaning: Mouse -
Expression: 키보드
Pronunciation: ki-bo-deu
Meaning: Keyboard -
Expression: 프로그램
Pronunciation: peu-ro-geu-raem
Meaning: Program / Software -
Expression: 파일
Pronunciation: pa-il
Meaning: File -
Expression: 재부팅
Pronunciation: jae-bu-ting
Meaning: Reboot / Restart -
Expression: 강제 종료
Pronunciation: gang-je jong-ryo
Meaning: Force quit / Forced termination -
Expression: 오류
Pronunciation: o-ryu
Meaning: Error -
Expression: IT 지원팀 (IT팀)
Pronunciation: IT ji-won-tim (IT-tim)
Meaning: IT Support Team (IT Team) -
Expression: 업데이트
Pronunciation: eop-de-i-teu
Meaning: Update
Korean Culture Notes
In a Korean office, it’s generally acceptable to ask a nearby coworker for help with minor technical issues like a screen freeze. However, be mindful of their workload. It’s polite to first ask if they have a moment (잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요? – jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?).
Depending on the office hierarchy and your relationship with the coworker, adjust your politeness level. Using the -요 (-yo) ending is standard polite form suitable for most coworker interactions. If speaking to a senior colleague, using more formal language might be appropriate, though for quick help requests, standard polite is often fine.
Expressing gratitude is important. After receiving help or advice, always say thank you (감사합니다 – gam-sa-ham-ni-da or 고맙습니다 – go-map-seum-ni-da).
While asking a coworker is fine for simple issues, complex or persistent problems should usually be directed to the official IT support team (IT 지원팀 – IT ji-won-tim) if your company has one.
Avoid overly casual slang like 먹통 (meok-tong) unless you have a very close relationship with the coworker and the office culture is informal.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Ji-hoon’s computer screen freezes while working on an important document in a busy office. He asks his nearby coworker, Su-jin, for help.
Roles: A: Ji-hoon (Experiencing the problem), B: Su-jin (Coworker)
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Expression: A: 아, 수진 씨, 죄송한데 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: a, su-jin ssi, joe-song-han-de jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Ah, Su-jin, sorry to bother you, but do you have a moment? -
Expression: B: 네, 지훈 씨. 무슨 일이에요?
Pronunciation: ne, ji-hun ssi. mu-seun ir-i-e-yo?
Meaning: Yes, Ji-hoon. What’s up? -
Expression: A: 제 컴퓨터 화면이 갑자기 멈췄어요. 마우스도 안 움직이고 아무것도 클릭이 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: je keom-pyu-teo hwa-myeon-i gap-ja-gi meom-chwoss-eo-yo. ma-u-seu-do an um-jik-i-go a-mu-geot-do keul-lik-i an dwae-yo.
Meaning: My computer screen suddenly froze. The mouse isn’t moving either, and I can’t click anything. -
Expression: B: 어머, 정말요? 작업 중이던 거 있었어요?
Pronunciation: eo-meo, jeong-mal-lyo? jak-eop jung-i-deon geo iss-eoss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Oh dear, really? Were you working on something? -
Expression: A: 네, 중요한 문서 작업 중이었는데… 이거 어떻게 해야 할지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: ne, jung-yo-han mun-seo jak-eop jung-i-eoss-neun-de… i-geo eo-tteo-ke hae-ya hal-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I was working on an important document… I don’t know what to do about this. -
Expression: B: 음… 혹시 Ctrl+Alt+Delete 눌러서 작업 관리자 열어봤어요? 거기서 응답 없는 프로그램 강제 종료할 수 있을지도 몰라요.
Pronunciation: eum… hok-si keon-teu-rol+al-teu+dil-li-teu nul-leo-seo jak-eop gwal-li-ja yeor-eo-bwass-eo-yo? geo-gi-seo eung-dap eops-neun peu-ro-geu-raem gang-je jong-ryo-hal su iss-eul-ji-do mol-la-yo.
Meaning: Hmm… Have you tried pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Task Manager? You might be able to force quit the unresponsive program from there. -
Expression: A: 아, 그 방법이 있네요! 한번 해 볼게요. 알려주셔서 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: a, geu bang-beop-i iss-ne-yo! han-beon hae bol-ge-yo. al-lyeo-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: Ah, there’s that method! I’ll try it once. Thank you for letting me know! -
Expression: B: 네, 잘 해결되길 바랄게요. 안 되면 IT팀에 문의해 보세요.
Pronunciation: ne, jal hae-gyeol-doe-gil ba-ral-ge-yo. an doe-myeon IT-tim-e mun-ui-hae bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Okay, I hope it gets resolved well. If it doesn’t work, try contacting the IT team.
Practice Tips
Experiencing tech issues is common, so these phrases are quite useful! Try role-playing the conversation example with a study partner or friend~ Imagine the frustration of a frozen screen and practice expressing it naturally using phrases like 화면이 멈췄어요 (hwa-myeon-i meom-chwoss-eo-yo) or 어떻게 해야 할지 모르겠어요 (eo-tteo-ke hae-ya hal-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo).
Listen to how Koreans in dramas or movies handle similar situations (though remember drama language can be exaggerated!). Pay attention to the tone and politeness levels used between coworkers. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to handle unexpected office situations smoothly in Korean! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)
