Clearly communicating updates and changes about work projects is crucial for team collaboration. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for explaining project shifts or adjustments to a teammate, particularly in a common setting like a coffee break, ensuring smooth communication and understanding within your team.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 프로젝트에 변경 사항이 좀 생겼어요.
Pronunciation: peu-ro-jek-teu-e byeon-gyeong sa-hang-i jom saeng-gyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: There have been some changes regarding the project.
Initiating the Conversation
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Expression: 잠깐 얘기 좀 할 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: jam-kkan yae-gi jom hal su it-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can we talk for a moment? -
Expression: 커피 한잔하면서 얘기해요.
Pronunciation: keo-pi han-jan-ha-myeon-seo yae-gi-hae-yo.
Meaning: Let’s talk over a cup of coffee. -
Expression: 드릴 말씀이 있어요.
Pronunciation: deu-ril mal-sseum-i it-seo-yo.
Meaning: I have something to tell you. (Polite) -
Expression: 지금 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: ji-geum si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Is now a good time for you? -
Expression: 프로젝트 관련해서요.
Pronunciation: peu-ro-jek-teu gwal-lyeon-hae-seo-yo.
Meaning: It’s regarding the project. -
Expression: 업데이트할 내용이 있어요.
Pronunciation: eop-de-i-teu-hal nae-yong-i it-seo-yo.
Meaning: There’s something to update you on. -
Expression: 공유할 정보가 있어요.
Pronunciation: gong-yu-hal jeong-bo-ga it-seo-yo.
Meaning: I have some information to share. -
Expression: 혹시 바쁘세요?
Pronunciation: hok-si ba-ppeu-se-yo?
Meaning: Are you busy by any chance? -
Expression: 간단하게 설명드릴게요.
Pronunciation: gan-dan-ha-ge seol-myeong-deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll explain it briefly. -
Expression: 중요한 이야기예요.
Pronunciation: jung-yo-han i-ya-gi-ye-yo.
Meaning: It’s an important matter.
Explaining the Project Shift
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Expression: 프로젝트 일정이 변경되었어요.
Pronunciation: peu-ro-jek-teu il-jeong-i byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The project schedule has been changed. -
Expression: 마감일이 앞당겨졌어요.
Pronunciation: ma-gam-il-i ap-dang-gyeo-jyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The deadline has been moved up. -
Expression: 마감일이 연기되었어요.
Pronunciation: ma-gam-il-i yeon-gi-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The deadline has been postponed. -
Expression: 담당 업무가 조금 바뀌었어요.
Pronunciation: dam-dang eom-mu-ga jo-geum ba-kkwi-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The assigned tasks have changed slightly. -
Expression: 제 파트가 변경되었어요.
Pronunciation: je pa-teu-ga byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: My part (of the project) has been changed. -
Expression: 새로운 요구 사항이 추가되었어요.
Pronunciation: sae-ro-un yo-gu sa-hang-i chu-ga-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: New requirements have been added. -
Expression: 우선순위가 조정되었어요.
Pronunciation: u-seon-sun-wi-ga jo-jeong-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The priorities have been adjusted. -
Expression: 예산에 변동이 생겼어요.
Pronunciation: ye-san-e byeon-dong-i saeng-gyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: There’s been a change in the budget. -
Expression: 계획을 수정해야 할 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gye-hoek-eul su-jeong-hae-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: It seems like we need to revise the plan. -
Expression: 팀장님께서 지시하셨어요.
Pronunciation: tim-jang-nim-kke-seo ji-si-ha-syeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: The team leader instructed this. -
Expression: 클라이언트 요청으로 변경되었어요.
Pronunciation: keul-la-i-eon-teu yo-cheong-eu-ro byeon-gyeong-doe-eot-seo-yo.
Meaning: It was changed due to the client’s request. -
Expression: 그래서 앞으로는 이렇게 진행해야 해요.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-seo ap-eu-ro-neun i-reot-ke jin-haeng-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: So, from now on, we need to proceed like this.
Checking Understanding and Getting Input
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Expression: 혹시 이해 안 되는 부분 있으세요?
Pronunciation: hok-si i-hae an doe-neun bu-bun it-seu-se-yo?
Meaning: Is there any part you don’t understand? -
Expression: 어떻게 생각하세요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteot-ke saeng-gak-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What do you think? -
Expression: 괜찮으시겠어요?
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-eu-si-get-seo-yo?
Meaning: Will that be okay with you? / Are you okay with that? -
Expression: 질문 있으시면 편하게 물어보세요.
Pronunciation: jil-mun it-seu-si-myeon pyeon-ha-ge mul-eo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: If you have questions, feel free to ask. -
Expression: 제 설명이 부족했나요?
Pronunciation: je seol-myeong-i bu-jok-haet-na-yo?
Meaning: Was my explanation insufficient? -
Expression: 이 부분에 대해 의견 있으세요?
Pronunciation: i bu-bun-e dae-hae ui-gyeon it-seu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you have any opinions about this part? -
Expression: 혹시 어려운 점은 없을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si eo-ryeo-un jeom-eun eop-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Do you foresee any difficulties? -
Expression: 같이 논의해 봤으면 좋겠어요.
Pronunciation: ga-chi non-ui-hae bwat-seu-myeon jo-ket-seo-yo.
Meaning: I’d like it if we could discuss this together. -
Expression: 피드백 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: pi-deu-baek ju-si-myeon gam-sa-ha-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would appreciate your feedback. -
Expression: 제가 제대로 설명했는지 모르겠네요.
Pronunciation: je-ga je-dae-ro seol-myeong-haet-neun-ji mo-reu-gen-ne-yo.
Meaning: I’m not sure if I explained it properly.
Responding to the News
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Expression: 아, 그렇군요. 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: a, geu-reot-kun-yo. al-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Oh, I see. Understood. -
Expression: 네, 이해했습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, i-hae-haet-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. -
Expression: 갑작스럽네요.
Pronunciation: gap-jak-seu-reom-ne-yo.
Meaning: That’s sudden. -
Expression: 그럼 제가 뭘 하면 될까요?
Pronunciation: geu-reom je-ga mwol ha-myeon doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Then what should I do? -
Expression: 다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon seol-myeong-hae ju-si-get-seo-yo?
Meaning: Could you explain that again? -
Expression: 그 부분은 좀 걱정되네요.
Pronunciation: geu bu-bun-eun jom geok-jeong-doe-ne-yo.
Meaning: I’m a bit worried about that part. -
Expression: 알겠습니다. 맞춰서 진행할게요.
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. mat-chwo-seo jin-haeng-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: Understood. I’ll proceed accordingly. -
Expression: 혹시 관련 자료가 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si gwal-lyeon ja-ryo-ga it-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Are there any related materials/documents? -
Expression: 알려주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: al-lyeo-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for letting me know. -
Expression: 네, 문제 없습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, mun-je eop-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, no problem.
Cultural Tips
Hierarchy Awareness: Even when speaking with teammates of a similar level, Korean workplace culture often maintains a degree of formality based on age or seniority (선배/후배 – seon-bae/hu-bae). Using polite language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal) is generally safer unless you have established a very close, informal relationship.
Indirect Communication: Sometimes, changes or potentially sensitive information are delivered indirectly to maintain harmony (화합 – hwahap). Explaining things over coffee provides a softer, less formal setting for potentially difficult news, like a tighter deadline or shift in responsibilities.
Nunchi (눈치): Be mindful of your colleague’s reaction and mood (using ‘nunchi’). If they seem concerned or confused, offer further explanation or reassurance. The coffee setting allows for this more personal interaction.
Team Harmony: Framing the change as something the team needs to tackle together reinforces solidarity. Phrases like “We need to adjust the plan” (계획을 수정해야 해요 – gye-hoek-eul su-jeong-hae-ya hae-yo) are often preferred over placing blame or focusing solely on individual impact.
Importance of Coffee Breaks: Coffee breaks or brief chats are common and important for informal communication and relationship building in Korean offices. Using this time for quick updates is very natural.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun needs to inform his teammate Sora about a change in their project’s focus during a coffee break.
Roles: A = Minjun (Explaining the change), B = Sora (Receiving the information)
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Expression: A: 소라 씨, 잠깐 얘기 좀 할 수 있을까요? 커피 한잔하면서요.
Pronunciation: A: so-ra ssi, jam-kkan yae-gi jom hal su it-seul-kka-yo? keo-pi han-jan-ha-myeon-seo-yo.
Meaning: A: Sora, can we talk for a moment? While having a cup of coffee. -
Expression: B: 네, 민준 씨. 좋아요. 무슨 일이에요?
Pronunciation: B: ne, min-jun ssi. jo-a-yo. mu-seun il-i-e-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, Minjun. Sure. What’s up? -
Expression: A: 다름이 아니라, 우리 진행 중인 프로젝트 있잖아요. 거기에 변경 사항이 좀 생겼어요.
Pronunciation: A: da-reum-i a-ni-ra, u-ri jin-haeng jung-in peu-ro-jek-teu it-jan-a-yo. geo-gi-e byeon-gyeong sa-hang-i jom saeng-gyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: A: It’s about the project we’re working on. There have been some changes. -
Expression: B: 아, 정말요? 어떤 변경 사항인데요?
Pronunciation: B: a, jeong-mal-yo? eo-tteon byeon-gyeong sa-hang-in-de-yo?
Meaning: B: Oh, really? What kind of changes? -
Expression: A: 클라이언트 쪽에서 기능 A보다 기능 B를 먼저 개발해 달라는 요청이 왔어요. 그래서 우선순위를 조정해야 할 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: A: keul-la-i-eon-teu jjok-e-seo gi-neung ei-bo-da gi-neung bi-reul meon-jeo gae-bal-hae dal-la-neun yo-cheong-i wat-seo-yo. geu-rae-seo u-seon-sun-wi-reul jo-jeong-hae-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: A: We received a request from the client to develop Feature B before Feature A. So, it looks like we need to adjust the priorities. -
Expression: B: 그렇군요… 그럼 저희 작업 일정도 바뀌겠네요?
Pronunciation: B: geu-reot-kun-yo… geu-reom jeo-hui jak-eop il-jeong-do ba-kkwi-gen-ne-yo?
Meaning: B: I see… Then our work schedule will change too, right? -
Expression: A: 네, 맞아요. 제가 새로 정리해서 다시 공유 드릴게요. 혹시 이 변경 때문에 어려운 점은 없을까요?
Pronunciation: A: ne, ma-ja-yo. je-ga sae-ro jeong-ni-hae-seo da-si gong-yu deu-ril-ge-yo. hok-si i byeon-gyeong ttae-mun-e eo-ryeo-un jeom-eun eop-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: Yes, that’s right. I’ll reorganize it and share it again. Do you foresee any difficulties because of this change? -
Expression: B: 음… 일단 괜찮을 것 같아요. 자세한 일정 보고 다시 얘기 나눠요. 알려주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: B: eum… il-dan gwaen-chan-eul geot ga-ta-yo. ja-se-han il-jeong bo-go da-si yae-gi na-nwo-yo. al-lyeo-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Hmm… I think it should be okay for now. Let’s look at the detailed schedule and talk again. Thanks for letting me know.
Practice Tips
Practicing these phrases will help you communicate more effectively with your Korean colleagues! Try role-playing scenarios with a language partner where you have to explain a change in plans~ Imagine different situations: a deadline shift, a change in task assignment, or new client feedback.
Listen carefully to how your colleagues communicate updates in real life. Pay attention to the level of formality they use and how they phrase potentially sensitive news. Remember, using the coffee break for these kinds of updates is quite common and can make the conversation feel less abrupt! Good luck~!
