새로운 사람을 만나요Meeting New People
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe a person's appearance, personality, and job using noun-modifying descriptive forms such as 친절한 사람 and 키가 큰 사람.
- Ask about and explain how you know someone, using -아/어서 알게 되다 and related expressions.
- Introduce one person to another politely, using appropriate titles and address terms.
- Talk about ongoing relationships and feelings using vocabulary such as 친해지다, 편하다, and 어색하다.
- Use the noun-modifying form of descriptive verbs (-(으)ㄴ) productively in simple sentences.
- Understand a short conversation and a short written description introducing new people.
- Write a short paragraph introducing a new acquaintance.
- Complete a practical task: describing and introducing someone at a small gathering.
Communication Scenario
A few days after her busy day of errands, 라일라 goes with 지영 to a small gathering at 지영's apartment. 지영 wants to introduce 라일라 to two friends from her Korean class: 하준, a quiet but friendly graduate student, and 수아, an outgoing coworker. Over the course of the evening, 라일라 learns a little about each person and begins forming her own first impressions.
- This chapter opens Unit III, which shifts from independent daily-living tasks to describing people, relationships, and feelings.
- New productive systems in this chapter are limited to noun-modifying descriptive forms and basic relationship vocabulary.
- Everyday polite speech level, established particles, and past-tense narration from Units I and II continue to be used throughout.
Unit III Preview
Unit III (Chapters 11-14) moves from independent daily-living tasks toward describing people, relationships, feelings, and plans in more detail. The table below shows how this chapter fits into that progression.
| Chapter | Focus | New Productive Systems |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Meeting new people | noun-modifying descriptive forms -(으)ㄴ, appearance and personality vocabulary, introductions |
| 12 | Talking about family and friends | kinship terms, comparison, closeness vocabulary |
| 13 | Feelings and reactions | emotion vocabulary, reason clauses with feelings |
| 14 | Making plans with others | suggestions, invitations, scheduling language |
This chapter introduces only the noun-modifying descriptive form and related vocabulary. Later Unit III chapters build on this foundation.
Core Vocabulary
The vocabulary below supports describing people and introducing them to others. All items are productive for this chapter.
| Korean | Meaning | Pattern / Note |
|---|---|---|
| 친절하다 | to be kind | descriptive verb; modifier form 친절한 |
| 활발하다 | to be outgoing, lively | descriptive verb; modifier form 활발한 |
| 조용하다 | to be quiet | descriptive verb; modifier form 조용한 |
| 키가 크다 / 작다 | to be tall / short | modifier forms 키가 큰 / 키가 작은 |
| 대학원생 | graduate student | occupation noun |
| 직장 동료 | coworker | relationship noun |
| 소개하다 | to introduce | action verb; -아/어 주세요 with this verb reviewed |
| 알게 되다 | to come to know (someone) | used with -아/어서 |
| 친해지다 | to become close (with someone) | action verb |
| 편하다 | to be comfortable (with someone) | descriptive verb |
| 어색하다 | to be awkward | descriptive verb |
| 첫인상 | first impression | noun |
Receptive support: 반갑다 (to be glad to meet), 성격 (personality) may appear in the reading passage with glosses.
Pronunciation Focus
This chapter introduces no new sound-change rule. It reviews the tense consonant in 활발하다 and the liaison that occurs when a noun-modifying ending connects smoothly to the following noun, as in 친절한 사람 and 키가 큰 사람.
When a descriptive verb ending in -(으)ㄴ is followed by a noun, read the two words as one connected phrase rather than pausing between them. Practice the phrases below at a natural pace.
친절한 사람 · 키가 큰 사람 · 조용한 사람 · 활발한 친구
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter introduces the noun-modifying form of descriptive verbs, which allows learners to describe a person directly before naming them, and reviews -아/어서 to explain how a relationship began.
New: noun-modifying descriptive forms -(으)ㄴ
Korean descriptive verbs can attach directly before a noun using the ending -(으)ㄴ. This lets you describe a person or thing in the same phrase that names them, rather than using two separate sentences.
| Dictionary Form | Modifier Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 친절하다 | 친절한 | 친절한 사람이에요. |
| 조용하다 | 조용한 | 조용한 친구예요. |
| 크다 | 큰 | 키가 큰 사람이에요. |
| 작다 | 작은 | 키가 작은 사람이에요. |
Only these four descriptive verbs are activated productively in this chapter. Other descriptive verbs remain receptive until a later chapter schedules them.
[descriptive verb stem]-(으)ㄴ + [noun]
The modifier form replaces the dictionary-form ending -다 with -(으)ㄴ and attaches directly to the following noun, with no particle in between.
하준 씨는 조용한 사람이에요.
Hajun is a quiet person.
Review: explaining how you met someone with -아/어서 알게 되다
- 한국어 수업에서 만나서 알게 됐어요. I met them in Korean class and got to know them. recycled -아/어서 (Ch. 3) + 알게 되다
New: closeness and comfort vocabulary in simple sentences
- 아직 좀 어색해요. It's still a little awkward. 어색하다, everyday polite
- 이제 훨씬 편해요. Now it's much more comfortable. 편하다, everyday polite
Practice — Building modifier phrases
- Combine 친절하다 with 사람 into a noun-modifying phrase and use it in a sentence.
- Combine 키가 크다 with 친구 into a noun-modifying phrase and use it in a sentence.
- Write one sentence explaining how you got to know a friend, using -아/어서 알게 되다.
Model Dialogue
Setting: At 지영's apartment, 지영 introduces 라일라 to 하준.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- How did 지영 and 하준 first get to know each other?
- What is 하준's job, and how does 지영 describe his personality?
- Who is 수아, and how is she described?
Guided Practice
- Introduce an imaginary friend using 이쪽은 ... 씨예요, then add one noun-modifying descriptive phrase.
- Write a sentence stating the person's occupation.
- Write a sentence explaining how you got to know them, using -아/어서 알게 되다.
- Write a sentence saying whether you feel 편하다 or 어색하다 around them right now.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a language partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud. Listen twice without reading, then complete the tasks below.
모임에서
지영 씨 집에서 작은 모임이 있었어요. 저는 거기에서 하준 씨하고 수아 씨를 처음 만났어요. 하준 씨는 대학원생이고 조용한 사람이었어요. 수아 씨는 지영 씨 직장 동료인데 아주 활발한 사람이었어요. 처음에는 좀 어색했지만 다들 친절해서 금방 편해졌어요.
듣기 과제 — Listening task: Listen and answer in English.
| 질문 | 답 |
|---|---|
| Where did the speaker meet Hajun and Sua? | ______ |
| How is each person described? | ______ |
| How did the speaker's feelings change during the gathering? | ______ |
Reading Practice
Below is a short message that 라일라 wrote to a friend after the gathering. Read it and answer the questions below. No romanization is provided.
새 친구들
어제 지영 씨 집에서 모임이 있었어요. 거기에서 하준 씨하고 수아 씨를 처음 만났어요. 하준 씨는 대학원생이고 아주 조용한 사람이에요. 지영 씨하고 하준 씨는 한국어 수업에서 만나서 알게 됐대요. 수아 씨는 지영 씨 직장 동료인데 성격이 활발해요. 첫인상은 조금 어색했지만 다들 친절해서 이제 훨씬 편해요. 다음에 또 만나고 싶어요.
This passage recycles vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1 through 10 and introduces only the noun-modifying descriptive forms and vocabulary scheduled for this chapter.
내용 이해 — Comprehension questions:
- List the two new people 라일라 met and one descriptive phrase for each.
- How did 지영 and 하준 get to know each other, according to the message?
- How did 라일라's feelings change from the beginning to the end of the gathering?
Writing Workshop
This chapter's writing task is a short paragraph introducing a new acquaintance: 새로운 사람 소개하기 ("Introducing a New Person").
- Name the person and how you met. State the person's name and use -아/어서 알게 되다 to explain how you got to know them.
- State the person's occupation. Use a simple copular sentence.
- Describe the person. Use at least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase, such as 친절한 사람 or 키가 큰 사람.
- Describe your first impression. Say whether you felt 어색하다 or 편하다 at first.
- Describe how you feel now. Say whether your feelings have changed.
- Revise. Check your draft against the checklist below.
체크리스트 — Editing checklist:
- The person's name and occupation are stated clearly.
- At least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase is used correctly.
- -아/어서 알게 되다 is used to explain how you met.
- First impression and current feeling are both described.
- Speech level is consistent everyday polite -아요/어요 throughout.
- Only Hangeul is used; no romanization appears in the final draft.
- No grammar or vocabulary beyond Chapter 11 appears productively.
Speaking Practice
통제 연습 — Controlled practice: 사람 묘사하기
Practice saying five noun-modifying descriptive phrases aloud (친절한 사람, 조용한 사람, 활발한 사람, 키가 큰 사람, 키가 작은 사람) until the pattern feels automatic.
의사소통 과제 — Communicative task: 친구를 소개해요
With a partner, take turns introducing an imaginary friend, including their occupation, one descriptive phrase, how you met, and how you feel around them, as in the Model Dialogue.
혼자 하는 연습 — Solo alternative
Record yourself introducing a real or imagined new acquaintance, using at least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase and -아/어서 알게 되다.
Culture and Communication
When introducing two people in South Korea, it is common to state each person's name with 씨 or an appropriate title, briefly mention how you know them or what they do, and let both people exchange a polite greeting such as 만나서 반가워요. This chapter's dialogue and writing tasks follow that same pattern.
It is common and socially accepted in many South Korean social settings for new acquaintances to feel some initial awkwardness, described as 어색하다, before becoming comfortable, described as 편하다. Expressing this honestly, as 라일라 does, is natural rather than impolite.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: Placing the dictionary form directly before a noun, such as 친절하다 사람.
Correction: Change the descriptive verb to its modifier form before the noun: 친절한 사람.
Error: Describing a first meeting as 편했어요 when the intended meaning was that it felt awkward.
Correction: Use 어색했어요 for an awkward first impression and reserve 편했어요 for describing comfort, often after some time has passed.
Error: Introducing someone without pairing their name consistently with 씨, which can sound abrupt in this context.
Correction: Keep names paired with 씨 throughout an introduction, as in 이쪽은 하준 씨예요.
Chapter Review
Section A — 어휘 (Vocabulary)
1. List three appearance or personality words from this chapter and their meanings.
Section B — 문법 (Grammar)
1. Change 조용하다 into its noun-modifying form and use it in a sentence describing a person.
2. Correct the error: 친절하다 사람이에요.
Section C — 독해 이해 (Reading Comprehension)
1. According to 라일라's message, describe both new people she met and explain how her feelings changed.
Section D — 쓰기 (Writing)
1. Write your "introducing a new person" paragraph following the Writing Workshop steps and checklist.
Section E — 말하기 (Speaking)
1. Role-play or record introducing a new acquaintance to a friend.
누적 복습 — Cumulative review
This chapter recycles everyday polite speech level, copular predicates, -아/어서, and past-tense narration from Units I and II, and adds noun-modifying descriptive forms and relationship vocabulary. If any earlier system still feels uncertain, review the relevant chapter before continuing.
Practical Performance Task
수행 과제
새로운 사람을 소개해요 — Introducing a New Person
You will introduce a new acquaintance in both written and spoken form.
- Written: Write your "introducing a new person" paragraph from the Writing Workshop.
- Spoken: Present the same content aloud as a short introduction, as in the Model Dialogue, including at least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase and one -아/어서 알게 되다 sentence.
- Reflection: Write one English sentence identifying which part of this chapter — description, explaining how you met, or describing your feelings — felt easiest.
| Criterion | What is evaluated |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Person's name and occupation are stated clearly with appropriate address terms |
| Descriptive modifier | At least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase is used correctly |
| Relationship explanation | -아/어서 알게 되다 is used to explain how the speaker met the person |
| Feelings | First impression and current feeling are both described using 어색하다/편하다 |
| Speech-level consistency | Everyday polite -아요/어요 maintained throughout |
| Hangeul and spacing accuracy | Accurate spelling and level-appropriate spacing throughout, no romanization |
| Scope discipline | No structures used productively beyond Chapter 11 and earlier chapters |
Answer Key
Grammar Practice — Building Modifier Phrases
1. Sample answer: 저는 친절한 사람을 좋아해요.
2. Sample answer: 제 친구는 키가 큰 친구예요.
3. Sample answer: 한국어 수업에서 만나서 알게 됐어요.
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- 지영 and 하준 met in Korean class and got to know each other there.
- 하준 is a graduate student and is described as a quiet person.
- 수아 is 지영's coworker and is described as having a lively, outgoing personality.
Listening comprehension
- The speaker met Hajun and Sua at a small gathering at Jiyoung's home.
- Hajun is a quiet graduate student; Sua is a lively coworker of Jiyoung's.
- The speaker felt awkward at first but became comfortable quickly because everyone was kind.
Reading comprehension
- 하준 — a quiet graduate student; 수아 — a lively coworker of Jiyoung's.
- 지영 and 하준 met in Korean class and got to know each other there.
- 라일라 felt a little awkward at first but felt much more comfortable by the end, thanks to everyone's kindness.
Chapter Review — Section B
1. Sample answer: 그분은 조용한 사람이에요.
2. Correction: 친절한 사람이에요.
Section D — Sample "introducing a new person" paragraph
저는 지난주에 지영 씨 집에서 하준 씨를 처음 만났어요. 지영 씨하고 하준 씨는 한국어 수업에서 만나서 알게 됐대요. 하준 씨는 대학원생이고 조용한 사람이에요. 처음에는 좀 어색했지만 하준 씨가 친절해서 지금은 훨씬 편해요.
Check that: the person's name and occupation are stated, at least one noun-modifying descriptive phrase appears, -아/어서 알게 되다 is used, first impression and current feeling are both described, and no structures beyond Chapter 11 appear productively.
Looking Ahead
지금 할 수 있는 것 — What you can do now
You can introduce a new person, describe their appearance, personality, and occupation using noun-modifying descriptive forms, explain how you got to know someone, and describe your changing feelings about a new relationship, all in consistent everyday polite speech level.