How to Ask About Minimum Lease Duration in Korean
Learn to ask 'What's the minimum lease?' in Korean using 최소 계약 기간 and related patterns. Practice polite questions and understand flexibility in lease terms.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When renting a home in Korea, knowing the minimum lease duration is essential. In Korean, the key phrase is 최소 계약 기간 (choeso gyeyak gigan), meaning 'minimum contract period.' This lesson teaches you how to ask 'What is the minimum lease?' and how to discuss flexibility. You'll learn the polite question form 최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요? and related expressions. By the end, you'll be able to ask about lease terms clearly and understand common answers like '1년' (one year) or '6개월' (six months).
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What is the minimum lease?' in polite Korean.
- understand and respond to answers about minimum lease duration.
- ask if the lease term is flexible.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?
What is the minimum lease period?
choeso gyeyak gigan-i eotteoke doenayo?
Standard polite question. Use with landlords or real estate agents.
최소 계약 기간은 얼마인가요?
How long is the minimum lease?
choeso gyeyak gigan-eun eolma-ingayo?
Slightly more direct but still polite. Good for written inquiries.
계약 기간을 줄일 수 있나요?
Can the lease period be shortened?
gyeyak gigan-eul juril su innayo?
Ask about flexibility to reduce the term.
6개월 계약도 가능한가요?
Is a 6-month lease possible?
yuk gae-wol gyeyak-do ganeunghan-gayo?
Propose a shorter term. Replace 6개월 with other durations.
최소 계약 기간은 1년입니다.
The minimum lease period is one year.
choeso gyeyak gigan-eun illyeon-imnida.
Common answer from landlords. 1년 means one year.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is '최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?' (choeso gyeyak gigan-i eotteoke doenayo?). Here, 최소 (choeso) means 'minimum,' 계약 (gyeyak) means 'contract,' and 기간 (gigan) means 'period.' The particle 이 (i) marks the subject, and 어떻게 되나요? (eotteoke doenayo?) is a polite way to ask 'how is it?' or 'what is it?' You can replace 최소 with other modifiers, e.g., '표준 계약 기간' (pyojun gyeyak gigan) for 'standard lease period.' To ask about flexibility, use '계약 기간을 줄일 수 있나요?' (gyeyak gigan-eul juril su innayo?), where 줄이다 (jurida) means 'to reduce.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when negotiating a lease for an apartment, officetel, or house. Koreans often expect a standard 2-year lease for jeonse (전세) or 1-year for monthly rent (월세). Asking '최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?' is appropriate in person or over the phone. If you need a shorter stay, say '6개월 계약도 가능한가요?' (yuk gae-wol gyeyak-do ganeunghan-gayo?). Landlords may say '최소 1년이에요' (choeso illyeon-ieyo) meaning 'minimum one year.' Always use polite endings like -나요? or -인가요? with strangers.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?
Hello, what is the minimum lease period?annyeonghaseyo, choeso gyeyak gigan-i eotteoke doenayo?최소 계약 기간은 1년입니다.
The minimum lease period is one year.choeso gyeyak gigan-eun illyeon-imnida.6개월 계약도 가능한가요?
Is a 6-month lease possible?yuk gae-wol gyeyak-do ganeunghan-gayo?죄송하지만, 6개월은 어렵고 최소 1년이에요.
Sorry, 6 months is difficult; the minimum is one year.joesonghajiman, yuk gae-wol-eun eoryeopgo choeso illyeon-ieyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, lease terms are often standardized: 2 years for jeonse (전세) and 1 year for monthly rent (월세). However, shorter terms may be negotiable, especially for furnished units or share houses. Always ask politely and be prepared to negotiate. Using respectful language (존댓말, jondaenmal) is crucial when speaking with landlords or agents.
One thing to watch for
Using '최소 계약 기간은 뭐예요?' (choeso gyeyak gigan-eun mwoyeyo?) which is grammatically correct but sounds a bit blunt.
Try this instead: Prefer '최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?' (choeso gyeyak gigan-i eotteoke doenayo?) for a more polite and natural inquiry. Example: '최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?' is softer and commonly used in formal situations.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What is the minimum lease period?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?
This uses the polite question form 어떻게 되나요? and the subject particle 이. Alternative: 최소 계약 기간은 얼마인가요? is also correct but slightly more direct.
2What does '6개월 계약도 가능한가요?' mean?
Show a sample answer
Is a 6-month lease possible?
6개월 means '6 months,' 계약 means 'contract,' and 가능한가요? means 'is it possible?' This is a polite way to ask about flexibility.
3If a landlord says '최소 1년이에요,' what does it mean?
Show a sample answer
The minimum is one year.
최소 means 'minimum,' 1년 means 'one year,' and 이에요 is a polite copula. This indicates the shortest lease term available.
To ask about minimum lease duration in Korean, use '최소 계약 기간이 어떻게 되나요?' Remember to use polite language and be ready to negotiate shorter terms with '~도 가능한가요?'
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