Korean for Secondhand Pickups: How to Change the Meeting Time Politely
Learn to reschedule a secondhand meetup in Korean with polite informal patterns like 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? and 내일로 바꿔도 돼요? Includes key vocabulary and a realistic dialogue.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you buy something secondhand in Korea, you often arrange to meet the seller at a set time and place. But plans change. You might need to push the pickup later or move it to another day. This lesson teaches you exactly how to do that in Korean without sounding rude or overly formal. You will learn three key words—시간 (time), 변경 (change), and 미루다 (to postpone)—and two essential patterns: 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? (Could you push the time a bit later?) and 내일로 바꿔도 돼요? (Can we change it to tomorrow?). The register is polite informal, which is perfect for most secondhand transactions between strangers who are friendly but not close. We will also cover how to ask questions, handle responses, and avoid common mistakes. By the end, you will be able to reschedule a pickup confidently in Korean.
By the end, you can…
- ask to push a pickup time later using 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요?
- propose changing the pickup to another day using 내일로 바꿔도 돼요?
- use the vocabulary 시간, 변경, and 미루다 appropriately in conversation.
- respond politely when a seller agrees or suggests an alternative.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요?
Could you push the time a bit later?
si-gan-eul jom neut-chul su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Use this when you need to meet later on the same day. It is polite and soft because of -을까요?.
내일로 바꿔도 돼요?
Can we change it to tomorrow?
nae-il-lo ba-kkwo-do dwae-yo?
Use this to move the pickup to a different day. It is a direct but polite request for permission.
혹시 시간 변경이 가능할까요?
Is it perhaps possible to change the time?
hok-si si-gan byeon-gyeong-i ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
A slightly more formal way to ask about changing the time. Useful if you want to be extra polite.
제가 사정이 생겨서요.
Something came up on my end.
je-ga sa-jeong-i saeng-gyeo-seo-yo
A gentle way to explain why you need to reschedule without giving too many details.
미루다
to postpone, to delay
mi-ru-da
This verb is useful when you want to say you need to push something back. Example: 약속을 미뤄야 해요 (I need to postpone the appointment).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -을 수 있을까요? means 'Could you...?' or 'Is it possible to...?'. Attach it to a verb stem to make a polite request. For example, 늦추다 (to delay) becomes 늦출 수 있을까요? (Could you delay it?). This is softer than a direct command and is perfect for asking a seller to adjust the time. Another pattern is -아/어도 돼요? which asks for permission: 바꾸다 (to change) becomes 바꿔도 돼요? (Is it okay if I change it?). Use these two patterns to reschedule without sounding demanding.
When to use it
Use these patterns when you have already agreed on a pickup time but need to change it. For example, if you are stuck at work, you can say 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? If you need to move it to the next day, say 내일로 바꿔도 돼요? Always add a brief reason like 사정이 생겨서요 (something came up) to show respect. Avoid using these patterns with close friends; for them, you can be more casual, like 시간 늦춰도 돼? (Can we push the time?). But for secondhand transactions with strangers, the polite informal style is safest.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요, 오늘 3시에 물건 받기로 했는데, 갑자기 일이 생겨서요. 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요?
Hello, we agreed to pick up the item at 3 today, but something came up suddenly. Could you push the time a bit later?an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, o-neul se-si-e mul-geon bat-gi-ro haet-neun-de, gap-ja-gi il-i saeng-gyeo-seo-yo. si-gan-eul jom neut-chul su i-sseul-kka-yo?아, 네. 몇 시쯤 괜찮으세요?
Oh, okay. Around what time would be good for you?a, ne. myeot si-jjeum gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?6시쯤은 어떨까요? 아니면 내일로 바꿔도 돼요?
How about around 6? Or can we change it to tomorrow?yeo-seot-si-jjeum-eun eo-tteol-kka-yo? a-ni-myeon nae-il-lo ba-kkwo-do dwae-yo?6시는 좀 어렵고, 내일 오전 11시는 괜찮아요.
6 is a bit difficult, but tomorrow at 11 a.m. is fine.yeo-seot-si-neun jom eo-ryeop-go, nae-il o-jeon yeol-han-si-neun gwaen-chan-a-yoA little context goes a long way
In Korean secondhand meetups, punctuality is valued, but sellers usually understand if you give notice. It is polite to apologize briefly and offer a specific alternative time. Using polite informal speech (해요체) is standard for transactions between strangers. Avoid overly formal language (합니다체) unless the seller is much older or you want to show extra respect. Also, if you are the seller, you can use the same patterns to ask the buyer to reschedule.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual form 시간 늦춰도 돼? with a stranger.
Try this instead: With strangers, use the polite informal form 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? or 시간을 늦춰도 될까요? The casual form is only for close friends or people much younger than you. For example, say 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? to a seller you just met online.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need to move your pickup from today to tomorrow. How do you ask the seller politely?
Show a sample answer
내일로 바꿔도 돼요?
This uses the permission pattern -아/어도 돼요? with the verb 바꾸다 (to change). It is polite and direct. You could also say 내일로 바꿀 수 있을까요? which is slightly softer.
2What is the Korean verb meaning 'to postpone'?
Show a sample answer
미루다
미루다 means to postpone or delay. You can use it in a sentence like 약속을 미뤄야 해요 (I need to postpone the appointment). It is a useful verb for rescheduling.
3How would you say 'Could you push the time a bit later?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요?
This uses the pattern -을 수 있을까요? with the verb 늦추다 (to delay). Adding 좀 (a bit) makes it sound softer. You can also say 시간을 늦춰 주실 수 있을까요? which is a bit more polite.
To reschedule a secondhand pickup in Korean, use 시간을 좀 늦출 수 있을까요? for same-day delays and 내일로 바꿔도 돼요? for moving to another day. Always add a brief reason and keep your tone polite informal.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr