Korean for Work: Asking 'Are You Available Tuesday?' and Confirming an Agenda
Learn elementary Korean to check a colleague's availability for a work meeting, propose a time, and confirm the agenda politely using -doenayo? and -eun ganeunghanayo?.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Korean workplaces, arranging a meeting is not the same as making weekend plans with a friend. You need to check availability without sounding pushy, propose a specific day and time, and confirm what will be discussed. This lesson gives you elementary patterns for exactly that: asking 'Are you available Tuesday?', suggesting a time, and confirming the agenda. You will use polite but practical language suited to coworkers, and you will learn why saying the agenda out loud is normal and helpful in Korean office culture.
By the end, you can…
- ask a colleague whether they are available on a specific day using a polite question.
- propose a meeting time and confirm the agenda in a short work conversation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
화요일에 시간 되세요?
Are you available on Tuesday?
hwa-yo-il-e si-gan doe-se-yo?
Polite and common with coworkers. 시간 되세요 literally asks 'do you have time?' and is softer than asking if someone is free.
화요일 오후 두 시는 어떠세요?
How about Tuesday at 2 p.m.?
hwa-yo-il o-hu du si-neun eo-tteo-se-yo?
Use this to propose a specific time. -neun eotteoseyo? means 'how about...?' and is polite.
회의 안건을 확인하고 싶어요.
I would like to confirm the meeting agenda.
hoe-ui an-geon-eul hwa-gin-ha-go si-peo-yo.
A direct but polite way to say you want to check the agenda. 안건 means agenda item or topic.
무슨 안건으로 회의하나요?
What is the meeting about? / What agenda are we meeting on?
mu-seun an-geon-eu-ro hoe-ui-ha-na-yo?
Use this to ask about the purpose. It is neutral and suitable for work.
그 시간은 어려워요. 다른 시간 괜찮으세요?
That time does not work for me. Is another time okay?
geu si-gan-eun eo-ryeo-wo-yo. da-reun si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
A polite refusal plus a request for another time. 어려워요 literally means 'it is difficult' and softens the refusal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about availability, use a time word plus 시간 되세요? For example, 수요일에 시간 되세요? means 'Are you available on Wednesday?' To propose a time, use a time plus -은/는 어떠세요? as in 목요일 오전 열 시는 어떠세요? ('How about Thursday at 10 a.m.?'). To confirm the agenda, use 안건을 확인하고 싶어요 or 무슨 안건으로 회의하나요? These patterns keep the tone polite and work-focused.
When to use it
Use these expressions when you are scheduling a work meeting, not a casual meetup. If you are writing to a supervisor, you can make the question softer with 혹시 ('by any chance'): 혹시 화요일에 시간 되세요? If you are the one who cannot attend, say 그 시간은 어려워요 and then offer another time with 다른 시간 괜찮으세요? Avoid casual forms like 시간 있어? with coworkers you do not know well.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
민수 씨, 화요일에 시간 되세요?
Minsu, are you available on Tuesday?min-su ssi, hwa-yo-il-e si-gan doe-se-yo?네, 오후에는 괜찮아요. 무슨 안건으로 회의하나요?
Yes, the afternoon is fine. What is the meeting about?ne, o-hu-e-neun gwaen-chan-a-yo. mu-seun an-geon-eu-ro hoe-ui-ha-na-yo?새 프로젝트 일정이에요. 화요일 오후 두 시는 어떠세요?
It is about the new project schedule. How about Tuesday at 2 p.m.?sae peu-ro-jek-teu il-jeong-i-e-yo. hwa-yo-il o-hu du si-neun eo-tteo-se-yo?좋아요. 그때 회의실에서 뵐게요.
Sounds good. I will see you in the meeting room then.jo-a-yo. geu-ttae hoe-ui-sil-e-seo boel-ge-yo.A little context goes a long way
In many Korean workplaces, naming the agenda before a meeting is seen as considerate because it helps everyone prepare. Using -si- (되세요, 괜찮으세요) shows respect to the listener, and 씨 after a name is common between coworkers of similar rank. With a manager, you may prefer 직함 (job title) plus 님, for example 김 부장님.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual form 화요일에 시간 있어? with a coworker you do not know well.
Try this instead: Use the polite form 화요일에 시간 되세요? or add 혹시 for softness: 혹시 화요일에 시간 되세요? The casual 있어? is fine with close friends but can sound abrupt at work.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask a coworker, 'Are you available on Wednesday?'
Show a sample answer
수요일에 시간 되세요?
This uses the day 수요일 plus 에 and the polite question 시간 되세요? Alternatives like 수요일에 괜찮으세요? are also acceptable in many workplaces.
2You cannot meet at the proposed time. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
그 시간은 어려워요. 다른 시간 괜찮으세요?
어려워요 softens the refusal, and the follow-up question asks for another time. You could also say 죄송하지만 그 시간은 어려워요.
3How do you ask what the meeting agenda is?
Show a sample answer
무슨 안건으로 회의하나요?
This asks about the purpose or topic. 회의 안건이 뭐예요? is another natural, slightly more casual but still polite option.
For work meetings, ask availability with 시간 되세요?, propose a time with -은/는 어떠세요?, and confirm the agenda with 안건을 확인하고 싶어요 or 무슨 안건으로 회의하나요? Keep the polite -yo style with coworkers.
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