Small Talk at Work

Grammar point: -기 전에 [-gi jeon-e] means "before doing (something)." It can be attached to the verb stem to convey that the action of the verb should be completed before moving on to the next action.

먹기 전에 뭐 해야 해요? [meok-gi jeon-e mwo hae-ya hae-yo?]
What should I do before eating?

• 먹기 전에 [meok-gi jeon-e] means "before eating"
• 뭐 해야 해요? [mwo hae-ya hae-yo?] means "What should I do?"

출근하기 전에 뭐 드셨어요? [chul-geun-ha-gi jeon-e mwo deu-syeo-sseo-yo?]
What did you eat before going/coming to work?

• 출근하기 전에 [chul-geun-ha-gi jeon-e] means "before going/coming to work"
• 뭐 드셨어요? [mwo deu-syeo-sseo-yo?] means "What did you eat?"

출근하기 전에 샌드위치를 먹었어요. [chul-geun-ha-gi jeon-e saen-deu-wi-chi-reul meo-geo-sseo-yo]
I ate a sandwich before going/coming to work.

• 샌드위치를 먹었어요 [saen-deu-wi-chi-reul meo-geo-sseo-yo] means "I ate a sandwich."

퇴근하기 전에 회의해요. [toe-geun-ha-gi jeon-e hoe-ui-hae-yo]
I have a meeting before leaving work.

• 퇴근하기 전에 [toe-geun-ha-gi jeon-e] means "before leaving work"
• 회의해요 [hoe-ui-hae-yo] means "I have a meeting."

• A: 점심으로 뭐 먹을까요?
  What should we have for lunch?
• B: 출근하기 전에 뭐 드셨어요?
  What did you eat before coming (going) to work?
• C: 출근하기 전에 샌드위치를 먹었어요. [chul-geun-ha-gi jeon-e saen-deu-wi-chi-reul meo-geo-sseo-yo]
  I ate a sandwich before coming (going) to work.
• A: 그러면 중식 어때요?
  Then how about Chinese food?
• B: 좋아요!
  Sounds good!

• B: 점심 먹기 전에 잠깐 회의할까요?
  Should we have a quick meeting before lunch?
• C: 아니요. 퇴근하기 전에 회의해요. [a-ni-yo. toe-geun-ha-gi jeon-e hoe-ui-hae-yo]
  No, let's have the meeting before leaving work.
• A: 그래요. 회의는 점심 먹은 다음에 해요.
  Alright. Let's have the meeting after lunch.