Get down to Business 본론으로 들어가다, Engage in – 에 참여하다
Power Warm-up: The Best of Poland: Krakow – 폴란드 최고의 도시 크라쿠프
Maxwell tells Kayla he thinks Polish people aren’t very friendly. She says in their culture they don’t engage in small talk with strangers much, unlike in the U.S.
Cameron:
Welcome to the show, everybody.
Kristen:
Hi everyone, I’m Kristen.
Cameron:
And I’m Cameron word.
Kristen:
We are traveling today. I love to travel. Yeah, I do. No? no?
Cameron:
I don’t like the moving. I like being in a new place. But yeah, the actual traveling, being on a plane, being on a train, not my favorite. Okay. I can’t wait for teleportation.
Kristen:
Haha teleportation.
Cameron:
You just like go to the place automatically.
Kristen:
Oh my gosh. Okay. So we are going to Poland. We are in Poland all this month. And just one thing, because since we’re in Poland, food is very important. When you visit a country, you want to know what kind of food do they have. Don’t you? . One really famous Polish food is…
Cameron:
Pierogis.
Kristen:
Pierogis. Thank you very much. Do you know what that is and do you have you ever had it?
Cameron:
Well, we had we talked about pierogies. Goodness, it must have been a year ago almost. It’s basically Polish dumplings.
Kristen:
Yeah.
Cameron:
Yeah. Yeah. And I have not had them. I’ve had the Russian like cousin of it, like the very close version of it.
Kristen:
It’s interesting how so many countries, every country has their version of a dumping.
Cameron:
Yeah. Well, they say every country has like a dumpling. Every country also has a donut. Like, we just like to take.
Kristen:
Yeah.
Cameron:
Bread and either boil it or fry it and put sugar on it.
Kristen:
Okay, that’s interesting. So, yeah, I think one difference is that there’s like sour cream or cheese, potatoes. It’s different. But, yeah, I would like to try a pierogi.
Cameron:
The sour cream, it’s very good. It’s very good. It’s a flavor that you do not get in Korea. And it’s a flavor you really don’t get in America either.
Power Expressions
Kristen:
Right. So you’ve got the potatoes, the cheese, sour cream. Yeah. Oh, that sounds good already. Okay. So we are going to Krakow. Okay. And let’s look at our first expression. If you engage in something…
Cameron:
This is a fancy way of saying you are doing something.
Kristen:
I see.
Kristen:
Okay, if you get down to business…
Cameron:
Get down to business It means to really work on something, to focus and do the hard work.
Kristen:
Based on something.
Cameron:
So this is how you made an idea, how you came to an idea. This is your basis or your foundation for the idea.
Kristen:
Okay, very good. Let’s go ahead and listen to our dialogue.
Power Dialog
Maxwell: You know what I noticed about Krakow? People aren’t that friendly.
Kayla: I read that they don’t really engage in small talk if they don’t know you.
Maxwell: So you’re saying they just like to get down to business?
Kayla: It doesn’t mean they aren’t friendly. It’s just a different way to be.
Maxwell: I guess when you live in a big city, you don’t have as much time to chat with strangers.
Kayla: Right. So try not to judge them based on your culture.
Kristen:
Okay, we’re on page 68. You can check out the dialog. Please join us. The best of Poland, Krakow. Now, this city is a very beautiful city. It’s very close to the Czech Republic, and it has that kind of like Czech sort of Prague feel.
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
And just a side note, you had mentioned that now it’s not even Czech Republic or Czechia..
Cameron:
Yeah, I think they prefer to go by Czechia (체코 공화국이 아닌 체키야로 불러주길 원함) now. So, you know.
Kristen:
This was kind of established in 2022, so it’s kind of a recent thing. I think a lot of people still don’t know.
Cameron:
You know, like Turkey is now Türkiye now. Yeah. So sometimes it’s hard to remember. Yeah.
Kristen:
Yeah, okay. So not important, but important. Okay. Let’s look at the dialog. Maxwell says, you know what I noticed about Krakow? People aren’t that friendly.
Cameron:
Oh no!
Kristen:
And Kayla says, I read that they don’t really engage in small talk if they don’t know you. So they may seem unfriendly, but they don’t engage in small talk. They don’t engage in something.
Cameron:
So engage here means to participate in, to do. And so engage in will have a noun that is an activity. So he’s saying here, Kayla is saying here that they don’t do this thing. And the thing is small talk.
Kristen:
Yeah. And small talk is what kind of conversation?
Cameron:
Oh, the weather. It’s so hot recently.
Kristen:
Where are you from?
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
Light subjects.
Cameron:
Did you see the baseball game? Yeah, those types of things.
Kristen:
Yeah. So engage in, you mentioned earlier is a bit fancy way of saying to do.
Cameron:
Yeah, it’s to do, to actively participate in something.
Kristen:
I do feel like if you’re engaging in something, you are very interactive.
Cameron:
So if you engage in a conversation, you’re having a conversation, but you’re actively in that conversation.
Kristen:
Right. So sometimes in the news, you’ll see things like, you know, they engaged in criminal activities.
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
They were a part of a criminal activity.
Cameron:
Yes.
Kristen:
Okay, so Maxwell, what does he say?
Cameron:
So you’re saying they just like to get down a business? Mm-hmm.
Kristen:
So Maxwell, by this pattern, so you’re saying,
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
He’s trying to do what?
Cameron:
He’s trying to confirm he’s changing the words he’s trying to find the same meaning but change the words so that he can confirm that he understands what Kayla is saying right.
Kristen:
So when you say, so you’re saying, it’s like, did I hear that right? yeah. Clarifying. Did I understand this right? Did I understand this right? Yeah. So you’re saying they like to get down to business. Now, this is a term that we usually hear in business. Yes. Get down to business. But actually, we use it in everyday conversation too.
Cameron:
Yeah. So this phrase means to do the serious thing, do the main goal, do the thing that is important. And I think image wise, it’s good to think of being in business. You know when like two companies’ meet and they’re going to have an important meeting and they’re going to sing a contract. You don’t like just walking to the room, “Let’s sign the contract.”
Kristen:
“Let’s sign the contract.” Have some small talk.
Cameron:
It’s usually like, small talk or it’s friendly or whatever. Or even, you know, if they take them to like to a restaurant and like first they’re going to eat and have fun. And after they’re finished eating, like, okay, let’s get down to business. Yes. Let’s do the thing we need to do. That’s.
Kristen:
That’s right. But it doesn’t have to be so formal, a formal business event. It could just be like cleaning your house.
Cameron:
Yeah. Okay, I need to stop watching TV while I wash the dishes. I need to get down to business and really get clean my house.
Kristen:
That’s right. So it could be studying, working, anything that you do where you’ve got to start what you’ve got to do.
Cameron:
Okay, let’s get serious. Let’s do this.
Kristen:
Kayla says, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t friendly. It’s just a different way to be. Very true. Cultures are all different. Maxwell says, I guess when you live in a big city, you don’t have as much time to chat with strangers.
Cameron:
That’s true. People in cities don’t talk to each other. I don’t know anyone in my building.
Kristen:
No, no one does. No one does.
Cameron:
I’ll even be in the elevator with them.
Kristen:
I mean, it is modern life, isn’t it? But in certain countries, more so. It doesn’t mean…
Cameron:
Or in the countryside, right?
Kristen:
So what does Kayla say?
Cameron:
Right, so try not to judge them based on your culture.
Kristen:
Yes. Okay. This is good to know. Don’t judge them based on your culture.
Cameron:
Yes. So based on means with a foundation of or using this as a standard. So Kayla is saying your culture. Don’t think that that is normal and compare it to this other culture. Right? Which is great advice.
Kristen:
Yeah. Well, in America, a lot of people think that, oh, because American people like small talk, they like to like strike up a conversation with strangers that they’re very friendly. But that’s not always true either.
Cameron:
Right.
Kristen:
I mean, yeah, they could seem friendly, but then there’s another side to them that we don’t know about.
Cameron:
Just because Americans smile doesn’t mean they’re friendly.
Kristen:
That’s right. So we don’t want to judge anyone based on their culture.
Cameron:
Based on your culture.
Kristen:
Based on your culture.
Cameron:
So as an American coming here to Korea, obviously things are different. I can’t be thinking about American culture and comparing that to how people do things here based on my culture.
Kristen:
Good to know. All right, let’s listen to that one more time.
Power Dialog
Maxwell: You know what I noticed about Krakow? People aren’t that friendly.
Kayla: I read that they don’t really engage in small talk if they don’t know you.
Maxwell: So you’re saying they just like to get down to business?
Kayla: It doesn’t mean they aren’t friendly. It’s just a different way to be.
Maxwell: I guess when you live in a big city, you don’t have as much time to chat with strangers.
Kayla: Right. So try not to judge them based on your culture.
Power Note
1. Engage in -: -에 참여하다. 집중해서 하다.
Kristen:
It’s time for Power Note. We’re on pages 70 and 71. Let’s look at all these example sentences. Engage in something means to do a task or activity. Like really participating in that task.
1)
A: Why was the manager mad at you?
B: He said I was engaging in non-work activities while at my desk.
Kristen:
So instead of saying, he said I was doing non-work activities while at my desk.
Cameron:
Yes.
Kristen:
If you use this expression, engage in, it does sound a little bit more official, more formal.
Cameron:
Right. And he probably used it because it does kind of feel like if you get in trouble and your manager sometimes writes a warning, he or she might write it in this way because it sounds like a policeman.
Kristen:
You’re not engaging, you’re engaging in non-work activities.
Cameron:
I don’t know how often we would say it like this in a casual setting, but it seems like the second person talking is maybe like repeating the exact words.
2) I was engaged in cleaning out the garage when a mouse startled me.
Cameron:
So this one here, it has a little bit of an extra meaning to it. Obviously, engaged in cleaning out the garage means that you were cleaning out the garage. But engaged in here does make it feel like there’s an extra amount of focus. Like you were thinking only about cleaning out. You know how when you’re focused when you’re doing something, it becomes so small. And you forget about everything outside of what you’re doing. That is this feeling with engage in cleaning out the garage. (engage in = focus on 집중하다)
Kristen:
So if you use it in this sort of context, it really focuses on your concentration on doing something, which is cleaning out the garage. Let’s give one more example of to be engaged in.
Cameron:
So you can be engaged in a book, which means that you are very focused on reading. It’s such an interesting book that you’re just really focused on.
Kristen:
Right. How about you can also say that you are engaged in a real sort of serious conversation about, you know, your about death or, you know, I mean, so it’s that idea of like, you know, it’s not just any conversation.
Cameron:
That’s not a light conversation.
Kristen:
It’s not a light conversation. There’s a heaviness to it. When you’re engaged in something, it’s really you are like your whole body is in it.
Cameron:
Yes. Yeah.
2. Get down to business: 본론으로 들어가다. Be in business
Kristen:
Get down to business means, okay, we need to do what we need to do.
1)
A: Is everyone, everybody here? Shall we begin today’s workshop?
B: We’re all here and ready to go, so let’s get down to business.
Kristen:
This business could be I don’t know like what a workshop.
Cameron:
Right, so I mean, whatever the workshop is about, you’re no longer having the social portion. You’re no longer playing around. It’s okay, we’re doing the main task for today.
Kristen:
We need to get started.
Cameron:
Yeah, there’s that famous Disney song from Mulan.
Kristen:
Oh yeah.
Cameron:
Let’s get down to business to defeat the Huns. And it’s about they have to train the army. Yeah. And so they’re saying, hey, no more play around!
Kristen:
Right, we need to train.
Cameron:
They’ve got a train.
Kristen:
That’s right.
Cameron:
We got a war to fight.
Kristen:
Yeah. So this expression can be used in a variety of contexts. It doesn’t have to be like business related. It could be about like training.
Cameron:
It could be about cleaning your room. You know, you really got to get after it.
Kristen:
Studying.
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
You’re like 고3. And you want to get to college, you’re going to get down to business.
Cameron:
Get down to business. Or maybe you’re in like a big box supermarket. Yeah. You got a lot of shopping to do. Oh yeah. We gotta get in and get out.
Kristen:
Do some serious shopping.
Cameron:
Shopping.
Kristen:
Get down to business.
Cameron:
Get down to business. I like that.
2) The sooner we get down to business, the sooner we will finish.
Cameron:
Yeah, the sooner we’re serious, the harder we work, the sooner we’ll finish.
Kristen:
Could you possibly use this when you’re at a buffet?
Cameron:
Oh, yeah. I’m not, you know, I’ve got a lot to eat. And we only have 90 minutes. There’s a 90-minute time limit. We’ve got to get down to business and eat all this food.
Kristen:
I knew you would say that. Because, you know, buffets, they don’t let you stay there forever.
Cameron:
No.
Kristen:
There’s a time limit. So you want to get down to business.
Cameron:
Then you don’t eat the carbs. No rice.
Kristen:
No kimbap, no kimbap.
Cameron:
You go to the guy cutting meat and you just get a lot of meat. You learn his name. Right, right. And you say, hey, hello, Benjamin. I’m going to need five slices.
Kristen:
And get the crab, the seafood, everything.
Cameron:
Okay, all right.
Kristen:
Get down to business.
3. Based on –: 에 근거해서, 기준으로
Based on something means that it’s founded on a particular idea or belief.
Cameron:
Yes.
Kristen:
Okay, so let’s see how this is used.
1)
A: Doctor, I have a bad headache, can’t concentrate, and my heart rate is high.
B: Based on the symptoms you’ve described, I believe you are dehydrated.
Kristen:
Really? So I just need to drink water?
Cameron:
Drink a lot of H2O.
Kristen:
Oh, get some electrolytes in there?
Cameron:
Yeah.
2) Based on your resume, you are very qualified for this job or you are not qualified for this job.
Cameron:
So this based, like we talked about, is the foundation. I’ve looked at these things or this is the standard. These are the things I’ve heard or the things I know and I’m making a conclusion or I’m making a comparison.
Kristen:
And both these examples, they’re in a sort of formal context, like you’re at a doctor’s office, it’s a job resume. So I feel like this word is kind of used in more sort of formal situations.
Cameron:
Yeah. I would say usually the situation is more formal or it could be used in written language. Ah, y
Kristen:
Yes.
Cameron:
That’s right.
4. So you’re saying: 그러니까 네 말은 –라는 거지?
Kristen:
So you’re saying is our power of power.
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
Which is like, okay,
Cameron:
Did I understand you?
Kristen:
Did I understand you? Right. Did I get that right? Mm-hmm.
1) So you’re saying it isn’t my fault.
Cameron:
That’s what I’m saying.
Kristen:
Really? Wow, thanks.
2) So you’re saying you think the earth is flat?
Kristen:
Yeah, I do.
Cameron:
What? What? You need to go back to school.
5. Small talk: 소소한 이야기, 잡담
Small talk is when people talk about trivial things such as weather. Often, small talk is between people who just met or are standing near each other in a queue.
Kristen:
Alright, okay. Our power vocab is small talk on page 72. And this is when you just talk about very light, unimportant things.
Cameron:
Yeah, no politics.
Kristen:
No.
Cameron:
No religion.
Kristen:
No religion.
Cameron:
Yeah.
Kristen:
And do check out the Power Practice. You know, we give you some Korean sentences and see if you can translate it into English. Yes. Okay. Let’s thank our sponsor.
0105 Be In Business 뜻 – 본격적으로 시작하다. 본궤도에 오르다 (enko.co.kr)