Alice: I heard that you’re learning Korean and Spanish?
Jason: Yes, I am. I thought it would be good for me to branch out and begin learning other languages. It will help me out at work.

본문에서 Alice가 Jason에게 “I heard that you’re learning Korean and Spanish? 너 한국어와 스페인어를 배운다고 들었어?”라고 하자, Jason이 “Yes, I am. I thought it would be good for me to branch out and begin learning other languages. 맞아. 다른 언어들을 배우기 시작하는 게 좋을 것 같다는 생각이 들어서. It will help me out at work. 그리고 회사 일에도 도움이 될 거야.” 라고 대답합니다.

Now keep today’s expression ‘branch out’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Alice: I heard that you’re learning Korean and Spanish?
Jason: Yes, I am. I thought it would be good for me to branch out and begin learning other languages. It will help me out at work.

Today’s phrase is branch out. A branch is part of a tree that grows out of its main stem or even from another branch.

So to “branch out” means to begin an activity that you do not usually do. It simply means to try new things.

Branch는 ‘나뭇가지’입니다. 나무는 가지를 뻗으면서 더 크고 넓게 자라잖아요? 그래서 'Branch out' 이라는 표현은 새로운 분야에 진출하다, 확장하다, 또는 넓히다 라는 의미로 많이 쓰입니다. 한국어에도 비슷하게 '가지를 치다'라는 표현이 있죠.

본문에서 Jason이 ‘한국어와 스페인어를 배우고 있다’고 말합니다. “I thought it would be good for me to branch out and begin learning other languages.”라고요. 이렇게 새로운 일에 도전하거나, 새로운 분야에 진출할 때 ‘branch out” 이라는 표현을 쓸 수 있습니다.

Now let me give you some example sentences using today’s phrase. “Albert’s company will branch out into selling insurance.”는 “Albert의 회사는 보험 판매 분야로 새롭게 진출할 예정이다.” 라고 해석할 수 있습니다.

Here is another example. “I would like to branch out into a new business.”라는 문장을 해석하면 “난 새로운 사업을 시작하고 싶다.” 라는 뜻입니다.

Now that you know what today’s phrase means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Alice: I heard that you’re learning Korean and Spanish?
Jason: Yes, I am. I thought it would be good for me to branch out and begin learning other languages. It will help me out at work.

Let’s review. To “branch out” means to diversify and go into new areas. It simply means to try new things. BRANCH OUT. Now try using this phrase on your own.