4 · 40 words

Time and change

Periods, stages, trends and turning points: the words for how things develop over time.

These words describe time as a story rather than a clock: when something began, which stage it is at, where it is heading. Several end in -적 and work like adjectives with 인 before a noun and like adverbs with 으로: 일시적인 현상, “a passing phenomenon”, 장기적으로, “in the long run”. Next to the Sino-Korean words stand a few warmer native ones, 앞날 and 고비, which talk about one’s own life rather than about history.

The words

Verb (5)

진화하다to evolveVerb4

휴대폰은 전화기에서 작은 컴퓨터로 진화했어요.The mobile phone has evolved from a telephone into a small computer.

발달하다to develop; to advanceVerb4

교통이 발달해서 이제는 지방도 금방 갈 수 있어요.Transport has developed so much that you can now get to the provinces quickly.

Growth of a system or the body; 발전하다 is wider, progress of any kind.

번성하다to flourish; to prosperVerb4

이 항구 도시는 옛날에 무역으로 번성했어요.This port city once flourished through trade.

쇠퇴하다to decline; to waneVerb4

공장들이 문을 닫으면서 그 도시는 점점 쇠퇴했어요.As the factories closed, the town gradually declined.

지속되다to continue; to lastVerb4

이런 더위가 다음 주까지 지속될 것으로 보입니다.This heat is expected to last until next week.

Adverb (2)

서서히slowly; graduallyAdverb4

해가 지면서 하늘이 서서히 어두워졌어요.As the sun set, the sky slowly grew dark.

조만간soon; before longAdverb4

조만간 한번 만나서 밥이라도 먹어요.We should meet up for a meal some time soon.

This list belongs to The scaffolding — 30 lists and 1195 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.