Already, still, just now, later, before, after and on time.
Where English says “before”, “ago” and “after”, Korean puts 전 and 후 behind the time, like a particle: 삼 년 전, three years ago; 수업 후, after class. Several words come in pairs whose difference English rarely puts into words: 벌써 and 이미 are both “already”, but 벌써 is surprised that it is so soon; 아까is a little while ago방금only a moment ago때, “time, when”, turns any clause into a time: 어릴 때, when I was little.
The words
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Noun (22)
시간time; hourNoun1
시간이 있으면 같이 커피 마셔요.If you have time, let's have a coffee together.
Counting hours uses native numbers: 두 시간.
시계clock; watchNoun1
시계가 오 분 늦게 가요.The clock is five minutes slow.
전날the day beforeNoun2
시험 전날에는 일찍 자요.The day before an exam I go to bed early.
전before; agoNoun2
삼 년 전에 한국에 왔어요.I came to Korea three years ago.
후after; laterNoun2
수업이 끝난 후에 만나요.Let's meet after the class finishes.
정각exactly (on the hour); o'clock sharpNoun2
기차는 열 시 정각에 출발해요.The train leaves at ten o'clock sharp.
때time; whenNoun2
한국에 처음 왔을 때 많이 힘들었어요.When I first came to Korea, it was very hard.
시절days; period (of one's life)Noun2
대학교 시절 친구들을 만났어요.I met some friends from my university days.
순간moment; instantNoun2
그 순간 전화가 울렸어요.At that moment the phone rang.
다음next; followingNoun2
다음 역에서 내리세요.Get off at the next station.
이번this (time); this oneNoun2
이번에는 제가 낼게요.This time it is on me.
저번last time; the other timeNoun2
저번에 같이 간 식당 기억나요?Do you remember the restaurant we went to last time?
Spoken; in writing 지난번.
그전before that; earlierNoun2
그전에는 부산에서 살았어요.Before that I lived in Busan.
시작beginning; startNoun2
시작이 반이에요.Starting is half the battle.
A saying: once you have begun, half the work is done.
동안for; duringNoun2
방학 동안 고향에 있었어요.I was in my home town during the holidays.
기간period (of time)Noun2
세일 기간에는 사람이 많아요.It gets crowded during the sales.
주중the working week; weekdaysNoun2
주중에는 바빠서 주말에만 운동해요.I am busy during the week, so I only exercise at weekends.
점심때lunchtimeNoun2
점심때 같이 밥 먹어요.Let's have something to eat together at lunchtime.
저녁때evening time; towards eveningNoun2
저녁때가 되면 길이 많이 막혀요.The roads get very busy towards evening.
요즘these days; latelyNoun2
요즘 많이 바빠요?Are you very busy these days?
옛날the old days; long agoNoun2
옛날에는 여기가 바다였어요.Long ago this was all sea.
Said [옌날].
시각the time (a point in time)Noun2
지금 시각은 오후 세 시입니다.The time is now three p.m.
A point on the clock, as on the radio; 시간 is time as an amount.
Adjective (1)
이르다to be earlyAdjective2
저녁을 먹기에는 아직 일러요.It is still too early for dinner.
르-irregular: 일러요, 일렀어요.
Adverb (11)
하루하루day by day; every single dayAdverb2
방학이 하루하루 지나가요.The holidays are slipping by day by day.
벌써alreadyAdverb2
벌써 열두 시예요?Is it twelve o'clock already?
아직still; (not) yetAdverb2
아직 밥을 안 먹었어요.I haven't eaten yet.
이미already (and done)Adverb2
기차는 이미 떠났어요.The train has already left.
벌써 adds surprise that it is so soon; 이미 simply says it is done.
방금just nowAdverb2
방금 도착했어요.I have just arrived.
아까a little while ago; earlierAdverb2
아까 전화했는데 안 받았어요.I called earlier, but you didn't answer.
나중에later; some other timeAdverb2
그 이야기는 나중에 해요.Let's talk about that later.
지금쯤by now; about nowAdverb2
친구는 지금쯤 비행기 안에 있을 거예요.My friend will be on the plane by now.
내내all through; the whole timeAdverb2
여름 내내 비가 왔어요.It rained all summer.
미리in advance; beforehandAdverb2
표는 미리 사 두세요.Buy the tickets in advance.
제시간에on timeAdverb2
버스가 제시간에 왔어요.The bus came on time.
Phrase (2)
어릴 때as a child; when one was littlePhrase2
어릴 때 바닷가 마을에서 살았어요.As a child I lived in a village by the sea.
조금 전a moment ago; a little earlierPhrase2
조금 전에 형한테서 문자가 왔어요.I got a text from my brother a moment ago.
Counter (1)
초secondCounter2
일 분은 육십 초예요.A minute is sixty seconds.
Sino-Korean numbers: 삼십 초.
Dependent noun (1)
중in the middle of; duringDependent noun2
지금 회의 중이에요.I am in a meeting at the moment.
Determiner (1)
지난last; pastDeterminer2
지난 금요일에 친구 생일 파티가 있었어요.Last Friday there was a friend's birthday party.
