이왕 (i-wang) – since it’s already like this/now that it’s already like this/if this is already the case We usually wouldn’t read this in writing, especially in news articles. 이왕 is almost always only used in conversations and more commonly…
일부러 (il-boo-reo) – intentionally/purposely/specially Another common phrase that I came across while reading the Naver webtoon series 언터처블. I also realised that many Koreans (particularly KPop idols and entertainers) use this in TV shows. I think it’s a useful phrase…
문자 씹다 (moon-ja ssip-da) – ignore a text message I chanced upon this while reading an episode of the Naver webtoon series 언터처블. 씹다 by itself means “to chew” in most cases but when coupled with 문자 (text message/sms), it…
느닷없이 (neu-dat-oeb-si) – suddenly/abruptly This is pretty much the same as 갑자기, which also means “suddenly”. Example: 그 사람들이 어떤 이야기를 하면서 느닷없이 싸웠어. Those people were talking about something when they suddenly fought.
때마침 (ddae-ma-chim) – just in time/perfect timing/at the right moment This word has about the same function as most other timing words like 지금, 오늘, 이따, 나중에, etc. As such, you can either place 때마침 at the front of the…
그야말로 (geu-ya-mal-lo) – simply/really/truly/literally This word works like 정말로 but you would usually use this word to exaggerate things. 그야말로 has similar meaning to “literally” in English. Examples: 김 선생님의 수업은 너무 심심해서 수업 시간마다 그야말로 아비규환이야. Teacher Kim’s classes…
간혹 (gan-ok) – once in a while/occasionally 간혹 and 가끔 have essentially identical meanings and both are adverbs so you can use them interchangeably. However, I would prefer to use 가끔 in speech because it’s much more common and easier…
그리하여 (geu-ri-ha-yeo) – as a result/therefore/thus This word has essentially the same meaning as 그러면, 그렇다면, 그래서. There are slight nuance differences but we generally don’t need to worry about those. Examples: 오늘 비가 왔어. 난 그리하여 집으로 나가지 않았어.…
재수 없다 (jae-su oeb-da) – to be unlucky/just isn’t one’s day Another exclamatory word that Koreans usually use in daily conversations. 재수 없다 can be used in both informal and formal situations but more commonly used informally. 재수 basically means…
덥석 (deob-seok) – (gripped/grabbed/clasped/grasped) firmly/suddenly Because this is an adverb, we would always see 덥석 accompanied by an action verb. Most of the time, the verb that follows 덥석 will be either gripped, grabbed, clasped, grasped, bit, etc. Basically, 덥석…
