Korean Time Travel: Master “Just Now” & “Soon”!
Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever wanted to talk about something that just happened or is about to happen? Today, we’re going to learn two super useful Korean words that will help you do exactly that: 방금 (banggeum) and 곧 (got).
Lately in Korea, everything is about speed and real-time updates! Your favorite K-pop idol just posted a selfie, or that new snack you wanted to try is about to be released. Mastering today’s words will help you keep up with the fast-paced action and sound like a natural when you talk about it!
Core Expressions
Let’s dive into the key words for today.
1. 방금 (banggeum)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: banggeum
- English Meaning: Just now, a moment ago
- Detailed Explanation: Use 방금 to talk about something that happened in the very recent past, from a few seconds to a few minutes ago. It’s a very common word you can use with friends, family, or in more formal situations. It emphasizes that the action was completed very recently.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The vowel ‘ㅡ’ (eu) in ‘금’ (geum) can be tricky. It’s like the ‘oo’ sound in the English word ‘good’, but you make it without rounding your lips. Try to smile slightly while saying ‘good’ – that’s the sound! So it’s [bang-geum].
2. 곧 (got)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: got
- English Meaning: Soon, right away
- Detailed Explanation: 곧 is the opposite of 방금. You use it to say that something will happen in the very near future. It can mean in a few seconds, minutes, or a very short time from now. It creates a feeling of anticipation.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The final letter ‘ㄷ’ (d) in 곧 is not pronounced like a “d” sound. When it’s at the end of a syllable, it makes an unreleased ‘t’ sound. This means you put your tongue in the position to say ‘t’, but you don’t release the puff of air. It’s a soft stop. So, you pronounce it [got], not “go-deu”. This is a super important rule in Korean!
3. 방금 막 (banggeum mak)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: banggeum mak
- English Meaning: Just this very second, just finished
- Detailed Explanation: If you want to add extra emphasis to show that something happened literally this second, you can add 막 (mak) after 방금. It makes the action sound even more immediate and recent.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Just like the ‘ㄷ’ in ‘곧’, the final ‘ㄱ’ (k) in 막 is also an unreleased stop. It’s a soft ‘k’ sound without a puff of air. So, you say [bang-geum mak].
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a real conversation about a K-pop group’s new song!
A: Did you see the new music video from LE SSERAFIM?
(르세라핌 새 뮤직비디오 봤어? / Reuserapim sae myujikbidio bwasseo?)
B: No, when did it come out?
(아니, 언제 나왔어? / Ani, eonje nawasseo?)
A: It came out just now (방금)! The dance is amazing. They said a live broadcast will start soon (곧)!
( 방금 나왔어! 춤이 대박이야. 곧 라이브 방송 시작한대! / Banggeum nawasseo! Chumi daebagiya. Got raibeu bangsong sijakhandae!)
B: Really? I just finished (방금 막) my homework, so I can watch it now!
(진짜? 나 방금 막 숙제 끝냈으니까 지금 볼 수 있어! / Jinjja? Na banggeum mak sukje kkeunnaesseunikka jigeum bol su isseo!)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
Have you ever heard of Korea’s “ppalli-ppalli” (빨리빨리) culture? It means “hurry, hurry” and describes the fast-paced nature of life in Korea.
This is why 방금 and 곧 are essential words! Koreans value speed and efficiency, so being able to communicate about things happening “right now” is very important. You’ll hear these words constantly in K-dramas when someone is rushing, or see them on social media. An idol might post a picture with the caption:
- “방금 한국에 도착했어요!” ( Banggeum hanguge dochakaesseoyo!) – “I just arrived in Korea!”
Using 방금 and 곧 will not only improve your Korean but also help you connect with the dynamic and speedy side of Korean culture!
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Great job today! You learned how to talk about the immediate past with 방금 and the very near future with 곧. Now you can sound more current and in-the-moment.
Let’s test your knowledge!
Quiz: Fill in the blank with 방금 or 곧.
- I’m hungry. Let’s eat lunch ________. (배고파요. ________ 점심 먹어요.)
- What was that sound? I heard it ________. (방금 무슨 소리였어요? ________ 들었어요.)
Leave your answers in the comments below, and try making your own sentence with today’s words! We can’t wait to see them
