Hello! This is Maeil Hangul (Daily Korean), here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Are you a digital nomad, a remote worker, or someone who collaborates with people across the globe? Then you know the headache of managing different time zones! Today, we’re going to learn essential Korean phrases to help you conquer deadlines and schedules like a pro.
Lately in Korea, the “Workation” (워케이션) trend is huge! It’s a combination of “work” (일) and “vacation” (휴가), where people work remotely from beautiful locations like Jeju Island or the coastal city of Gangneung. Imagine sending emails with an ocean view! But even on a workation, you have to sync with your team in Seoul or clients overseas. That’s where today’s lesson will be a lifesaver!
Key Expressions for Time Zone Masters
Here are the must-know phrases for managing your international projects.
1. 마감 기한 (magam gihan)
- Pronunciation: [ma-gam gi-han]
- English Meaning: Deadline; Due date
- Detailed Description: This is the standard and professional term for a deadline. 마감 (magam) means “closing” or “end,” and 기한 (gihan) means a “fixed period” or “term.” You’ll hear and use this constantly in any Korean work environment. It’s a formal noun phrase, perfect for emails and meetings.
2. 시차 (sicha)
- Pronunciation: [si-cha]
- English Meaning: Time difference
- Detailed Description: This two-syllable word is your go-to for talking about time zones. 시 (si) comes from the word for time (시간), and 차 (cha) means “difference” or “gap.” It’s a simple but powerful word. For example, “There is a time difference” is “시차가 있다” (sichaga itda).
3. -에 맞추다 (-e matchuda)
- Pronunciation: [-e mat-chu-da]
- English Meaning: To meet (a deadline); to adjust to; to set to
- Detailed Description: This is a versatile and crucial grammar pattern. It means to fit or adjust something to a specific standard or time. When combined with our first expression, “마감 기한에 맞추다” (magam gihan-e matchuda), it means “to meet the deadline.” You can also use it for other things, like “set an alarm” (알람을 맞추다).
4. 일정을 조율하다 (iljeong-eul joyulhada)
- Pronunciation: [il-jjeong-eul jo-yul-ha-da]
- English Meaning: To coordinate/adjust a schedule
- Detailed Description: This is a very professional-sounding phrase that will make you sound like a native speaker in a business context. 일정 (iljeong) means “schedule,” and 조율하다 (joyulhada) means “to tune” or “to coordinate.” You use this when you need to negotiate a meeting time or project timeline with others, especially when considering everyone’s availability.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation. Imagine Min-jun is in the Seoul office, and Su-jin is on a “workation” in Jeju, working with a client in New York.
A: 민준 (Min-jun): 수진 씨, 뉴욕 클라이언트 프로젝트는 어떻게 되고 있어요?
Su-jin, how is the project with the New York client going?
B: 수진 (Su-jin): 거의 다 됐어요. 그런데 뉴욕이랑 시차가 커서 소통하기가 조금 힘드네요.
It’s almost done. But the time difference with New York is so big that communication is a bit difficult.
A: 민준 (Min-jun): 맞아요. 그래도 내일까지가 마감 기한인 거 알죠? 꼭 마감 기한에 맞춰야 해요.
Right. But you know the deadline is tomorrow, right? We absolutely have to meet the deadline.
B: 수진 (Su-jin): 네, 걱정 마세요. 오늘 최종 피드백을 받기로 했어요. 제가 미팅 일정을 조율했어요.
Yes, don’t worry. I’m scheduled to get the final feedback today. I coordinated the meeting schedule.
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive: The Rise of ‘Workation’ (워케이션)
As we mentioned, 워케이션 (Workation) is a major trend in Korea’s work culture, especially after the pandemic.
- What is it? Companies are actively encouraging it, and local governments (especially in tourist areas like Jeju, Gangneung, and Busan) are creating “workation-friendly” offices and accommodations to attract remote workers.
- Why is it popular? It’s seen as a way to improve work-life balance, prevent burnout, and boost creativity. Many young professionals, especially in the tech and creative industries, are embracing this new way of working.
- How to use this knowledge? If your Korean colleague says, “저 다음 주에 제주도로 워케이션 가요” (I’m going on a workation to Jeju next week), you’ll know exactly what they mean! You can respond with, “우와, 좋겠다! 그럼 시차 걱정은 없겠네요!” (Wow, that’s great! Then you won’t have to worry about a time difference!). It shows you’re up-to-date with modern Korean culture!
Let’s Practice!
Time to put your knowledge to the test. Let’s see if you can be a time zone master!
Practice Question:
Imagine you need to schedule a meeting with team members in Seoul (KST) and Paris (CET). How would you write an email sentence in Korean saying, “Because there is a time difference, let’s coordinate the schedule”?
(Fill in the blanks using the words we learned today!)
서울과 파리는 (__________)가 있으니, 회의 (__________)을/를 (__________).
Think you know the answer?
Great job today! You’ve learned how to talk about deadlines and time differences like a pro, all while getting a peek into Korea’s trendy “workation” culture.
Leave your answer to the practice question in the comments below! Keep up the great work
