Korean word

가끔

Pronunciation

Romanizationkakkeum

Meaning

  • adverbsometimes

Example

저는 가끔 커피를 마셔요.cheo neun ka kkeum keo pi reul ma syeo yo

I sometimes drink coffee.

Illustration for 가끔 (sometimes)

More examples

퇴근 후에 가끔 친구들과 맥주를 마셔요.toe geun hu e ka kkeum chin gu deul gwa maek jju reul ma syeo yo

After work, I sometimes drink beer with my friends.

Core concept

An action happens now and then, with gaps between occurrences rather than as a regular habit.

Common phrases

  • 가끔 먹다ka kkeum meok tta

    sometimes eat

  • 가끔 놀다ka kkeum nol da

    sometimes play

  • 가끔 전화하다ka kkeum cheon hwa ha da

    sometimes call

Similar words

가끔씩kakkeumssik: An action keeps happening from time to time, with separate breaks.
이따금ittageum: An event takes place now and then rather than continuously.
때때로ttaettaero: An event occurs on some days and not on others.
드물게teumulge: An event takes place only a few times, with much time between events.

Definition in Korean

습관적이지 않은 일이나 행동이 때때로 일어남을 표현하는 부사로, 주로 문장에서 동작의 빈도를 설명한다.seup kkwan jeo gi ji a neun i ri na haeng dong i ttae ttae ro i reo na meul pyo hyeon ha neun pu sa ro chu ro mun jang e seo tong ja gui pin do reul seol myeong han da

Word origin

It is a native Korean adverb whose historical formation is not securely known, so it is best learned as one whole word.

Usage tips

  • It commonly comes before the verb, which makes it a useful early pattern for building natural Korean sentences about routines.

Opposites

Related words

  • 가끔씩kakkeumssiksometimesadverb
  • 가끔가끔kakkeumgakkeumnow and thenadverb

Word lists with this word