Korean word

막

Pronunciation

Romanizationmak

Meaning

  • adverbjust now

Example

막 도착했어요.mak to cha kae sseo yo

I arrived just now.

Illustration for 막 (just now)

More examples

회의가 막 시작했어요.hoe ui ga mak si ja kae sseo yo

The meeting just started.

Core concept

Something that happened only a short time ago.

Common phrases

  • 막 도착하다mak to cha ka da

    just arrive

  • 막 시작하다mak si ja ka da

    just start

Similar words

방금panggeum: Refers to the immediate past of a completed event.
지금chigeum: Centers on the present time and what is happening now.
금방keumbang: Spans the brief period before now and the brief period ahead.
아까akka: Indicates a recent past moment without giving an exact time.

Definition in Korean

어떤 일이 바로 일어난 그 순간을 가리키는 부사로, 방금 전의 상황을 간단히 표현할 때 쓰인다.eo tteon i ri pa ro i reo nan keu sun ga neul ka ri ki neun pu sa ro pang geum cheo nui sang hwang eul kan dan hi pyo hyeon hal ttae sseu in da

Word origin

The historical origin of this adverbial use is uncertain, so 막 (mak, "just now") is best learned as a single unit linked to events that happened very recently.

Usage tips

  • 막 (mak, "just now") normally comes before the verb, so its position quickly signals that the action is very recent.

Other meanings

  • at randomadverb
  • carelesslyadverb

Word lists with this word