Korean word

벌써

Pronunciation

Romanizationpeolsseo

Meaning

  • adverbalready

Example

벌써 왔어요?peol sseo wa sseo yo

Are you here already?

Illustration for 벌써 (already)

More examples

벌써 끝났어요.peol sseo kkeun na sseo yo

It's already over.

Core concept

A time marker showing that something happens sooner than expected or is complete by now.

Common phrases

  • 벌써 왔어요peol sseo wa sseo yo

    already here

  • 벌써 도착했어요peol sseo to cha kae sseo yo

    already arrived

Similar words

이미imi: Indicates that an earlier event is finished and its effects remain in the present.
아직ajik: Shows that a situation is still going on at the present time.
이제ije: Marks the time from now as the start of a new stage.

Definition in Korean

어떤 일이 기대보다 일찍 일어났거나 이미 끝났음을 나타내는 시간 부사.eo tteon i ri ki dae bo da il jjik i reo nat kkeo na i mi kkeun na sseu meul na ta nae neun si gan pu sa

Word origin

This is a native Korean adverb rather than a Sino-Korean formation, and its exact historical origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In questions, it often adds surprise that something happened so soon, rather than expressing a neutral question about time.

Opposites

Word lists with this word