Korean word

선약

Pronunciation

Romanizationseonyak

Meaning

  • nounprior engagement

Example

선약이 있어서 못 가요.seo nya gi i sseo seo mot ka yo

I can't go because I have a prior engagement.

Illustration for 선약 (prior engagement)

More examples

다음에는 선약이 겹치지 않도록 할게요.ta eu me neun seo nya gi kyeop chi ji an to rok hal kke yo

Next time, I'll make sure I don't have a prior engagement that overlaps with another appointment.

Core concept

An earlier commitment takes priority when a new invitation arrives.

Common phrases

  • 선약이 있다seo nya gi it tta

    have a prior engagement

  • 선약 때문에seo nyak ttae mu ne

    because of a prior engagement

  • 선약이 있어서seo nya gi i sseo seo

    because I have a prior engagement

Similar words

약속yakssok: A mutual commitment about what people will do or when and where they will meet.
예약yeyak: An advance arrangement that secures a time, place, seat, or product for later use.
일정iljeong: An organized list of planned activities and appointments for a person or group.

Definition in Korean

이미 앞서 정해져 있어 다른 약속이나 모임에 갈 수 없음을 뜻하는 명사로, 상대의 제안을 정중히 거절할 때 쓰인다.i mi ap sseo cheong hae jeo i sseo ta reun yak sso gi na mo i me kal ssu eop sseu meul tteu ta neun myeong sa ro sang dae ui che a neul cheong jung hi keo jeol hal ttae sseu in da

Word origin

The Sino-Korean compound joins the elements for before and promise to mean an agreement made earlier.

Usage tips

  • It gives a polite, brief reason for declining an invitation without explaining the whole schedule.

Related words

Word lists with this word