Korean word

아까

Pronunciation

Romanizationakka

Meaning

  • adverbearlier

Example

아까 뭐 먹었어요?a kka mwo meo geo sseo yo

What did you eat earlier?

Illustration for 아까 (earlier)

More examples

아까 그 사람은 벌써 갔어요.a kka keu sa ra meun peol sseo ka sseo yo

That person from earlier has already gone.

Core concept

The near past viewed as one recent moment in an ordinary conversation.

Common phrases

  • 아까 그 사람a kka keu sa ram

    the person from earlier

  • 아까 전화a kka cheon hwa

    the call from earlier

Similar words

방금panggeum: Refers to the tiny moment immediately before now, often for an action that has just ended.
조금 전에chogeum cheone: Refers to something that happened a little while ago.
좀 전에chom cheone: Marks a short time before now in casual speech.
얼마 전에eolma cheone: Refers to a fairly recent past time, from hours ago to a few days ago.

Definition in Korean

직전의 짧은 시간을 가리키며 일상회화에서 자주 쓰이는 부사.chik jjeo nui jjal beun si ga neul ka ri ki myeo il sang hoe hwa e seo cha ju sseu i neun pu sa

Word origin

This adverb has no confirmed decomposition or origin, so its established use is the most reliable way to remember it.

Usage tips

  • Its meaning depends on conversational timing, so the same word can point to a recent event without naming an exact clock time.

Opposites

Word lists with this word