Korean word

어느덧

Pronunciation

Romanizationeoneudeot

Meaning

  • adverbbefore I knew it

Example

어느덧 밤이 깊어졌다.eo neu deot pa mi ki peo jeot tta

Before I knew it, it was already late at night.

Illustration for 어느덧 (before I knew it)

More examples

어느덧 가게 문이 닫혀 있었다.eo neu deot ka ge mu ni ta tyeo i sseot tta

Before I knew it, the shop door was closed.

Core concept

Time passes so quietly that a new situation has arrived before anyone notices.

Common phrases

  • 어느덧 시간이 지나다eo neu deot si ga ni chi na da

    time passes before I know it

  • 어느덧 해가 지다eo neu deot hae ga chi da

    the sun sets before I know it

Similar words

어느새eoneusae: A result has quietly appeared before anyone realizes that time has passed.
벌써peolsseo: Something is already done or has happened earlier than expected.
어느틈에eoneuteume: A change in a thing or situation has gone unnoticed until now.
언제부턴가eonjebuteonga: A new condition has slowly developed since some unknown starting point.

Definition in Korean

어느덧은 시간의 흐름이 눈에 띄지 않게 지나어 결국 다른 상태에 이르게 되었음을 말하는 부사eo neu deo seun si ga nui heu reu mi nu ne tti ji an ke chi na eo kyeol guk ta reun sang tae e i reu ge toe eo sseu meul mal ha neun pu sa

Word origin

The historical formation of this adverb is uncertain, and it is best remembered as a fixed expression for time passing unnoticed.

Usage tips

  • It often gives a reflective, story-like tone, making it useful when describing how a situation has gradually changed without notice.

Opposites

Word lists with this word