Korean word

옛날

Pronunciation

Romanizationyennal

Meaning

  • nounold days

Example

옛날에는 집이 작았어요.yen na re neun chi bi cha ga sseo yo

In the old days, houses were small.

Illustration for 옛날 (old days)

More examples

옛날 이야기에는 교훈이 많아요.yen nal i ya gi e neun kyo hu ni ma na yo

Old-time stories have many lessons.

Core concept

A broad stretch of time far behind the present, remembered as a different way of life.

Common phrases

  • 옛날 이야기yen nal i ya gi

    old-time story

  • 옛날 사진yen nal sa jin

    photo from the old days

  • 옛날 사람yen nal sa ram

    person from the old days

Similar words

예전yejeon: An earlier period or way of life viewed from the present.
전cheon: A point in time before now, often used after a number of hours, days, or years.
이전ijeon: An earlier stage or time before a particular event, point, or step.
과거kwageo: Time and events that have already gone by.

Definition in Korean

과거의 일반적인 시기나 오래전의 상태를 나타내는 명사로, 이야기나 비교에서 쓰인다.kwa geo ui il ban jeo gin si gi na o rae jeo nui sang tae reul na ta nae neun myeong sa ro i ya gi na pi gyo e seo sseu in da

Word origin

This native Korean compound combines elements meaning old or former and day or time, giving the idea of an earlier period.

Usage tips

  • English once can mean one single time, but this word points to a former period, often with a sense of how life used to be.

Other meanings

  • beforenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 옛날이야기yennariyagiold-time storynoun
  • 옛사람yetssaramperson from olden timesnoun
  • 옛날식yennalsikold-fashioned stylenoun

Word lists with this word