Korean word

이제야

Pronunciation

Romanizationijeya

Meaning

  • adverbfinally

Example

이제야 끝났네.i je ya kkeun nan ne

It's finally over.

Illustration for 이제야 (finally)

More examples

이제야 왔네.i je ya wan ne

You finally came.

Core concept

A result arrives only after a long wait, with the delay still in view.

Common phrases

  • 이제야 알게 됐어i je ya al ge twae sseo

    finally found out

  • 이제야 도착했네i je ya to cha kaen ne

    finally arrived

  • 이제야 시작했네i je ya si ja kaen ne

    finally started

Similar words

이제ije: Refers to the present moment or a new period beginning now.
드디어teudieo: Marks the long-awaited moment when an event finally happens.
겨우kyeou: Shows that a goal is reached with almost no room to spare.
마침machim: Marks an event that happens at exactly the right time, sometimes by chance.

Definition in Korean

일이 오래 걸리거나 늦어진 뒤에 겨우 어떤 상태나 결과가 일어났음을 나타내는 부사.i ri o rae keol li geo na neu seo jin twi e kyeo u eo tteon sang tae na kyeol gwa ga i reo na sseu meul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

It combines the Korean adverb meaning now with an emphatic element, turning now into the sense of only now or finally.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a neutral finally, it often draws attention to how late the result is and may sound mildly impatient in conversation.

Other meanings

  • only nowadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 이제서야ijeseoyaonly nowadverb
  • 이제ijenowadverb

Word lists with this word