Korean word

조금

Pronunciation

Romanizationchogeum

Meaning

  • adverba little

Example

조금 기다려 주세요.cho geum ki da ryeo chu se yo

Please wait a little.

Illustration for 조금 (a little)

More examples

조금 전(에) 도착했어요.cho geum cheon e to cha kae sseo yo

I arrived a little while ago.

Core concept

A small point on the scale of amount, time, or degree, often kept light in conversation.

Common phrases

  • 조금 더cho geum teo

    a little more

  • 조금만cho geum man

    just a little

  • 조금 전cho geum cheon

    a little while ago

Similar words

좀chom: Softens a casual request by making it sound less demanding.
약간yakkkan: Expresses a small or measured degree in a somewhat formal style.

Definition in Korean

수나 양·시간·정도에서 많지 않고 약간 있음을 나타내는 부사로, 말하는 태도를 부드럽게 하거나 정도를 가볍게 표현할 때 쓰인다.su na yang si gan cheong do e seo man chi an ko yak kkan i sseu meul na ta nae neun pu sa ro mal ha neun tae do reul pu deu reop kke ha geo na cheong do reul ka byeop kke pyo hyeon hal ttae sseu in da

Word origin

The exact historical formation is uncertain, but this native Korean word developed from the idea of something small or not much into an adverb for limited amount or degree.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a separate politeness word, but this adverb can also make a Korean request sound gentler.

Other meanings

  • somewhatadverb
  • slightlyadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word