Korean word

지금껏

Pronunciation

Romanizationchigeumkkeot

Meaning

  • adverbso far

Example

지금껏 단 한 번도 실패한 적이 없다.chi geum kkeot tan han peon do sil pae han cheo gi eop tta

I have never failed even once so far.

Illustration for 지금껏 (so far)

More examples

그는 지금껏 한 번도 연락을 끊은 적이 없다.keu neun chi geum kkeot han peon do yeol la geul kkeu neun cheo gi eop tta

He has never once broken off contact.

Core concept

Everything that has happened or continued before now is viewed as one unbroken span.

Common phrases

  • 지금껏 단 한 번도chi geum kkeot tan han peon do

    not even once up to now

  • 지금껏 들어본 적이 없다chi geum kkeot teu reo bon cheo gi eop tta

    have never heard before

Similar words

지금까지chigeumkkaji: Covers the period from an earlier time through the present.
이제까지ijekkaji: Describes what has unfolded or been experienced up to the present.
여태까지yeotaekkaji: Shows how a state or situation has lasted until now in everyday speech.
아직까지ajikkkaji: Indicates that something remains unchanged or unfinished at present.

Definition in Korean

지금 이 순간까지 이어져 온 기간이나 경험을 가리키는 부사로, 대개 그 시점까지 계속되어 온 상태나 행위를 나타냄.chi geum i sun gan kka ji i eo jeo on ki ga ni na kyeong heo meul ka ri ki neun pu sa ro tae gae keu si jeom kka ji kye sok ttoe eo on sang tae na haeng wi reul na ta naem

Word origin

지금껏 (jigeumkkeot, "up to now") is formed from 지금 (jigeum, "now") and the suffix 껏 (kkeot, "to the extent of"), which marks the endpoint or full range of a period.

Usage tips

  • The word can sound stronger than a neutral time reference because it draws attention to the entire stretch of time rather than only its endpoint.

Other meanings

  • all this timeadverb

Opposites

  • 앞으로apeuroin the futureadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word