Korean word

지금

Pronunciation

Romanizationchigeum

Meaning

  • adverbnow

Example

지금 뭐 해?chi geum mwo hae

What are you doing now?

Illustration for 지금 (now)

More examples

지금 바로 출발하자.chi geum pa ro chul bal ha ja

Let's leave right now.

Core concept

The speaker's present moment, whether it means at this instant or around this time.

Common phrases

  • 지금 바로chi geum pa ro

    right now

  • 지금부터chi geum bu teo

    from now on

  • 지금까지chi geum kka ji

    until now

Similar words

이제ije: Signals that a new time or stage begins at this point.
방금panggeum: Refers to an event that happened just before now.
곧kot: Points to an event coming in the near future.
아직ajik: Shows that a state continues or an event has not happened yet.

Definition in Korean

현재의 바로 그때를 가리키는 부사로, 지금 이 순간이나 곧바로를 뜻한다.hyeon jae ui pa ro keu ttae reul ka ri ki neun pu sa ro chi geum i sun ga ni na kot ppa ro reul tteu tan da

Word origin

Its exact origin is uncertain, so remembering its strong link to the present moment is more reliable than guessing how the word was formed.

Usage tips

  • It focuses a conversation on what is happening at this time, rather than on a usual or planned time.

Other meanings

  • right nowadverb
  • just nowadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word