Korean Vocabulary #29 – Time Expressions & Frequency: Learn How to Talk About Time in Korean
1️⃣ Introduction
Learn 15 essential Korean words and expressions to talk about time and frequency ⏰
You’ll use these every day to say when you do something, how often, or how long it takes.
Perfect for sentences like “I always study Korean” or “I sometimes go for a walk.”
2️⃣ Vocabulary List
No. | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
1 | 항상 | hang-sang | always |
2 | 자주 | ja-ju | often |
3 | 가끔 | ga-kkeum | sometimes |
4 | 거의 | geo-ui | almost / nearly |
5 | 절대 | jeol-dae | never (with negative verbs) |
6 | 지금 | ji-geum | now / right now |
7 | 아직 | a-jik | still / yet |
8 | 곧 | got | soon |
9 | 방금 | bang-geum | just now |
10 | 매일 | mae-il | every day |
11 | 매주 | mae-ju | every week |
12 | 매달 | mae-dal | every month |
13 | 어제 | eo-je | yesterday |
14 | 오늘 | o-neul | today |
15 | 내일 | nae-il | tomorrow |
Example Sentences
💬 Example Sentences
저는 항상 일찍 일어나요.(jeo-neun hang-sang il-jjik i-reo-na-yo.)
→ I always wake up early.
그여자는 자주 커피를 마셔요.(geu-yeo-ja-neun ja-ju keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo.)
→ That woman often drinks coffee.
저는 가끔 친구를 만나요.(jeo-neun ga-kkeum chin-gu-reul man-na-yo.)
→ I sometimes meet my friends.
그남자는 거의 집에서 쉬지 않아요.(geu-nam-ja-neun geo-ui ji-be-seo swi-ji a-na-yo.)
→ That man almost never rests at home.
저는 절대 늦지 않아요.(jeo-neun jeol-dae neut-ji a-na-yo.)
→ I never come late.
저는 지금 숙제를 하고 있어요.(jeo-neun ji-geum suk-jje-reul ha-go i-sseo-yo.)
→ I am doing my homework right now.
그여자는 아직 회사에 있어요.(geu-yeo-ja-neun a-jik hoe-sa-e i-sseo-yo.)
→ That woman is still at work.
저는 곧 점심을 먹을 거예요.(jeo-neun got jeom-si-meul meo-geul geo-ye-yo.)
→ I’ll eat lunch soon.
그남자는 방금 도착했어요.(geu-nam-ja-neun bang-geum do-chak-hae-sseo-yo.)
→ That man just arrived.
저는 매일 운동해요.(jeo-neun mae-il un-dong-hae-yo.)
→ I exercise every day.
제 친구는 매주 한국어 수업을 들어요.(je chin-gu-neun mae-ju han-gu-geo su-eo-beul deu-reo-yo.)
→ My friend takes Korean class every week.
저는 매달 책을 사요.(jeo-neun mae-dal chae-geul sa-yo.)
→ I buy books every month.
저는 어제 영화를 봤어요.(jeo-neun eo-je yeong-hwa-reul bwa-sseo-yo.)
→ I watched a movie yesterday.
그여자는 오늘 회사에 안 갔어요.(geu-yeo-ja-neun o-neul hoe-sa-e an gat-sseo-yo.)
→ That woman didn’t go to work today.
저는 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.(jeo-neun nae-il chin-gu-reul man-nal geo-ye-yo.)
→ I will meet my friend tomorrow.
3️⃣ Expression Tips & Cultural Notes
Use 항상 / 자주 / 가끔 / 거의 / 절대 before verbs to describe frequency
→ “항상 공부해요.” = I always study.
→ “가끔 운동해요.” = I sometimes exercise.
지금 (ji-geum) means “right now” — it refers to the current moment in time.
→ “지금 뭐 해요?” = What are you doing now?
이제 (i-je) means “from now on / already changed.”
→ “이제 괜찮아요.” = I’m okay now (I wasn’t before, but I am now).
💡 In short:지금 = current moment 이제 = transition or change in state
아직 means “still / yet”:
→ “아직 안 했어요.” = I haven’t done it yet.
절대 always pairs with a negative verb (“안 / 못”).
→ “절대 잊지 마세요.” = Never forget.
3️⃣ Mini Practice
Fill in the blanks.
저는 ________ 일찍 일어나요. (I always wake up early)
그 여자는 커피를 __________ 마셔요. (That woman often drinks coffee)
저는 ________ 친구를 만나요. (I sometimes meet my friends)
그 남자는 ___________ 집에서 쉬지 않아요. (That man almost never rests at home)
저는 ________ 늦지 않아요. (I never come late)
저는 ________ 숙제를 하고 있어요. (I am doing my homework right now)
그 여자는 ______ 회사에 있어요. (That woman is still at work)
저는 ________ 점심을 먹을 거예요. (I’ll eat lunch soon)
저는 _________ 도착했어요. (That man just arrived)
저는 ________ 운동해요. (I exercise every day)
제 친구는 ________ 한국어 수업을 들어요. (My friend takes Korean class every week)
저는 ________ 책을 사요. (I buy books every month)
저는 ________ 영화를 봤어요. (I watched a movie yesterday)
저는 _______________ 회사에 안 갔어요. (That woman didn’t go to work today)
저는 ________ 친구를 만날 거예요. (I will meet my friend tomorrow)
Answers
저는 항상 일찍 일어나요.
→ I always wake up early.(jeo-neun hang-sang il-jjik i-reo-na-yo.)
그여자는 자주 커피를 마셔요.
→ That woman often drinks coffee.(geu-yeo-ja-neun ja-ju keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo.)
저는 가끔 친구를 만나요.
→ I sometimes meet my friends.(jeo-neun ga-kkeum chin-gu-reul man-na-yo.)
그남자는 거의 집에서 쉬지 않아요.
→ That man almost never rests at home.(geu-nam-ja-neun geo-ui ji-be-seo swi-ji a-na-yo.)
저는 절대 늦지 않아요.
→ I never come late.(jeo-neun jeol-dae neut-ji a-na-yo.)
저는 지금 숙제를 하고 있어요.
→ I am doing my homework right now.(jeo-neun ji-geum suk-jje-reul ha-go i-sseo-yo.)
그여자는 아직 회사에 있어요.
→ That woman is still at work.(geu-yeo-ja-neun a-jik hoe-sa-e i-sseo-yo.)
저는 곧 점심을 먹을 거예요.
→ I’ll eat lunch soon.(jeo-neun got jeom-si-meul meo-geul geo-ye-yo.)
그남자는 방금 도착했어요.
→ That man just arrived.(geu-nam-ja-neun bang-geum do-chak-hae-sseo-yo.)
저는 매일 운동해요.
→ I exercise every day.(jeo-neun mae-il un-dong-hae-yo.)
제 친구는 매주 한국어 수업을 들어요.
→ My friend takes Korean class every week.(je chin-gu-neun mae-ju han-gu-geo su-eo-beul deu-reo-yo.)
저는 매달 책을 사요.
→ I buy books every month.(jeo-neun mae-dal chae-geul sa-yo.)
저는 어제 영화를 봤어요.
→ I watched a movie yesterday.(jeo-neun eo-je yeong-hwa-reul bwa-sseo-yo.)
그여자는 오늘 회사에 안 갔어요.
→ That woman didn’t go to work today.(geu-yeo-ja-neun o-neul hoe-sa-e an gat-sseo-yo.)
저는 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
→ I will meet my friend tomorrow.(jeo-neun nae-il chin-gu-reul man-nal geo-ye-yo.)
📂 Download Practice File
📥 Download your “Time Expressions & Frequency Vocabulary Worksheet”
Practice talking about when and how often you do things in Korean!
🎓 Learn More with Soona
Book a 1:1 Online Lesson with Soona
Want to sound natural when talking about time and daily habits in Korean?
Join Soona’s 1:1 Korean Lessons and learn real-life expressions with native flow!
Comments