가끔 vs 때때로: Frequency and Nuance Differences

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  나는 가끔 친구들과 영화를 본다.

  na-neun ga-kkeum chin-gu-deul-gwa yeong-hwa-reul bon-da., na neun ga kkeum chin gu deul gwa yeong hwa reul bon da.

  가끔 fits low frequency and is a natural expression.

• ⭕

  나는 때때로 친구들과 영화를 본다.

  na-neun ttae-ttae-ro chin-gu-deul-gwa yeong-hwa-reul bon-da., na neun ttae ttae ro chin gu deul gwa yeong hwa reul bon da.

  때때로 is also appropriate for expressing intermittent frequency.

• ❌

  가끔은 공식적인 자리에서 사용하는 표현이다.

  ga-kkeum-eun gong-sik-jeok-in ja-ri-e-seo sa-yong-ha-neun pyo-hyeon-i-da., ga kkeum eun gong sik jeok in ja ri e seo sa yong ha neun pyo hyeon i da.

  가끔 is informal and suited for casual contexts, not formal ones.

• ❌

  때때로는 일상 대화에서 자주 쓰인다.

  ttae-ttae-ro-neun il-sang dae-hwa-e-seo ja-ju sseu-in-da., ttae ttae ro neun il sang dae hwa e seo ja ju sseu in da.

  때때로 is mainly used in written or formal contexts, less natural in casual conversation.

• ⭕

  나는 가끔 운동을 한다.

  na-neun ga-kkeum un-dong-eul han-da., na neun ga kkeum un dong eul han da.

  가끔 fits well for expressing low frequency of daily activities like exercise.

• ⭕

  나는 때때로 운동을 한다.

  na-neun ttae-ttae-ro un-dong-eul han-da., na neun ttae ttae ro un dong eul han da.

  때때로 can also be used appropriately for intermittent exercise.

• ❌

  가끔은 공식적인 문서에 잘 쓰인다.

  ga-kkeum-eun gong-sik-jeok-in mun-seo-e jal sseu-in-da., ga kkeum eun gong sik jeok in mun seo e jal sseu in da.

  가끔 is an informal expression not suitable for official documents.

• ⭕

  때때로 비가 온다.

  ttae-ttae-ro bi-ga on-da., ttae ttae ro bi ga on da.

  때때로 is natural for expressing intermittent natural phenomena.

1. Which is most appropriate for formal documents?

   다음 중 공식 문서에 가장 적합한 표현은?(da-eumjunggong-sikmun-seo-ega-jangjeok-hap-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, daeumjunggongsikmunseoegajangjeokhaphanpyohyeoneun?)
   • 가끔(ga-kkeum, gakkeum)
   • 때때로(ttae-ttae-ro, ttaettaero)
   • 둘 다 적합하지 않음(duldajeok-hap-ha-jian-eum, duldajeokhaphajianeum)

2. Fill in the blank: '나는 ___ 친구들을 만난다.' Which word fits best?

   ‘나는 ___ 친구들을 만난다.’ 빈칸에 들어갈 가장 자연스러운 단어는?(‘na-neun___chin-gu-deul-eulman-nan-da.’bin-kan-edeul-eo-galga-jangja-yeon-seu-reo-undan-eo-neun?, ‘naneun___chingudeuleulmannanda.’binkanedeuleogalgajangjayeonseureoundaneoneun?)
   • 가끔(ga-kkeum, gakkeum)
   • 때때로(ttae-ttae-ro, ttaettaero)
   • 둘 다 가능(duldaga-neung, duldaganeung)

3. Which is natural in the sentence: '___ 비가 올 때가 있다.'?

   ‘___ 비가 올 때가 있다.’ 문장에서 자연스러운 표현은?(‘___bi-gaolttae-gaiss-da.’mun-jang-e-seoja-yeon-seu-reo-unpyo-hyeon-eun?, ‘___bigaolttaegaissda.’munjangeseojayeonseureounpyohyeoneun?)
   • 가끔(ga-kkeum, gakkeum)
   • 때때로(ttae-ttae-ro, ttaettaero)
   • 둘 다 가능(duldaga-neung, duldaganeung)