What does 방금 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  방금 도착했어요.

  bang-geum do-chak-haess-eo-yo., bang geum do chak haess eo yo.

  ‘방금’ correctly conveys that the arrival happened just now.

• ⭕

  방금 전에 전화했어요.

  bang-geum jeon-e jeon-hwa-haess-eo-yo., bang geum jeon e jeon hwa haess eo yo.

  ‘방금 전에’ also means very recently, just now.

• ❌

  나는 방금 밥을 먹을 거야.

  na-neun bang-geum bap-eul meok-eul geo-ya., na neun bang geum bap eul meok eul geo ya.

  ‘방금’ only applies to past actions, so using it with future tense is incorrect.

• ⭕

  방금 끝났어요.

  bang-geum kkeut-nass-eo-yo., bang geum kkeut nass eo yo.

  ‘방금’ naturally expresses something that just finished.

• ❌

  방금부터 공부할 거예요.

  bang-geum-bu-teo gong-bu-hal geo-ye-yo., bang geum bu teo gong bu hal geo ye yo.

  ‘방금’ is a past-time adverb, so ‘방금부터’ is grammatically incorrect.

1. What does ‘방금’ mean?

   ‘방금’의 의미는 무엇인가요?(‘bang-geum’uiui-mi-neunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, ‘banggeum’uiuimineunmueosingayo?)
   • A long time ago
   • Just now
   • In the future
   • Every day

2. Which sentence uses ‘방금’ correctly?

   다음 중 ‘방금’을 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung‘bang-geum’eulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung‘banggeum’eulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
   • 방금 공부할 거예요.(bang-geumgong-bu-halgeo-ye-yo., banggeumgongbuhalgeoyeyo.)
   • 방금 도착했어요.(bang-geumdo-chak-haess-eo-yo., banggeumdochakhaesseoyo.)
   • 방금 내일 갈 거예요.(bang-geumnae-ilgalgeo-ye-yo., banggeumnaeilgalgeoyeyo.)
   • 방금부터 시작할 거예요.(bang-geum-bu-teosi-jak-halgeo-ye-yo., banggeumbuteosijakhalgeoyeyo.)

3. Which expression has the closest meaning to ‘방금’?

   ‘방금’과 가장 비슷한 뜻을 가진 표현은?(‘bang-geum’gwaga-jangbi-seus-hantteus-eulga-jinpyo-hyeon-eun?, ‘banggeum’gwagajangbiseushantteuseulgajinpyohyeoneun?)
   • 조금 전에(jo-geumjeon-e, jogeumjeone)
   • 내일(nae-il, naeil)
   • 어제(eo-je, eoje)
   • 항상(hang-sang, hangsang)