TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Time & Dates ④

Time passing — 생일, 약속, 걸리다, 지나다, 남다

Three of these verbs are about time passing. They show how long something takes, how much time has passed, and how much time is left.

01생일saengil

birthday · the day you were born.

Note 생신 is the polite word for an elder's birthday, such as a parent's or a grandparent's. Do not use 생신 for your own birthday. In Korea, people eat 미역국 on a birthday.

Examples 생일이 언제예요? (when's your birthday?) · 생일 축하해요 (happy birthday) · 생일 선물 (birthday present)

생일 축하해요! Happy birthday!  |  축하하다 = to congratulate

02약속yaksok🔊 [약쏙]

plans; promise · something you arrange or promise in advance.

Pronunciation [약쏙]. After the final consonant ㄱ, ㅅ is said as a strong (tense) sound ㅆ.

Note 약속 can mean an arranged meeting or a promise. 약속이 있어요 means you have plans. 약속을 지키다 means to keep a promise.

Examples 약속이 있다 (to have plans) · 약속을 지키다 (to keep a promise)

오늘 저녁에 약속이 있어요. I have plans this evening.  |  To break a promise is 약속을 어기다

03걸리다geollida

to take (time) · also to catch an illness.

Forms 걸려요 · 걸립니다 · 걸렸어요

Note One verb carries two very different meanings: 한 시간 걸리다 (to take an hour) and 감기에 걸리다 (to catch a cold). The particle (the small word after the noun) helps you tell them apart.

Examples 시간이 걸리다 (to take time) · 얼마나 걸려요? (how long does it take?)

여기서 학교까지 얼마나 걸려요? How long does it take from here to school?  |  까지 = as far as  |  Use this question when you ask for directions

04지나다jinada

to pass · use it when time goes by, or when a person or thing passes a place.

Forms 지나요 · 지납니다 · 지났어요

Note 지나다 can describe time passing or moving past a place. Compare 시간이 지나다 and 역을 지나다.

Examples 시간이 지나다 (time passes) · 한 달이 지나다 (a month goes by)

한국에 온 지 벌써 일 년이 지났어요. It's already been a year since I came to Korea.  |  -(으)ㄴ 지 = since · 벌써 = already

05남다namda

to be left · still there after the rest is gone.

Forms 남아요 · 남습니다 · 남았어요

Note The thing that remains is the subject, so it takes 이/가, not 을/를.

Examples 시간이 남다 (to have time left) · 음식이 남다 (food is left over) · 며칠 남다 (a few days to go)

시험까지 일주일 남았어요. There's a week to go until the exam.  |  일주일 = one week

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean.

1. 오늘 저녁에 __________이 있어요. (I have ______ this evening.)
2. 여기서 학교까지 얼마나 __________? (걸리다)
3. 시험까지 일주일 __________. (남다 · past)

Show answers

1. 약속   2. 걸려요   3. 남았어요

Study tip Use 얼마나 걸려요? to ask how long something takes. Use 시간이 지났어요 to say that time has passed. Use 며칠 남았어요 to say how many days are left.