Key Facts
- Hangul: 항상; Revised Romanization: hangsang
- Part of speech: adverb
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 恒常 (恒 constant + 常 ordinary, always)
- Register: Neutral, standard adverb; used in speech and writing.
Always in Korean: What Does 항상 Mean?
항상 is an adverb meaning "always" in a neutral, standard register, used in both speech and writing. It describes something that happens every time with no exception.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Two syllables, hang-sang. Both end in ng, so the word has a ringing, nasal sound.
Example Sentences with 항상
저는 항상 아침을 먹어요.
Jeoneun hangsang achimeul meogeoyo
I always eat breakfast.
The routine sentence. 항상 sits between the topic and the verb, before 아침을 먹어요.
그는 항상 웃어요.
Geuneun hangsang useoyo
He always smiles.
항상 before 웃어요 describes a trait: he is always smiling. 그는 (he) is more common in writing; in speech Koreans usually use the person's name instead.
항상 감사합니다.
Hangsang gamsahamnida
Thank you, as always.
항상 감사합니다 is a formal, warm closing, often used to thank someone for ongoing help.
Common Phrases and Collocations
항상 웃다 is to always smile, 항상 바쁘다 is to always be busy, 항상 감사하다 is to always be thankful, and 항상 그렇다 means it is always like that.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 항상 웃다 | to always smile |
| 항상 바쁘다 | to always be busy |
| 항상 감사하다 | to always be thankful |
| 항상 그렇다 | to always be like that |
The Mistake to Avoid
English lets "always" sit after a verb such as "be". Korean keeps it in front of the verb.
Wrong: 먹어요 항상.
Correct: 항상 먹어요 (I always eat it). Frequency adverbs such as 항상 and 자주 go before the verb.
항상 Compared with 늘, 언제나 and 자주
Three neighbours: 늘 is the native word, a bit softer or literary; 언제나 stresses every time; 자주 means often and is not constant.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 항상 | always | This page's word |
| 늘 | always | native word, a bit softer/literary |
| 언제나 | always, whenever | emphasizes 'every time, no matter when' |
| 자주 | often | frequent, not constant |
Where Does the Word Come From?
항상 is Sino-Korean, written 恒常 in hanja: 恒 (constant) plus 常 (ordinary, always). Both characters carry the sense of lasting sameness.
Talking about a Morning Routine
Two coworkers are discussing coffee before work. One checks whether the routine also applies on weekends.
Jisu
아침에 항상 커피를 마셔요?
Achime hangsang keopireul masyeoyo?
Do you always drink coffee in the morning?
Alex
네, 항상 마셔요.
Ne, hangsang masyeoyo.
Yes, I always do.
Jisu
주말에도요?
Jumaredoyo?
On weekends too?
Alex
네, 주말에도 마셔요.
Ne, jumaredo masyeoyo.
Yes, I drink it on weekends too.
주말에도요 is a short follow-up: “On weekends too?” The ending 도 adds “also” or “even”. Alex's answer confirms the routine beyond workdays, which shows why 항상 is stronger than simply saying the coffee drinking happens often.
Where Does 항상 Fit in a Longer Sentence?
항상 can sit before a whole action phrase. In 저는 항상 아침을 먹어요, it comes before 아침을 먹어요, “eat breakfast”. You do not have to place it immediately beside the final verb. The object can appear between 항상 and the verb without changing the basic meaning.
A time expression can come first, as in the dialogue's 아침에 항상. That order sets the time window before describing the regular habit. The sentence concerns mornings; it does not claim the person drinks coffee continuously throughout the day.
항상 is an adverb, so it does not change its ending for a polite listener. The verb ending carries politeness. That is why the same 항상 works with the everyday polite 먹어요 and the formal 감사합니다 in the existing examples.
Does 항상 Mean Every Day?
항상 means “always”, while 매일 means “every day”. A person may always take a particular seat when visiting a café but visit only once a month. The habit is constant within that situation, even though it is not a daily activity.
매번 means “every time”. It draws attention to repeated occasions. 항상 often gives a broader description of someone's habits or a lasting state. These expressions can overlap, but the situation determines what counts as each occasion or time period.
Like English “always”, 항상 can be an everyday generalization. Someone described as 항상 바쁘다 is habitually busy; the speaker does not need to be making a measured claim about every second. In careful instructions, the same adverb can express a rule that should apply consistently.
Familiar Expressions and Their Tone
항상 감사합니다 thanks someone for continuing help or support. It is useful in a message to someone who regularly assists you. The word 항상 adds the sense that the gratitude extends beyond today's single favor.
항상 조심하세요 means “Always be careful” or “Take care”. 조심하세요 is the polite request. A family member may use it as a caring reminder, while instructions can use similar wording to emphasize ongoing caution.
항상 그렇다 means “it is always like that”. The expression relies on an earlier situation or description. In conversation, tone can make it resigned, reassuring or simply factual; the words alone do not tell you whether the speaker is annoyed.
Where Will You Hear or Read 항상?
In a thank-you message, 항상 supports a warm closing. In a description of a coworker, it highlights a recurring trait. In advice or instructions, it tells the reader to apply the action consistently. Look at the verb and the situation to identify which use you are hearing.
Related Expressions for Frequency
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 매일 | every day | Counts days rather than all relevant occasions. |
| 매번 | every time | Focuses on each repeated occasion. |
| 가끔 | sometimes | Describes occasional actions. |
| 보통 | usually | Describes what normally happens. |
The time expressions lesson groups frequency vocabulary. Compare 자주, often, when you want to describe frequent actions without claiming they happen every time.
Quick Self-Test
- Must 항상 stand immediately next to the verb?
- Which word specifically means “every day”: 항상 or 매일?
- Does 항상 gain a polite ending when you speak to a manager?
Show answers
- No. It can precede an action phrase containing an object.
- 매일.
- No. 항상 stays unchanged; the verb ending supplies politeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "always" in Korean?
The standard word is 항상 (hangsang), an adverb used in both speech and writing. It goes before the verb, as in 저는 항상 아침을 먹어요 (I always eat breakfast).
Where does 항상 go in a sentence?
Before the verb, usually after the topic: 저는 항상 아침을 먹어요. Putting it after the verb, as in 먹어요 항상, sounds like an afterthought rather than a normal sentence.
What is the difference between 항상 and 늘?
Both mean always. 항상 is Sino-Korean, while 늘 is the native word and sounds a little softer or more literary. 언제나 adds the idea of "no matter when".
Is 자주 the same as 항상?
No. 자주 means often: something happens frequently but not every time. 항상 means every time, without exception, so 항상 웃어요 is stronger than a sentence with 자주.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Time expressions groups 항상 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 항상 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for often. See the page for often.