Key Facts
- Hangul: 지금; Revised Romanization: jigeum
- Part of speech: noun
- Senses: now, at the moment
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 只今 (只 only, just + 今 now)
- Register: Neutral, everyday word; used as an adverb and noun.
Now in Korean: What Does 지금 Mean?
지금 means now, the present moment. It is neutral and everyday. As an adverb it stands alone (지금 뭐 해요?); as a noun it takes particles, such as 은 for contrast or 까지 for until.
Pronunciation
Say ji-geum. The ㄱ between two vowels is voiced, like the g in "go", and the final ㅁ closes the lips. The vowel eu is said with the lips spread, not rounded.
Example Sentences with 지금
지금 뭐 해요?
Jigeum mwo haeyo
What are you doing now?
뭐 means what and 해요 means do, so the question asks what someone is doing at this moment.
지금 몇 시예요?
Jigeum myeot siyeyo
What time is it now?
몇 시예요 asks the hour, and 지금 ties it to this moment.
지금은 바빠요.
Jigeumeun bappayo
I am busy right now.
지금은 uses the topic marker 은 to contrast with other times: right now I am busy, though perhaps not later.
Phrases That Use 지금
지금 당장 means right now, 지금 바로 is right away, 지금까지 is until now, and 지금부터 is from now on.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 지금 당장 | right now |
| 지금까지 | until now |
| 지금부터 | from now on |
| 지금 바로 | right away |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 지금 for a change that has just happened, as in "I understand it now" after an explanation
Correct: ✓ 이제 for a turning point; 지금 for the present moment
Why: 지금 simply means at this moment. 이제 means now in the sense of from this point on, so it marks a change of state.
지금 Compared with Similar Words
Three words cover nearby moments in time.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 이제 | now (at this point) | 이제 marks a change of state: now, from here on. |
| 방금 | just now | 방금 points a moment into the past, not the present. |
| 현재 | present | 현재 is the formal word for currently, common in writing and news. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
只今 combines 只 (only, just) and 今 (now), so the word is literally just now, this very moment.
Checking before Making a Phone Call
A caller first checks whether the other person can talk. These polite lines fit a colleague or an acquaintance.
Caller
지금 통화 괜찮아요?
Jigeum tonghwa gwaenchanayo?
Is now a good time to talk?
Colleague
지금은 회의 중이에요.
Jigeumeun hoeui jungieyo.
I’m in a meeting right now.
Caller
그럼 나중에 전화할게요.
Geureom najunge jeonhwahalgeyo.
Then I’ll call later.
Colleague
네, 삼십 분 후에 전화해 주세요.
Ne, samsip bun hue jeonhwahae juseyo.
Yes, please call in thirty minutes.
지금은 narrows the refusal to the present moment, leaving another time open. 나중에 proposes ‘later’ without choosing an exact time; 삼십 분 후에 then supplies one. 지금 통화 괜찮아요? is softer than starting a call with an immediate demand.
How Much Time Does 지금 Cover?
지금 points to the time relevant to the conversation. In a question about a phone call, that may mean this minute. In a description of where someone lives, it may cover their current situation over months or years. The verb and topic determine the scale; 지금 does not always mean a single instant.
지금은 바빠요 adds a contrast with another time. Without 은, 지금 바빠요 simply reports being busy now. With 은, the speaker can suggest that later may be different. The marker does not promise future availability, but it leaves room for it, which is useful when declining an immediate request.
Set Phrases for Timing and Urgency
지금부터 marks a starting point: from now on. 지금까지 looks back over the period ending now: until now or so far. They are useful opposites on a timeline, but 지금까지 does not always announce that an activity has finished. It can report progress that has been made so far.
지금 바로 asks for action without delay. 지금 당장 can sound more forceful and urgent, especially in an instruction. Neither expression is rude by itself, but a demand can feel sharp even with a polite ending. In a routine request, plain 지금 plus a question often gives the listener more room to respond.
지금쯤 means ‘by now’ or ‘around now’. 쯤 adds approximation, so it is useful when estimating someone’s progress rather than claiming to know their exact location. 지금 이 순간 means ‘this very moment’ and places stronger focus on a particular instant, often in a speech, song, or dramatic line.
Where Will You Hear 지금?
In messages, 지금 뭐 해요? can open a conversation or check whether someone is free. It asks about the present activity; it does not automatically invite the listener somewhere. A follow-up question supplies that intention. In a phone call, 지금 어디예요? asks where someone is now, which helps when arranging to meet.
A live broadcast may use 지금 to anchor what is happening at the time of speaking. If you watch the recording later, ‘now’ still belongs to the original broadcast. The word depends on the speaker’s time, so a saved clip can describe something that is already over when you see it.
Words for the Moments around Now
| Korean | Meaning | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| 아까 | earlier | Refers back to an earlier point in the recent context. |
| 방금 | just now | Usually points to something that has just happened. |
| 나중에 | later | Leaves the exact future time open. |
| 곧 | soon | Suggests an event is approaching. |
The time expressions lesson connects these words with dates and times. 방금 looks backward, 지금 anchors the present, and 나중에 looks forward without fixing a deadline.
Quick Self-Test
- What contrast does 은 add in 지금은 바빠요?
- Which expression marks the beginning: 지금부터 or 지금까지?
- Does 지금 always mean one instant?
Show answers
- The speaker is busy now, with other times left open.
- 지금부터 means from now on; 지금까지 means until now or so far.
- No. It can describe a broader current situation, depending on the topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say now in Korean?
Say 지금 (jigeum). It works alone as an adverb, as in 지금 뭐 해요? (What are you doing now?), and as a noun with particles.
How do I say right now?
Say 지금 당장 for right now, urgently, or 지금 바로 for right away. Both add urgency to plain 지금.
How do I say from now on?
Say 지금부터. The particle 부터 means from, so the phrase marks the start of something. 지금까지 is the opposite: until now.
When do I use 이제?
Use 이제 for a turning point: now, after a change. Use 지금 when you simply mean at this moment.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: time expressions groups 지금 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: the vocabulary flashcard decks take this word.
- Next in the list: p.m. in Korean.
- Compare: present.