Key Facts
- Hangul: 빨리; Revised Romanization: ppalli
- Part of speech: adverb
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral.
Quickly in Korean: What Does 빨리 Mean?
빨리 is an adverb meaning quickly or fast. It is neutral and comes before the verb it modifies, as in 빨리 가다, go quickly.
How Do You Pronounce 빨리?
Two syllables, ppal-li. The pp is the tense ㅃ: tighten the throat and release without a puff of air. The ㄹ at the end of the first syllable meets the ㄹ of the second, giving a long, clear l, so hold the l a little longer between syllables.
Example Sentences with 빨리
빨리 오세요.
Ppalli oseyo.
Please come quickly.
오세요 is a polite request to come, and 빨리 makes it urgent.
빨리 먹어요.
Ppalli meogeoyo.
Eat quickly.
A short instruction about eating; in context it can sound like "Eat up quickly." The adverb sits right before 먹어요.
그는 빨리 달려요.
Geuneun ppalli dallyeoyo.
He runs fast.
달려요 means runs, and 그는 sets he as the topic, so the adverb describes his speed.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 빨리 가다 | to go quickly |
| 빨리빨리 | quickly quickly |
| 빨리 말하다 | to speak quickly |
빨리 attaches to verbs of movement and speech: 빨리 가다 is go quickly and 빨리 말하다 is speak quickly. The doubled 빨리빨리 turns it into a rushing command, and it is the form the cultural note below refers to. Swap in 일찍 and the meaning shifts from pace to time: 일찍 가다 means "to go early", not "to go fast".
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 빨리 for "early", as in getting up early or arriving early
Correct: ✓ 일찍
Why: 일찍 is about the time on the clock, while 빨리 is about speed. Also keep the double l sound: ppal-li, not pa-li.
빨리 Compared with Related Words
Three time-and-speed words are often mixed up.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 빨리 | quickly | This page's word |
| 빠르게 | quickly | Adverb from 빠르다, slightly more formal. |
| 천천히 | slowly | Opposite. |
| 일찍 | early | About being early, not fast. |
빨리 is plain quickly. 빠르게 is the adverb from 빠르다 and slightly more formal, 천천히 is slowly, the opposite, and 일찍 is early, about the clock rather than speed.
Cultural Note
빨리빨리 ("hurry hurry") is often cited, by Koreans and visitors alike, as a nickname for a fast-paced everyday culture: quick service, quick delivery and little waiting. Treat it as a popular image rather than a rule about every person.
At the Station: Catching a Train
Two colleagues are approaching the platform. One explains why they need to move faster; the other responds with a concrete action.
Jisoo
기차가 곧 출발해요. 빨리 가요.
Gichaga got chulbalhaeyo. Ppalli gayo.
The train leaves soon. Let us hurry.
Minho
표는 있어요?
Pyoneun isseoyo?
Do you have the tickets?
Jisoo
네, 여기 있어요.
Ne, yeogi isseoyo.
Yes, here they are.
Minho
그럼 빨리 타요.
Geureom ppalli tayo.
Then let us get on quickly.
곧 says the departure will happen soon. 빨리 says how the speakers should move. The dialogue needs both ideas: a near departure time explains the urgency, and 빨리 asks for faster action. 가요 and 타요 are suggestions here, with the two people acting together.
When Does 빨리 Mean “Soon” Rather than Raw Speed?
빨리 can urge someone to do something with little delay. 빨리 오세요 may mean “Come soon” as well as “Come quickly”, depending on whether the person has already started travelling. The speaker wants the arrival sooner; they are not necessarily asking the listener to run.
빨리 끝내다 means to finish quickly or get something finished soon. It can focus on working faster or on avoiding delay before completion. 일찍 끝내다 focuses on finishing early, such as before the usual closing time. The two expressions can describe the same event from different angles.
The basic learner contrast with 일찍 is useful: 빨리 concerns speed or promptness, while 일찍 places an event earlier than a reference time. A train that travels fast is not necessarily a train that arrives early. Its scheduled arrival and its travel speed are separate facts.
Which Set Phrases Are Worth Recognizing?
빨리빨리 doubles the adverb to push for speed or prompt action. In an urgent moment it can sound like “Hurry, hurry”. Repeating it to a worker or a stranger may sound impatient, even if the sentence ends politely. The repeated word increases pressure.
가능한 한 빨리 means “as quickly as possible”. It appears in requests, messages and instructions when the speaker wants the earliest practical action. It leaves the exact deadline unstated. A request with a specific time is clearer when completion by that time is essential.
하루빨리 means “as soon as possible”, with a sense of wanting something to happen even a day sooner. You may meet it in a wish for recovery or for a difficult situation to improve. This is a fixed adverb, rather than a request to rush through one day's activities.
How Does Politeness Affect 빨리?
빨리 itself is neutral, but a command containing it can be forceful. 빨리 와 is a casual “Come quickly” for a close relationship. 빨리 와 주세요 makes the request polite, while still asking the person to hurry. Polite grammar does not remove the urgency carried by the adverb.
In a message to a friend who is ill, 빨리 나으세요 means “Get well soon”. The phrase expresses a wish for recovery, rather than criticizing the person's pace. The action after 빨리 matters as much as the adverb: coming, finishing and recovering create different kinds of urgency.
Words to Separate Pace, Timing and Waiting
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 천천히 | slowly | Describes a gentler pace or asks someone to take time. |
| 일찍 | early | Places an event before the usual or expected time. |
| 곧 | soon | Says an event is near in time. |
| 지금 | now | Identifies the present moment. |
Compare the opposite in 천천히 and continue with the existing quantity words lesson for other adverbs. At the station, 곧 explains when the train departs, 지금 can identify when to act, and 빨리 tells you to act promptly.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 곧 출발해요 describe a fast train or a departure happening soon?
- Does adding a polite ending make 빨리빨리 free of pressure?
- What does 빨리 나으세요 wish for?
Show answers
- A departure happening soon. 곧 describes timing.
- No. The repeated adverb can still sound impatient.
- A quick recovery: “Get well soon”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "quickly" in Korean?
Quickly in Korean is 빨리 (ppalli). Put it before the verb, as in 빨리 오세요 (Please come quickly).
What does 빨리빨리 mean?
빨리빨리 is the doubled form, roughly "hurry, hurry" or "quick, quick". It urges someone to move faster.
How do I say "early"?
Use 일찍, not 빨리. 일찍 is about the time something happens; 빨리 is about how fast it happens.
What is the opposite of 빨리?
The opposite is 천천히, which means "slowly", as in 천천히 가다 (to go slowly).
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Quantity words groups 빨리 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare 빨리 with 천천히, its opposite.