B1 Expression رسمي

지금 바쁩니다.

jigeum bappeumnida.

I am busy now.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, formal way to tell someone you are currently occupied and cannot talk or help at the moment.

  • Means: 'I am busy right now' in a polite, formal tone.
  • Used in: Office settings, talking to strangers, or formal phone calls.
  • Don't confuse: Using this without an apology to a superior can sound slightly blunt.
⏰ + 💼 + 🙅‍♂️ = '지금 바쁩니다' (Polite boundary setting)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know that '지금' means 'now' and '바쁩니다' means 'I am busy.' It is a very useful sentence for beginners to stop a conversation they don't understand or to tell a teacher they are working on a task. It is a simple Subject-Verb structure where the subject 'I' is usually dropped.
You should recognize that '-ㅂ니다' is the formal polite style. You use this when talking to people older than you or in formal situations like a classroom or office. You should also learn the less formal version '바빠요' and understand that the root verb is '바쁘다'. You can start adding reasons like '숙제가 많아서 바빠요' (I'm busy because I have a lot of homework).
At the intermediate level, you understand the social nuance of this phrase. You know it can be used as a polite refusal. You should be able to combine it with softeners like '죄송하지만' or '실례지만' to make it sound more natural. You also understand the 'ㅡ' irregular conjugation and can use the phrase in different tenses or with connectors like '-아서/어서' to explain your situation clearly in a professional setting.
You are now aware of the 'face-saving' aspect of this phrase. You can distinguish between '지금 바쁩니다' (a statement of fact) and more idiomatic expressions like '정신이 없습니다' (feeling overwhelmed). You can use this phrase in business emails and understand when it might be perceived as too blunt, choosing instead to use more complex structures like '다름이 아니라 지금 제가 업무가 밀려 있어서...' to explain your busyness more gracefully.
At this advanced level, you analyze the pragmatic function of '지금 바쁩니다' within Korean hierarchy. You understand how the choice of this specific formal level (하십시오체) creates a professional distance. You can use the phrase to subtly signal authority or to set firm boundaries in a corporate environment. You also recognize its use in literature or news to describe a collective state of a busy society or a specific historical period of rapid growth.
You have mastered the cognitive linguistics behind the verb '바쁘다'. You understand its historical transition from 'urgency/distress' to 'occupational busyness' and how this reflects the shift in Korean cultural values. You can navigate the most complex social situations, using this phrase or its honorific variations (바쁘십니다) to manage interpersonal relationships with native-level intuition, recognizing even the slightest sarcastic or dismissive undertones in its delivery.

المعنى

Informs someone that one is occupied at the moment.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

The 'Pali-pali' culture means that being busy is often expected. If you say you aren't busy, people might think you aren't working hard enough. However, always soften a refusal with '죄송하지만' to maintain harmony (Inhwa). In many Korean companies, the 'busy' status is a shield. If you look busy, you are less likely to be given extra 'miscellaneous' tasks. '지금 바쁩니다' is a common defensive phrase. On KakaoTalk, leaving someone on 'read' (the number 1 disappears) without replying is rude. It is better to send a quick '지금 바빠서 나중에 연락할게' than to say nothing. When someone tells you they are busy, the polite response is '아, 네. 수고하세요' (Oh, okay. Keep up the good work) or '바쁘신데 실례했습니다' (Sorry for bothering you while you're busy).

🎯

The 'Somewhat' Rule

Always add '좀' (a little) to make '지금 좀 바쁩니다'. It sounds much less aggressive and more natural.

⚠️

Watch the Ending

Using '바쁩니다' in a text to a friend can make them think you are mad at them. Stick to '바빠'.

المعنى

Informs someone that one is occupied at the moment.

🎯

The 'Somewhat' Rule

Always add '좀' (a little) to make '지금 좀 바쁩니다'. It sounds much less aggressive and more natural.

⚠️

Watch the Ending

Using '바쁩니다' in a text to a friend can make them think you are mad at them. Stick to '바빠'.

💬

The Polite Exit

If you say you are busy, always try to offer an alternative time to show you still value the person.

💡

Status Messages

This is the perfect phrase for your 'Away' message on any Korean messaging app.

اختبر نفسك

Complete the sentence in the formal polite style (-ㅂ니다).

죄송합니다. 제가 ( ) 바쁩니다.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 지금

The context of 'I'm busy right now' requires the word for 'now', which is '지금'.

Which is the correct formal conjugation of '바쁘다'?

선생님, 저는 오늘 아주 _______.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 바쁩니다

'바쁘다' is an adjective. To make it formal, you add 'ㅂ니다' to the stem '바쁘'.

Choose the most appropriate response for a professional setting.

Colleague: '김 대리님, 이 서류 좀 봐 주실 수 있어요?' Me: '죄송합니다. _________.'

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 지금 바쁩니다

In a professional setting with a colleague (using titles like 대리님), the formal '바쁩니다' is the most appropriate way to decline.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Match '정신이 하나도 없어요' to its best context.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: A chaotic office with phones ringing

'정신이 없다' implies a level of busyness that is overwhelming or chaotic.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

Not inherently, but it is very direct. In Korean culture, directness can be seen as blunt, so adding '죄송하지만' (I'm sorry but) is recommended.

Yes, but it's better to say '지금 업무 중이라 조금 바쁩니다' (I'm a bit busy with work right now) to be more specific and respectful.

Both are polite, but '바쁩니다' is more formal (used in presentations, to strangers, or in the military/formal offices), while '바빠요' is standard polite for daily life.

You can say '지금 안 바쁩니다' or '지금 한가합니다'.

This is due to the 'ㅡ' irregular rule. When 'ㅡ' meets '아/어', the 'ㅡ' drops and follows the vowel before it.

It's more natural to say '바쁩니다' or '업무 중입니다'. '바쁜 중' is grammatically okay but less common.

Use '정말 바쁩니다' or the idiomatic '정신이 없습니다'.

No, but it emphasizes that you are busy *right now*, which is useful for declining immediate requests.

Just say '나 지금 바빠'.

No, for a busy street or place, use '복잡하다' (complex/crowded) or '사람이 많다' (many people).

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

정신없다

similar

To be hectic/mindlessly busy

🔗

한가하다

contrast

To be free/at leisure

🔗

시간이 있다

contrast

To have time

🔗

업무 중

specialized form

In the middle of work

🔗

바빠 죽겠다

builds on

To be busy to death

أين تستخدمها

💼

At the Office

Colleague: 김 대리님, 잠깐 시간 되세요?

Me: 죄송합니다, 제가 지금 바쁩니다. 10분 뒤에 갈게요.

formal
📱

On a Phone Call

Telemarketer: 안녕하세요, 고객님! 좋은 상품이 있어서...

Me: 죄송합니다. 지금 바쁩니다. 끊겠습니다.

formal
☕

In a Cafe (Working)

Stranger: 저기요, 설문조사 좀 해주실 수 있나요?

Me: 아, 지금 바빠서요. 죄송합니다.

neutral
🎓

With a Teacher

Teacher: 이 문제를 지금 풀어볼까요?

Student: 선생님, 다른 숙제 때문에 지금 좀 바쁩니다.

formal
🚶

Street Encounter

Promoter: 잠시만요! 전단지 좀 받아주세요!

Me: 지금 바쁩니다. 수고하세요.

formal
🍲

Family Dinner (Phone rings)

Mom: 아들, 밥 먹었니?

Me: 엄마, 나 지금 바빠. 나중에 전화할게!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bappeum' (바쁨) sounding like a 'BEEP' on a busy phone line. 'Jigeum' sounds like 'Just-Go'—I'm busy, so just go for now!

Visual Association

Imagine a person with four arms holding a phone, a coffee, a pen, and a laptop. Above their head is a digital clock showing 'NOW' (지금) and a big red 'BUSY' sign.

Rhyme

지금 바빠, 나중에 봐! (Jigeum bappa, najunge bwa! - I'm busy now, see you later!)

Story

You are at a busy Korean subway station. Someone asks for directions, but your train is leaving in 10 seconds. You point to your watch and say '지금 바쁩니다!' as you dash onto the train.

Word Web

바쁘다지금업무시간정신없다한가하다 (opposite)바쁨분주하다

تحدٍّ

Set your KakaoTalk or Slack status to '지금 바쁩니다' for one hour of deep work and see how it feels to set that boundary.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Estoy ocupado/a

Korean uses speech levels (honorifics) instead of gender agreement.

French high

Je suis occupé(e)

French requires gender agreement in writing and sometimes pronunciation.

German high

Ich bin gerade beschäftigt

German word order is more flexible, but the meaning is identical.

Japanese high

今、忙しいです

Japanese uses 'desu' after the dictionary form, while Korean conjugates the verb stem itself.

Arabic moderate

أنا مشغول (Ana mashghool)

Arabic is highly gendered; Korean is not.

Chinese high

我现在很忙 (Wǒ xiànzài hěn máng)

Chinese lacks the complex honorific verb endings found in Korean.

Portuguese high

Estou ocupado

Portuguese uses the temporary 'to be' verb (estar), whereas Korean just uses the adjective.

Russian high

Я сейчас занят (Ya seychas zanyat)

Russian adjectives change based on gender and number.

Easily Confused

지금 바쁩니다. مقابل 바쁘세요?

Learners often use this to say 'I am busy' because they hear it often.

'-세요' is only for asking others. Never use it for yourself.

지금 바쁩니다. مقابل 급합니다

Both can mean 'urgent'.

'바쁘다' is about your schedule; '급하다' is about the situation being an emergency.

الأسئلة الشائعة (10)

Not inherently, but it is very direct. In Korean culture, directness can be seen as blunt, so adding '죄송하지만' (I'm sorry but) is recommended.

Yes, but it's better to say '지금 업무 중이라 조금 바쁩니다' (I'm a bit busy with work right now) to be more specific and respectful.

Both are polite, but '바쁩니다' is more formal (used in presentations, to strangers, or in the military/formal offices), while '바빠요' is standard polite for daily life.

You can say '지금 안 바쁩니다' or '지금 한가합니다'.

This is due to the 'ㅡ' irregular rule. When 'ㅡ' meets '아/어', the 'ㅡ' drops and follows the vowel before it.

It's more natural to say '바쁩니다' or '업무 중입니다'. '바쁜 중' is grammatically okay but less common.

Use '정말 바쁩니다' or the idiomatic '정신이 없습니다'.

No, but it emphasizes that you are busy *right now*, which is useful for declining immediate requests.

Just say '나 지금 바빠'.

No, for a busy street or place, use '복잡하다' (complex/crowded) or '사람이 많다' (many people).

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