Explanation at your level:
You use 겨우 when something is small or hard. If you have 2 dollars, you say 'I have 겨우 2 dollars.' It means 'only' or 'barely.' It is a very useful word for beginners to talk about small amounts or hard work.
At this level, you can use 겨우 to describe time. If you wake up at 7:59 for an 8:00 class, you 겨우 arrived on time. It shows that you were almost late!
Intermediate learners use 겨우 to express relief. When you finish a hard task, you can say, 'I 겨우 finished the report.' It shows you put in a lot of effort and the task was difficult to complete.
In B2, you notice the nuance of 겨우 vs 간신히. While both mean barely, 겨우 is more about the amount or the effort, while 간신히 focuses more on the narrow escape from a negative outcome.
Advanced users employ 겨우 to downplay achievements or emphasize the struggle behind a success. It can also be used in more formal writing to describe economic conditions, such as 'The economy is 겨우 recovering,' suggesting the growth is fragile and minimal.
At the mastery level, 겨우 is used to convey subtle irony or frustration. You might say 'He 겨우 apologized,' implying the apology was insufficient or forced. It reflects a deep understanding of how the word can shift the tone of a sentence from factual to critical.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Means barely or narrowly.
- Used for effort or small amounts.
- Very common in daily speech.
- Not slang, neutral register.
Hey there! Let's talk about 겨우. Think of it as the Korean way of saying 'barely' or 'just managed to.' It’s that feeling when you're climbing a mountain and you finally reach the top, but you're super tired—that's a perfect time to use this word.
It’s not just about physical effort, though. You can also use it when talking about numbers or time. For example, if you only have a tiny bit of money left, you'd say you have 겨우 enough for a snack. It’s a very handy word for describing those 'close call' moments in life!
The word 겨우 has deep roots in the Korean language, evolving from older forms that described the act of 'stretching' or 'barely reaching' a limit. Historically, it was used to describe physical boundaries, like trying to squeeze through a narrow gate.
Over centuries, its usage expanded from physical space to abstract concepts like time, money, and effort. It captures the human experience of overcoming obstacles, which is why it has remained such a staple in everyday conversations across Korea for generations.
You’ll use 겨우 in many daily situations. It’s very common to pair it with verbs related to arrival, completion, or survival. For instance, '겨우 도착했다' (I barely arrived) is a classic phrase.
In terms of register, it’s quite neutral. You can use it with friends, family, or even in semi-formal workplace settings when explaining why a project was finished late. It’s not considered slang, so don't worry about being too casual!
While 겨우 isn't an idiom itself, it appears in many common expressions. 1. 겨우겨우: Emphasizes extreme difficulty. 2. 겨우 살았다: 'I barely survived' (often used after a close call). 3. 겨우 한숨 돌리다: 'Finally caught my breath.' 4. 겨우 면하다: 'Barely avoided' a bad situation. 5. 겨우 입에 풀칠하다: 'Barely making a living' (literally: barely pasting the mouth).
Grammatically, 겨우 acts as an adverb modifying the verb that follows it. It doesn't change form based on the subject, which makes it super easy to use! Just place it right before the verb or the adjective you want to modify.
Pronunciation-wise, it sounds like 'gyeo-oo.' The 'gyeo' part is a bit like the 'yo' in 'yonder' with a 'g' sound in front. Try to keep the 'oo' soft and short!
Fun Fact
It shares a root with the word for 'winter' (겨울) in some archaic interpretations, relating to surviving the harsh season.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'gyeo-oo'.
Similar to the UK, keep it short.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it as 'ge-oo'
- Ignoring the 'y' glide
- Making the 'oo' too long
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Adverb Placement
겨우 먹었다
Verb Conjugation
겨우 했다
Sentence Structure
나는 겨우 했다
Examples by Level
겨우 1달러 있어요.
I have barely 1 dollar.
Adverb + Number
겨우 도착했어요.
I barely arrived.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 5분 남았어요.
Only 5 minutes left.
Adverb + Time
겨우 먹었어요.
I barely ate it.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 잤어요.
I barely slept.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 했어요.
I barely did it.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 끝났어요.
It barely finished.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 봐요.
I can barely see.
Adverb + Verb
겨우 일어났어요.
겨우 버스를 탔어요.
겨우 숙제를 끝냈어요.
겨우 밥을 먹었어요.
겨우 웃었어요.
겨우 집에 왔어요.
겨우 시작했어요.
겨우 이해했어요.
겨우 합격했어요.
겨우 빚을 갚았어요.
겨우 시간을 맞췄어요.
겨우 화를 참았어요.
겨우 잠들었어요.
겨우 길을 찾았어요.
겨우 대답했어요.
겨우 설득했어요.
겨우 위기를 넘겼어요.
겨우 목표를 달성했어요.
겨우 마음을 정했어요.
겨우 기회를 잡았어요.
겨우 안정을 찾았어요.
겨우 눈을 떴어요.
겨우 말을 꺼냈어요.
겨우 용기를 냈어요.
겨우 본전은 찾았네요.
겨우 체면을 세웠어요.
겨우 상황을 수습했어요.
겨우 한숨 돌렸어요.
겨우 입에 풀칠하며 살아요.
겨우 턱걸이로 합격했어요.
겨우 감정을 추스렸어요.
겨우 설득에 성공했어요.
겨우 명맥을 유지하고 있습니다.
겨우 비난을 면했습니다.
겨우 합의점에 도달했어요.
겨우 파국을 막았어요.
겨우 자존심을 지켰어요.
겨우 의무를 다했어요.
겨우 실체를 파악했어요.
겨우 본질을 꿰뚫었어요.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"겨우 입에 풀칠하다"
Barely making a living.
요즘 겨우 입에 풀칠하고 살아.
casual"겨우 한숨 돌리다"
Finally catching one's breath.
이제야 겨우 한숨 돌린다.
neutral"겨우 면하다"
Barely avoiding something.
망신은 겨우 면했다.
neutral"겨우 턱걸이하다"
Barely passing a threshold.
겨우 턱걸이로 합격했다.
casual"겨우 목숨을 부지하다"
Barely staying alive.
겨우 목숨을 부지했다.
formalEasily Confused
Both mean barely.
간신히 is more about escaping danger.
간신히 살았다 vs 겨우 살았다.
Similar sound.
겨우내 means all winter.
겨우내 추웠다.
Both mean almost.
거의 means 'nearly', 겨우 means 'barely'.
거의 다 했다 vs 겨우 했다.
Both indicate smallness.
조금 is just 'a little', 겨우 implies struggle.
조금 먹었다 vs 겨우 먹었다.
Sentence Patterns
겨우 + [verb]
겨우 끝냈다.
겨우 + [number]
겨우 5명.
Subject + 겨우 + [verb]
내가 겨우 해냈다.
겨우 + [adjective]
겨우 가능했다.
겨우 + [noun] + [verb]
겨우 밥을 먹었다.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
겨우 means barely, not very.
They sound similar but have different meanings.
It implies difficulty.
It sounds repetitive if used every sentence.
Adverbs usually precede the verb.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a tiny 'G'uy climbing a 'U'phill slope.
Native Context
Use it when you feel relieved.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the 'hard-working' culture.
Shortcut
Place it before the verb.
Say It Right
Keep it short.
Don't confuse
Don't mix with '겨우내'.
Did You Know?
It's a very old word.
Study Smart
Use it with numbers.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'G'uy 'Y'elling 'O'h- 'U'h as he barely makes it.
Visual Association
A runner crossing the finish line just as the timer hits zero.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use '겨우' in 3 sentences today about things you barely finished.
Wortherkunft
Korean
Original meaning: To stretch or barely reach a limit
Kultureller Kontext
None, but using it to describe someone's small achievement might sound condescending.
The concept of 'barely' is universal, but Koreans use '겨우' to express a specific cultural value regarding hard work and survival.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 겨우 끝냈어요
- 겨우 마감했어요
- 겨우 승인받았어요
Travel
- 겨우 도착했어요
- 겨우 표를 샀어요
- 겨우 탔어요
School
- 겨우 숙제했어요
- 겨우 합격했어요
- 겨우 이해했어요
Daily life
- 겨우 일어났어요
- 겨우 밥 먹었어요
- 겨우 잤어요
Conversation Starters
"How did you feel when you 겨우 finished your task?"
"Have you ever 겨우 made it to a meeting?"
"What is something you 겨우 managed to buy?"
"Do you think you 겨우 passed the test?"
"Tell me about a time you 겨우 survived a busy day."
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you were late but 겨우 arrived.
Describe a goal you 겨우 achieved.
What is something you have 겨우 enough of?
Write about a close call you had.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenIt can be, but it often expresses relief.
Yes, '겨우 5분' (barely 5 minutes).
It is neutral.
Gyeo-oo.
Yes, in the sense of 'only just'.
Yes, '겨우 100원'.
Very common.
No, it's an adverb.
Teste dich selbst
I ___ made it. (겨우)
겨우 means barely.
Which sentence is correct?
Adverb placement is flexible but usually before the verb.
겨우 means 'plenty'.
It means barely.
Word
Bedeutung
Match the meaning.
Correct word order.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
겨우 is your go-to word for describing those moments when you just barely make it through a challenge!
- Means barely or narrowly.
- Used for effort or small amounts.
- Very common in daily speech.
- Not slang, neutral register.
Memory Palace
Imagine a tiny 'G'uy climbing a 'U'phill slope.
Native Context
Use it when you feel relieved.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the 'hard-working' culture.
Shortcut
Place it before the verb.
Beispiel
시험에 겨우 합격해서 다행이다.
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