Explanation at your level:
You can use 이따금 to say you do something sometimes. For example, 'I eat pizza 이따금.' It is a very useful word for beginners to describe their daily life.
At this level, you can use 이따금 to talk about hobbies or habits. It helps you sound more natural than just saying 'sometimes' (가끔).
Use 이따금 to contrast your usual routine with occasional exceptions. It is great for storytelling and explaining your schedule in more detail.
In B2, you will notice 이따금 adds a layer of nuance. It implies a sense of unpredictability that makes your descriptions feel more vivid and sophisticated.
Advanced users use 이따금 to create a specific rhythm in their writing. It is often found in literary descriptions to denote the passage of time or the sporadic nature of memories.
At the mastery level, 이따금 is used to reflect on the nature of irregularity. It appears in essays and philosophical reflections to describe the intermittent flashes of insight or recurring themes in life.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- 이따금 means occasionally.
- It is a native Korean word.
- It is neutral in formality.
- It is very common in daily life.
Hey there! 이따금 is a wonderful Korean word that captures that feeling of something happening 'now and then.' Think of it as the middle ground between 'rarely' and 'often.'
When you use 이따금, you are telling someone that an event isn't a constant habit, but it definitely happens occasionally. It adds a nice, natural rhythm to your sentences when describing life's little interruptions.
The word 이따금 has deep roots in the Korean language. It is essentially a combination of '이따' (later) and '금' (a moment/time).
Historically, it evolved to describe the spacing of time between events. It is a native Korean word, which makes it feel very warm and grounded compared to Sino-Korean vocabulary.
You can use 이따금 in almost any context, from casual chats with friends to slightly more descriptive writing. It pairs perfectly with verbs of action or state.
It is most commonly used in sentences like 'I 이따금 go for a walk' or 'He 이따금 calls me.' It is very versatile!
While not an idiom itself, it is often used with phrases like '이따금씩' (adding the suffix -씩 for emphasis). You might also hear '이따금 한 번씩,' which emphasizes the singular nature of the occurrences.
Pronounced as [i-tta-geum], the double consonant 'tt' gives it a sharp, percussive sound. It acts as an adverb, so it usually sits right before the verb it modifies.
There are no plural forms or complex conjugations. Just place it in your sentence, and you're good to go!
Fun Fact
It combines '이따' (later) with '금' (moment), literally meaning 'at a later moment'.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 'i', followed by a tense 't' sound.
Similar to the UK pronunciation; focus on the double 't' tension.
Common Errors
- Softening the double 't'
- Mispronouncing the 'eu' vowel
- Incorrect syllable rhythm
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Adverb placement
Subject + Adverb + Verb
Frequency adverbs
항상, 종종, 이따금
Sentence structure
Korean word order
Examples by Level
나는 이따금 운동해요.
I exercise occasionally.
Adverb placement.
이따금 비가 와요.
그는 이따금 연락해요.
이따금 책을 읽어요.
이따금 영화를 봐요.
이따금 산책을 가요.
이따금 친구를 만나요.
이따금 여행을 가요.
이따금 음악을 들어요.
이따금씩 고향 생각이 나요.
그녀는 이따금 혼자 있고 싶어 해요.
이따금 예기치 못한 일이 생기곤 하죠.
우리는 이따금 맛집을 찾아다녀요.
이따금 업무 중에 커피를 마셔요.
이따금 밤하늘을 올려다봐요.
이따금 옛 사진을 꺼내 봐요.
이따금 생각이 많아지는 밤이에요.
이따금 들려오는 파도 소리가 평화롭다.
성공은 이따금 운에 좌우되기도 한다.
그는 이따금 냉소적인 태도를 보인다.
이따금 찾아오는 슬럼프는 자연스러운 것이다.
이따금 잊고 지냈던 꿈을 떠올린다.
이따금 세상이 낯설게 느껴질 때가 있다.
이따금 깊은 대화가 필요할 때가 있다.
이따금 반복되는 일상이 지루하게 느껴진다.
이따금 불어오는 바람이 계절의 변화를 알린다.
그의 이따금씩 보여주는 미소는 진심이었다.
이따금 겪는 시련은 우리를 더 강하게 만든다.
이따금 떠오르는 기억들은 삶의 조각들이다.
이따금 침묵은 백 마디 말보다 더 많은 것을 전달한다.
이따금 우리는 과거의 그림자에서 벗어나야 한다.
이따금 무심코 던진 말이 큰 위로가 되기도 한다.
이따금 정체된 시간 속에서 사색에 잠긴다.
이따금 찰나의 순간이 영원처럼 느껴지곤 한다.
운명은 이따금 예고 없이 우리 삶에 개입한다.
이따금 인류의 역사는 반복되는 비극을 목격한다.
이따금 예술은 현실의 고통을 승화시키는 창구가 된다.
이따금 고독은 내면의 목소리를 듣는 필수적인 과정이다.
이따금 문학은 잊힌 가치를 복원하는 힘을 지닌다.
이따금 철학적 사유는 일상의 경계를 확장시킨다.
이따금 인간의 의지는 거대한 자연의 섭리 앞에 작아진다.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"이따금 한 번씩"
Once in a blue moon/occasionally
이따금 한 번씩 산책해요.
neutral"이따금씩"
Occasionally
이따금씩 생각나요.
neutral"가끔은 이따금"
Occasionally/Sometimes
가끔은 이따금 쉴 필요가 있어요.
casual"이따금 나타나다"
To appear occasionally
그는 이따금 나타나요.
neutral"이따금 잊다"
To occasionally forget
이따금 잊고 지내요.
neutral"이따금씩은"
At least occasionally
이따금씩은 연락 좀 해.
casualEasily Confused
Both mean sometimes.
가끔 is more common in daily speech.
가끔 vs 이따금
Both refer to frequency.
종종 means 'often', 이따금 means 'occasionally'.
종종 (frequently) vs 이따금 (occasionally)
Both refer to time intervals.
때때로 is more formal.
때때로 (formal) vs 이따금 (neutral)
Both imply irregularity.
간혹 implies a lower frequency.
간혹 (rarely) vs 이따금 (occasionally)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 이따금 + Verb
나는 이따금 운동한다.
이따금 + Subject + Verb
이따금 나는 혼자 산책한다.
이따금씩 + Verb
이따금씩 연락해요.
이따금 + Verb + (으)면
이따금 비가 오면 기분이 좋다.
이따금 + Adjective
이따금 슬프기도 하다.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verwandt
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
이따금 means 'occasionally', not 'always'.
이따금 implies it happens, just not often.
They are synonyms, but '이따금' feels slightly more descriptive.
Adverbs usually go before the verb in Korean.
In very formal essays, '때때로' is preferred.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a calendar where you mark days with a star 'occasionally'.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about hobbies or irregular habits.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean appreciation for the 'in-between' moments.
Grammar Shortcut
Just put it before the verb.
Say It Right
Focus on the tense 'tt' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for things you do every day.
Did You Know?
It comes from 'later' and 'moment'.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily diary entries.
Listen Closely
Hear how native speakers emphasize the 'tt'.
Context Matters
Use it to add variety to your speech.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'It-a-gum' (Eat-a-gum) - you only eat gum occasionally.
Visual Association
A calendar with random days marked with a smiley face.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 5 sentences about things you do 이따금.
Wortherkunft
Native Korean
Original meaning: At a later moment
Kultureller Kontext
None, it is a very neutral and common word.
Equates to 'occasionally' or 'from time to time'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Daily life
- 이따금 운동해요
- 이따금 책을 읽어요
- 이따금 친구를 만나요
Work/Study
- 이따금 회의를 해요
- 이따금 쉬어가요
- 이따금 아이디어가 떠올라요
Travel
- 이따금 여행을 가요
- 이따금 맛집을 찾아요
- 이따금 사진을 찍어요
Feelings
- 이따금 외로워요
- 이따금 행복해요
- 이따금 생각이 많아져요
Conversation Starters
"이따금 무엇을 하는 것을 좋아하세요?"
"이따금씩 혼자 있고 싶을 때가 있나요?"
"이따금 먹는 가장 좋아하는 음식은 무엇인가요?"
"이따금 여행을 떠나고 싶지 않으세요?"
"이따금 옛날 생각이 나시나요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about something you do 이따금.
Describe a place you visit 이따금.
How do you feel when you have time to yourself 이따금?
List three things you enjoy doing 이따금.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenIt is neutral and can be used in most situations.
Yes, if you don't do them every day.
They are mostly interchangeable, but 이따금 feels slightly more descriptive.
No, it is an adverb.
Yes, it is common to start a sentence with it.
It is acceptable, though '때때로' might be slightly more professional.
Hold the 't' sound slightly longer before releasing.
Yes, it is a native Korean word.
Teste dich selbst
나는 ___ 운동을 해요.
이따금 fits the meaning of 'occasionally'.
Which word is a synonym for 이따금?
가끔 means sometimes/occasionally.
이따금 means 'always'.
It means 'occasionally'.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching words to meanings.
Subject + Adverb + Verb.
그는 ___ 연락을 한다.
이따금 fits the context of irregular contact.
Which sentence is most formal?
때때로 is more formal.
이따금 can be used to describe a constant state.
It describes intermittent events.
Word
Bedeutung
Advanced synonyms.
Poetic structure.
Ergebnis: /10
Summary
이따금 is the perfect word to describe those little things you do every once in a while!
- 이따금 means occasionally.
- It is a native Korean word.
- It is neutral in formality.
- It is very common in daily life.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a calendar where you mark days with a star 'occasionally'.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about hobbies or irregular habits.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the Korean appreciation for the 'in-between' moments.
Grammar Shortcut
Just put it before the verb.
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