A2 Expression Formal

언제 가능하세요?

Eonje ganeunghaseyo?

When are you available?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A versatile, polite way to ask for someone's availability without being pushy or overly casual.

  • Means: 'When is it possible for you?' or 'When are you available?'
  • Used in: Business emails, scheduling dates, or booking appointments with professionals.
  • Don't confuse: Avoid using this with very close friends; it sounds too stiff.
📅 + 🙏 + ❓ = Smooth Scheduling

Explanation at your level:

This is a polite way to ask 'When?'. You use it to find a time to meet someone. It is better than just saying '언제?' because it is polite. You can use it at a store or with a teacher.
At this level, you use '언제 가능하세요?' to schedule appointments. It uses the word '가능' (possible) and the polite ending '세요'. It is the standard way to ask for availability in a respectful way without being too formal or too casual.
This expression is essential for intermediate learners navigating social and professional life in Korea. It demonstrates an understanding of honorifics (-시-). You should use it when the specific time is flexible and you want to defer to the other person's schedule, showing 'Nunchi'.
Upper-intermediate learners recognize that '가능하세요' is more than a question; it's a social lubricant. It allows for a 'soft' negotiation of time. At this level, you should be able to combine it with various particles like '-쯤' or endings like '-ㄹ까요' to adjust the nuance of the request based on the social distance.
Advanced analysis reveals the Sino-Korean influence of '{可能|가능}' which elevates the register compared to native synonyms like '시간 되다'. C1 learners use this phrase to navigate complex corporate hierarchies, often pairing it with humble verbs in the response to maintain a perfect linguistic balance.
Mastery involves understanding the pragmatic implications of this phrase in high-context communication. A C2 speaker knows that '언제 가능하세요?' can sometimes be a polite way to nudge someone who has been delaying a task, using the guise of scheduling to remind them of a deadline without causing a loss of face.

Significado

A polite question to ascertain someone's availability.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The concept of 'Chemyeon' (Face) is vital. Asking if something is 'possible' rather than asking if the person 'can do it' avoids putting them on the spot. In the 'Palli-palli' culture, scheduling is often done very quickly via mobile apps like KakaoTalk, but the polite forms are still strictly maintained. Respect for elders is built into the language. The '-시-' in '가능하세요' is a linguistic bow to the other person's status. Indirectness is a sign of sophistication. Direct questions about time can sometimes feel like an interrogation.

🎯

Add '혹시' for extra politeness

Starting the sentence with '혹시' (hok-si - by any chance) makes you sound like a native speaker who cares about the other person's convenience.

⚠️

Don't use with kids

If you use this with a child, it sounds like you are treating them like a business partner. Use '언제 돼?' instead.

Significado

A polite question to ascertain someone's availability.

🎯

Add '혹시' for extra politeness

Starting the sentence with '혹시' (hok-si - by any chance) makes you sound like a native speaker who cares about the other person's convenience.

⚠️

Don't use with kids

If you use this with a child, it sounds like you are treating them like a business partner. Use '언제 돼?' instead.

💬

Wait for the 'honorific' response

When you ask this, the other person will likely respond with '...에 가능합니다' (formal) or '...에 돼요' (polite).

Ponte a prueba

Choose the most appropriate phrase to ask your boss when they can meet.

부장님, 미팅은 _______?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 언제 가능하세요

'언제 가능하세요' uses the correct honorific form for a boss.

Fill in the blank with the word for 'when'.

____ 가능하세요?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 언제

'언제' means 'when'.

Complete the dialogue for a hair salon appointment.

손님: 오늘 오후에 예약 _______? 직원: 3시가 비어 있습니다.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 언제 가능하세요

This is the standard polite way to ask for an appointment opening.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Which phrase fits a text to a new business partner?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 언제 가능하실까요?

The '-ㄹ까요' ending adds an extra layer of professional politeness suitable for a new partner.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, it is very common in KakaoTalk messages for work or with acquaintances.

Almost. '언제 시간 돼요?' is slightly more casual. '언제 가능하세요?' is more professional.

Use '언제 돼?' or '언제 시간 있어?'.

In this context, yes. It refers to the possibility of a time slot being open.

The 'si' is the honorific marker. It's hidden in the 'se' of 'seyo'. It shows respect to the person you are asking.

Yes, e.g., '도와주시는 거 언제 가능하세요?' (When is it possible for you to help me?).

Yes, it is the perfect phrase for a teacher.

You can say '[Time]에 가능해요' or '[Time]에 시간 돼요'.

It's usually reserved for the military, very formal business, or when speaking to someone much higher in rank.

Yes, it's a very safe and polite way to ask someone out for the first time.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

시간 되세요?

similar

Do you have time?

🔗

언제 볼까요?

builds on

When shall we meet?

🔄

언제 시간 있으세요?

synonym

When do you have time?

🔗

언제쯤이 좋으세요?

similar

When would be good for you?

Dónde usarla

💇‍♂️

Booking a Haircut

Customer: 오늘 파마 예약 언제 가능하세요?

Staff: 오후 4시 이후에 가능합니다.

neutral
💼

Business Meeting

Employee: 팀장님, 보고서 관련해서 언제 가능하세요?

Manager: 내일 오전 10시쯤 어때요?

formal
🗣️

Language Exchange

Learner: 우리 이번 주에 언제 가능하세요?

Partner: 저는 토요일 저녁이 좋아요.

neutral
🏥

Doctor's Appointment

Patient: 검진 결과 상담은 언제 가능하세요?

Nurse: 잠시만요, 원장님 스케줄 확인해 드릴게요.

formal
💌

Dating (Early Stages)

Person A: 우리 영화 보러 언제 가능하세요?

Person B: 금요일 퇴근 후에 시간 괜찮아요!

neutral
📦

Buying Second-hand

Buyer: 강남역에서 직거래 언제 가능하세요?

Seller: 저는 평일 저녁 7시 이후면 다 괜찮아요.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ganeung' as 'Can-ing'. 'Eonje Ganeung-haseyo?' = 'When are you Can-ing?'

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar with a big green 'OK' stamp on one of the days. The stamp says '가능' (Possible).

Rhyme

언제 가능? 시간은 황금! (When is it possible? Time is gold!)

Story

You want to meet a famous chef. You don't ask 'When do you cook?' because he's always busy. You ask 'When is it POSSIBLE for you?' (언제 가능하세요?). He smiles because you respected his busy life.

Word Web

가능 ({可能})불가능 ({不可能})시간 ({時間})약속 ({約束})회의 ({會議})예약 ({豫約})일정 ({日程})

Desafío

Try to use this phrase today in a text message to a language partner or a teacher. If you don't have one, write it in your planner for a hypothetical meeting.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

¿Cuándo te viene bien?

Korean focuses on the objective 'possibility' while Spanish focuses on the subjective 'convenience'.

French high

Quand es-tu disponible ?

Korean grammar encodes the social hierarchy via '-세요', which French does only through 'tu/vous'.

German moderate

Wann passt es Ihnen?

German focuses on the 'fit' of the time slot, whereas Korean focuses on the 'possibility' of the action.

Japanese high

いつがよろしいでしょうか？

Japanese often uses 'good/fine' (yoroishii) while Korean uses 'possible' (ganeung).

Arabic partial

متى تكون متفرغاً؟

Arabic focuses on the person's state of being free, not the possibility of the event.

Chinese high

你什么时候方便？

Chinese uses 'convenience' while Korean uses 'possibility'.

Portuguese high

Quando você está disponível?

Lacks the specific honorific markers found in the Korean verb ending.

English moderate

When works for you?

English is much more direct and doesn't require different verb forms for different social statuses.

Easily Confused

언제 가능하세요? vs 언제예요?

Learners might use this to ask when someone is free.

This means 'When is it?' (referring to an event already scheduled), not 'When are you free?'.

언제 가능하세요? vs 언제 할 수 있어요?

Literal translation of 'When can you do it?'.

This sounds like you are questioning their ability to do something, rather than their schedule.

Preguntas frecuentes (10)

Yes, it is very common in KakaoTalk messages for work or with acquaintances.

Almost. '언제 시간 돼요?' is slightly more casual. '언제 가능하세요?' is more professional.

Use '언제 돼?' or '언제 시간 있어?'.

In this context, yes. It refers to the possibility of a time slot being open.

The 'si' is the honorific marker. It's hidden in the 'se' of 'seyo'. It shows respect to the person you are asking.

Yes, e.g., '도와주시는 거 언제 가능하세요?' (When is it possible for you to help me?).

Yes, it is the perfect phrase for a teacher.

You can say '[Time]에 가능해요' or '[Time]에 시간 돼요'.

It's usually reserved for the military, very formal business, or when speaking to someone much higher in rank.

Yes, it's a very safe and polite way to ask someone out for the first time.

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