A2 Expression Formel 1 min de lecture

시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

Sigani eolmana namasseoyo?

How much time is left?

Entraîne-toi

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to ask how much time remains for an event, task, or waiting period.

  • Means: How much time is left?
  • Used in: Checking deadlines, waiting for food, or travel arrivals.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use '시간이 얼마나 있어요?' as it implies 'how much time do you have' (capacity).
Clock 🕒 + Question mark ❓ = Efficient time management ⏳

Explication à ton niveau :

This is a simple question. You use it to ask about time. '시간' means time. '남았어요' means left. Use it when you are waiting.
This phrase is essential for daily life. It combines the noun '시간' with the verb '남다' in the polite '어요' form. It helps you manage your schedule by asking for the remaining duration of an event.
At this level, you should understand that '남다' is an intransitive verb meaning 'to remain'. The phrase is highly versatile; you can attach '까지' to specify the event. It is a staple of communicative competence in Korean, allowing you to navigate social and professional deadlines effectively.
The phrase demonstrates the Korean tendency to use specific verb conjugations to describe states of existence. By using the past tense '남았어요', the speaker acknowledges the time that has already elapsed. It is a pragmatic expression used to reduce uncertainty in collaborative environments.
This expression exemplifies the intersection of temporal deixis and social politeness in Korean. The use of the honorific '어요' suffix marks a consultative register. It functions as a phatic device to synchronize expectations between interlocutors, reflecting the cultural emphasis on shared temporal awareness in high-context communication.
Syntactically, the phrase functions as an interrogative clause where the adverbial '얼마나' modifies the state of remaining time. The cognitive framing of 'time' as a quantifiable resource that 'remains' (남다) is a pervasive metaphor in Korean. Mastery involves adjusting the register—from the casual '남았어?' to the formal '남았습니까?'—to align with the social hierarchy and situational urgency.

Signification

Asking about the remaining duration of an event or task.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Punctuality is highly valued. Asking this is a sign of being proactive.

💡

Shorten it

Among friends, just say '얼마나 남았어?'

💡

Shorten it

Among friends, just say '얼마나 남았어?'

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank with the correct verb.

영화 시작까지 시간이 얼마나 _____?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 남았어요

We use '남다' (to remain) for time left.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Banque d exercices

2 exercices
Choisis la bonne réponse Fill Blank

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Fill in the blank with the correct verb. Fill Blank A2

영화 시작까지 시간이 얼마나 _____?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 남았어요

We use '남다' (to remain) for time left.

🎉 Score : /2

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, use '돈이 얼마나 남았어요?'

Expressions liées

🔗

얼마나 걸려요?

similar

How long does it take?

Où l'utiliser

🚌

Waiting for a bus

You: 버스 도착까지 시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

Stranger: 5분 정도 남았어요.

neutral
📝

During an exam

Student: 선생님, 시험 시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

Teacher: 10분 남았습니다.

formal

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Nam' (man) who is 'left' (남았어요) behind because he didn't check the time.

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant hourglass. The sand is almost gone. You point at it and ask, '시간이 얼마나 남았어요?'

Rhyme

Time is 'sigan', left is 'nam-a', ask '얼마나' to clear the drama.

Story

Min-su is at the airport. He is nervous. He looks at the big clock. He asks the staff, '시간이 얼마나 남았어요?' The staff smiles and says, 'Ten minutes.' Min-su runs to his gate.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'How much time is left?' in English or 'Combien de temps reste-t-il?' in French. It is a universal human need to track time.

Word Web

시간 (time)남다 (to remain)얼마나 (how much)기다리다 (to wait)마감 (deadline)도착 (arrival)

Défi

For one day, whenever you are waiting for a bus, a friend, or a download, say the phrase out loud.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Prononciation

Stress Neutral

The 's' sound carries over.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
시간이 얼마나 남았습니까?

시간이 얼마나 남았습니까? (General inquiry)

Neutre
시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

시간이 얼마나 남았어요? (General inquiry)

Informel
시간이 얼마나 남았어?

시간이 얼마나 남았어? (General inquiry)

Argot
얼마나 남음?

얼마나 남음? (General inquiry)

Derived from the Sino-Korean '시간' (Time) and the native Korean verb '남다' (to remain).

Modern:

Le savais-tu ?

The word '남다' is also used for food leftovers!

Notes culturelles

Punctuality is highly valued. Asking this is a sign of being proactive.

“시간이 얼마나 남았어요?”

Amorces de conversation

“

Ask your friend about the movie start time.

Erreurs courantes

✗

시간이 얼마나 있어요?

✓

시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

wrong context
The first one asks how much time someone possesses (availability), not how much time remains for an event.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

¿Cuánto tiempo queda?

Korean requires a subject '시간' (time) more explicitly.

French Very Similar

Combien de temps reste-t-il?

French uses an impersonal structure.

German Very Similar

Wie viel Zeit bleibt noch?

German word order is more flexible.

Japanese moderate

あとどれくらいですか？

Korean uses a specific verb '남다'.

Arabic Very Similar

كم من الوقت تبقى؟

Arabic grammar is gendered.

Chinese moderate

还有多少时间？

Korean focuses on the state of 'remaining'.

Korean native

시간이 얼마나 남았어요?

None.

Portuguese moderate

Quanto tempo falta?

Korean uses 'remaining' instead of 'missing'.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2015)

“시간이 얼마나 남았어?”

Waiting for a bus.

Facile à confondre

시간이 얼마나 남았어요? vs 시간이 얼마나 있어요?

Learners think it means 'how much time is left'.

It actually means 'how much free time do you have'.

Questions fréquentes (1)

No, use '돈이 얼마나 남았어요?'

basic understanding

Learning Path

Prerequisites

C'tait utile ?

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