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A2 adverb #1,000 le plus courant 12 min de lecture

아까

akka Top 1,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 아까 en 30 secondes

Explication 아까 in your Level:

At the A1 beginner level, the Korean word 아까 is introduced as a simple, highly practical vocabulary item to help you talk about things you did earlier in the day. When you are just starting to learn Korean, you spend a lot of time learning how to conjugate verbs into the past tense. This word is the perfect companion for those past tense verbs. It simply means 'a little while ago' or 'earlier'. For example, if someone asks you if you are hungry, and you already ate lunch a few hours ago, you can say '아까 먹었어요' (I ate earlier). It is a very forgiving word because you do not need to know exactly what time it is or how many minutes have passed. You just need to know that the action happened in the recent past, usually on the same day. It is important to practice putting this word at the beginning of your sentences or right before the verb. At this stage, do not worry too much about the complex nuances; just focus on using it to describe your daily activities. If you went to the store, studied, or met a friend earlier today, you can use this word to tell someone about it. It is a foundational building block for conversational Korean, allowing you to move beyond just talking about the present moment and start sharing your recent experiences with others.

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At the A2 elementary level, your understanding of 아까 deepens as you begin to distinguish it from similar temporal adverbs. The most important distinction to master at this stage is the difference between this word and 방금 (just now). While an A1 learner might use them interchangeably, an A2 learner knows that 방금 is for actions that happened seconds or a couple of minutes ago, whereas our target word is for actions that happened further back in the day, perhaps 30 minutes to several hours ago. You also start to see this word used more flexibly in sentences. You will notice native speakers using it to refer back to previous topics in a conversation. For instance, if you were talking about a movie ten minutes ago, and you want to bring it up again, you might say '아까 말한 영화' (the movie we talked about earlier). This shows a growing ability to connect ideas and maintain a cohesive conversation. Furthermore, you will practice using it with negative sentences, such as '아까는 안 추웠어요' (It wasn't cold earlier). This level is all about refining your accuracy and expanding the contexts in which you can confidently deploy this word, moving from simple statements of fact to more interactive and dynamic conversational exchanges.

At the B1 intermediate level, the usage of 아까 expands significantly as you begin to encounter it combined with various grammatical particles, transforming its function within the sentence. The most critical structure to master here is 아까부터, which translates to 'since earlier'. This is a major leap because it allows you to connect a past starting point to an ongoing present state. For example, '아까부터 머리가 아파요' (My head has been hurting since earlier). Notice that the verb is in the present tense, which breaks the beginner rule of always using past tense with this word. This demonstrates a more sophisticated grasp of Korean aspect and tense. Additionally, you will start using it as a noun modifier more frequently, such as in the phrase '아까 그 사람' (that person from earlier). This is incredibly common in storytelling and recounting daily events. At this level, you should also be comfortable using it in reported speech or when referencing previous instructions, like '선생님이 아까 하라고 하셨어요' (The teacher told us to do it earlier). Your ability to use this word smoothly in these complex structures indicates that you are no longer just translating word-for-word, but are beginning to think and structure your thoughts natively in Korean.

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At the B2 upper-intermediate level, your mastery of 아까 involves understanding its pragmatic functions and subtle nuances in various social contexts, particularly in the workplace or formal environments. While it is inherently a casual word, it is frequently used in polite (요) and formal (습니다) speech levels. You will often hear and use phrases like '아까 말씀드린 대로' (As I mentioned earlier) during presentations or meetings. This serves as a vital discourse marker, organizing your speech and guiding the listener back to previously established points. Furthermore, you will begin to perceive the emotional weight the word can carry depending on intonation. A slightly drawn-out pronunciation can convey frustration or impatience, as in '내가 아까 말했잖아!' (I told you earlier!). Understanding these paralinguistic cues is essential for B2 fluency. You will also be able to seamlessly navigate the gray areas of its temporal boundaries, instinctively knowing when an event has passed the threshold of 'earlier today' and requires a different temporal marker like '오전에' (in the morning) or '낮에' (during the day) for greater precision. Your usage is no longer just grammatically correct; it is contextually and pragmatically appropriate.

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At the C1 advanced level, the word 아까 is fully integrated into your intuitive linguistic repertoire. You manipulate it effortlessly to control the flow of complex narratives and arguments. At this stage, you are acutely aware of how this word functions not just as a time marker, but as a tool for cognitive alignment between speaker and listener. When you use it, you are implicitly claiming that the listener shares the context of the recent past. You might use it in sophisticated debates to point out contradictions in an opponent's argument: '아까는 그렇게 주장하시지 않았습니까?' (Didn't you argue differently earlier?). You also recognize its presence in idiomatic expressions and colloquial shorthand. Your understanding extends to recognizing when native speakers might intentionally misuse or stretch the temporal boundaries of the word for rhetorical effect or exaggeration. Furthermore, you are comfortable with its dialectical variations or how its usage might shift slightly across different age groups or regions in Korea. At C1, you don't think about the grammar of the word; you use it as a precise instrument to convey nuance, establish shared history, and structure high-level discourse seamlessly.

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At the C2 mastery level, your comprehension of 아까 encompasses not only flawless pragmatic and syntactic execution but also a deep sociolinguistic and etymological awareness. You understand the historical roots of the word and how it reflects the Korean cultural conceptualization of time—a fluid, context-dependent continuum rather than a rigid, segmented timeline. You can analyze its usage in contemporary Korean literature, noting how authors employ it to create a sense of immediacy or to manipulate narrative pacing. You are capable of discussing the semantic nuances between this word and highly formal or archaic temporal adverbs, understanding exactly why a specific term was chosen in a given text. In spoken language, your use of the word is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker. You instinctively know how to modulate your tone, pitch, and sentence structure to convey the exact degree of recentness, urgency, or casualness required by the situation. You can effortlessly translate the subtle feeling of the word into other languages, recognizing that a simple 'earlier' often fails to capture the shared contextual intimacy that the Korean word implies. At this pinnacle of proficiency, the word is a transparent window into the mechanics of Korean thought and expression.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

아까 en 30 secondes

Refers to a recent past event, usually within the same day.
Must be used with past tense verbs in almost all cases.
Distinct from '방금', which means literally 'just a moment ago'.
Can be combined with '부터' to mean 'since earlier'.

The Korean word 아까 is an incredibly common and highly useful temporal adverb that translates to 'a little while ago' or 'earlier' in English. Understanding the precise semantic boundaries of this word is essential for mastering natural Korean conversation. When learners first encounter this vocabulary word, they often wonder exactly how much time must pass before an event can be described using this term. The beauty and complexity of this word lie in its inherent subjectivity and relativity. Unlike specific time markers such as 'five minutes ago' or 'three hours ago', this word relies entirely on the speaker's perception of recent history. Generally speaking, it refers to an event that occurred earlier on the same day. It is rarely, if ever, used to describe something that happened yesterday or last week. For those longer durations, Korean speakers would use entirely different vocabulary.

Temporal Scope: The timeframe covered by this word usually ranges from a few minutes to several hours, provided the event remains within the boundaries of the current day or the current continuous waking period of the speaker.

저는 아까 밥을 먹었어요.

In everyday usage, you will hear this word constantly. Imagine you are at the office, and a colleague asks if you have seen the manager. If you saw the manager thirty minutes ago, you would naturally use this word to express that fact. It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of 'recent past' without requiring the speaker to calculate the exact number of minutes that have elapsed.

Subjective Perception: What feels like 'a little while ago' to one person might feel like a long time to another. This word adapts to the psychological perception of time passing.

그 친구는 아까 집에 갔어요.

Furthermore, this word can also function as a noun in certain grammatical structures, particularly when combined with particles like 부터 (meaning 'from' or 'since'). When someone says 'since earlier', they are emphasizing that an action or state began in the recent past and has continued up to the present moment. This dual functionality makes it a versatile tool in the Korean language learner's arsenal.

우리는 아까 만났어요.

Conversational Flow: Using this word helps maintain a smooth, natural rhythm in conversation, avoiding the clunkiness of overly specific time references when exact precision is unnecessary.

선생님이 아까 설명하셨어요.

The psychological aspect of time in Korean culture is deeply embedded in words like this. It reflects a communication style that values shared context over rigid numerical data. If both the speaker and the listener share the context of the day's events, saying 'earlier' is more than sufficient to establish mutual understanding.

비가 아까 그쳤어요.

Ultimately, mastering this vocabulary item requires active listening and practice. By observing native speakers, learners will quickly develop an intuitive sense for when an event is recent enough to warrant this word, and when it has faded too far into the past, requiring a different temporal marker entirely. The journey to fluency is paved with these small, nuanced understandings of everyday words.

Constructing sentences with the Korean word 아까 is generally straightforward, but it requires a solid understanding of Korean sentence structure and verb conjugation rules. Because this word inherently refers to an event that has already occurred, the most critical rule to remember is that the main verb of the sentence must be conjugated in the past tense. This is a non-negotiable grammatical requirement. If you attempt to use this word with a present tense or future tense verb, the sentence will sound completely unnatural and confusing to a native Korean speaker.

Sentence Placement: As an adverb, it is highly flexible in its placement. It can appear at the very beginning of a sentence, immediately after the subject, or right before the verb. The choice often depends on what the speaker wishes to emphasize.

아까 전화가 왔어요.

When placed at the beginning of the sentence, the speaker is drawing immediate attention to the timeframe. It sets the stage for the information that follows. For example, if you want to immediately clarify that an action is not happening now, but happened previously, starting with this word is highly effective.

Noun Modification: Interestingly, this word can also act as a noun modifier when combined with the particle 의, though in colloquial speech, the particle is often dropped, allowing the word to directly modify the following noun.

동생이 아까 나갔어요.

Let us explore the usage of this word with particles. The most common particle attached to it is 부터, which means 'from' or 'since'. When you say 'since earlier', you are describing a state or action that began in the recent past and is still ongoing. In this specific case, the verb at the end of the sentence might actually be in the present tense or present progressive tense, because the action is still happening. This is the one major exception to the 'always use past tense' rule, and it is a crucial nuance for intermediate learners to grasp.

제가 아까 청소했어요.

Combining with Verbs: It pairs exceptionally well with verbs of communication (saying, telling, asking) and verbs of motion (going, coming, leaving), as these are frequent topics of short-term recall.

엄마가 아까 시장에 가셨어요.

Another common pattern is using it with the verb 말하다 (to speak/say). 'As I said earlier' is a phrase used constantly in both formal presentations and casual arguments. This demonstrates how a simple A2 level vocabulary word scales up into complex, nuanced discourse markers used by advanced speakers.

그 책을 아까 다 읽었어요.

By practicing these various sentence structures, learners will find that this word becomes an indispensable part of their daily Korean communication, allowing them to express time relationships with native-like fluency and ease.

If you spend any amount of time in a Korean-speaking environment, you will realize that the word 아까 is absolutely ubiquitous. It is not a word reserved for formal literature or specific academic contexts; rather, it is the lifeblood of daily, practical communication. You will hear it in coffee shops, corporate offices, school playgrounds, and family living rooms. Its frequency is tied to the human need to constantly reference the immediate past to make sense of the present.

Workplace Environment: In professional settings, it is frequently used to refer to recent meetings, emails sent earlier in the day, or instructions given by a supervisor just a few hours prior.

부장님이 아까 찾으셨어요.

Imagine a typical office scenario. A coworker walks up to your desk and asks if you have seen a specific document. You might reply that you saw it 'earlier' on the printer. In this context, the word bridges the gap between the immediate present and a recent, relevant past event. It is efficient and universally understood.

Media and Entertainment: Korean dramas and variety shows are excellent resources for hearing this word in action. Characters use it to recount events that happened off-screen or earlier in the episode.

주인공이 아까 울었어요.

In variety shows, where unscripted banter is the main attraction, cast members frequently tease each other about things said or done 'earlier' during the filming. This highlights the word's role in maintaining conversational continuity and building comedic callbacks. When a comedian references a joke that failed 'earlier', they are relying on the audience's shared short-term memory, perfectly encapsulated by this vocabulary word.

우리 아까 사진 찍었잖아.

Family and Home Life: At home, parents use it to remind children of chores they were supposed to do, or family members use it to discuss what they ate for a previous meal that day.

아빠가 아까 뉴스 보셨어.

Furthermore, in service industries like restaurants or retail stores, you will hear this word when staff communicate with each other or with customers. A waiter might say, 'The customer who came in earlier left this behind.' A store clerk might mention, 'We sold out of that item earlier today.' In all these scenarios, the word functions as a vital anchor to the recent past, proving that while it may be categorized as a beginner-level word, its utility extends into every facet of Korean life.

손님이 아까 불평했어요.

Immersing yourself in these environments, whether physically or through media, will rapidly accelerate your intuitive grasp of exactly when and how to deploy this essential adverb.

Even though 아까 is introduced relatively early in a Korean learner's journey, it is frequently the source of subtle, yet noticeable, errors. These mistakes usually stem from a misunderstanding of the word's temporal boundaries or a failure to align it with the correct verb tense. By analyzing these common pitfalls, learners can refine their usage and sound much more natural when speaking. The most prevalent mistake is using this word to refer to events that happened days, weeks, or months ago.

Temporal Overextension: Learners often translate 'earlier' directly from English, where 'earlier this year' is perfectly valid. In Korean, this word is strictly confined to the recent past, almost always within the same 24-hour period.

잘못된 예: 저는 아까 작년에 한국에 갔어요.

If you want to say 'earlier this year' or 'a while ago' referring to months past, you must use phrases like '올해 초에' or '예전에'. Using our target word in this context will cause immediate confusion, as the listener will assume you mean earlier today.

Tense Mismatch: Another frequent error is pairing this adverb with present or future tense verbs. Because it inherently describes a completed action or a past state, the main verb must reflect the past tense.

올바른 예: 친구가 아까 도착했어요.

Saying '아까 도착해요' (arrives earlier) is grammatically incorrect. The only exception, as mentioned in previous sections, is when using the particle 부터 (since). In the phrase '아까부터 기다려요' (I have been waiting since earlier), the present tense is acceptable because the action of waiting is still ongoing. However, the starting point of that action remains in the past.

잘못된 예: 내일 아까 만나요.

Confusion with 방금: Learners frequently confuse this word with 방금 (just now). While both refer to the past, their proximity to the present is different.

그는 아까 떠났어요.

Using the wrong word here won't necessarily cause a breakdown in communication, but it will mark you as a non-native speaker. If someone just walked out the door 10 seconds ago, saying they left '아까' sounds strange; they left '방금'. Conversely, if they left three hours ago, saying they left '방금' implies they just stepped out. Mastering this distinction is a hallmark of an intermediate-to-advanced speaker.

제가 아까 확인했어요.

By being mindful of these common mistakes—respecting the same-day temporal boundary, strictly adhering to past tense conjugations, and distinguishing it from 'just now'—learners can confidently and accurately utilize this essential vocabulary word.

Expanding your vocabulary means not just learning a single word, but understanding the ecosystem of related words that surround it. The Korean language is rich with temporal adverbs, and knowing when to use 아까 versus its synonyms or related terms is crucial for precise expression. While this word is excellent for general 'earlier today' situations, there are times when you need to be more specific, more formal, or indicate a different proximity to the present moment.

방금 (Just Now): This is the most commonly confused alternative. It means 'just a moment ago' or 'just now'. It implies a much shorter time gap than our target word. If something happened seconds or a very few minutes ago, this is the preferred choice.

방금 도착했어요. (I arrived just now, versus 아까 도착했어요 - I arrived earlier).

조금 전에 (A Little While Ago): This phrase literally translates to 'a little before'. It is highly synonymous with our target word and can often be used interchangeably. However, it can sometimes sound slightly more formal or polite, making it a good choice in professional settings.

조금 전에 회의가 끝났어요. (The meeting ended a little while ago).

Another related concept is 이전에 (previously or before). This is used for a much broader timeframe. It can refer to something that happened earlier today, but it can also refer to something that happened years ago. It lacks the specific 'same-day recentness' that defines our target word. Therefore, while it is an alternative, it changes the nuance of the sentence significantly.

이전에 그 영화를 봤어요. (I saw that movie previously).

이따가 (Later): While this is an antonym rather than a synonym, it is crucial to learn alongside our target word. Just as our target word means 'earlier today', this word means 'later today'. They are two sides of the same same-day temporal coin.

이따가 만나요. (Let's meet later).

Finally, for very formal situations, such as news broadcasts or official reports, you might encounter words like 앞서 (previously/earlier). This is a higher-register word that conveys a similar meaning but is rarely used in casual, everyday spoken Korean. Understanding these alternatives allows you to tailor your speech to the specific context, ensuring you always strike the right tone and convey the exact timeframe you intend.

앞서 보도해 드린 바와 같이... (As reported earlier...)

Mastering this cluster of temporal vocabulary will significantly elevate your Korean proficiency.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In some regional dialects of Korea, such as the Gyeongsang dialect, the pronunciation might shift slightly, or different words entirely might be used to convey the same meaning. However, 아까 is universally understood across all regions.

Guide de prononciation

UK /a.k͈a/

US /a.k͈a/

Even stress, but the tense consonant ㄲ creates a natural emphasis on the second syllable.

Rime avec

바까 (bakka - change, dialect) 닦아 (dakka - wipe) 깎아 (kkakka - cut/peel) 막아 (maga - block) 작아 (jaga - small) 나가 (naga - go out) 사가 (saga - buy and go) 차가 (chaga - cold)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the ㄲ as a regular English 'k' (aspirated). It must be tense and unaspirated.
Elongating the first 'a' sound. Both vowels should be relatively short.
Adding a pause between the syllables. It should flow smoothly: a-kka.
Pronouncing it like 'aka' with a soft 'k'. The double consonant requires more muscular tension.
Confusing the intonation. A rising intonation turns it into a question ('Earlier?').

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Very easy to read, uses basic Hangul characters.

Écriture 2/5

Easy to write, but remember the double consonant ㄲ.

Expression orale 3/5

Requires practice to pronounce the tense ㄲ correctly.

Écoute 3/5

Can be spoken quickly in conversation, requiring attentive listening.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

어제 (yesterday) 오늘 (today) 내일 (tomorrow) 지금 (now) 과거 (past)

Apprends ensuite

이따가 (later) 방금 (just now) 나중에 (later) 조금 전에 (a little while ago) 미리 (in advance)

Avancé

이전에 (previously) 앞서 (previously) 일전에 (the other day) 직전 (right before) 직후 (right after)

Grammaire à connaître

Past Tense Conjugation (-았/었/였어요)

아까 갔어요. (I went earlier.)

Noun Modifying Form (Past) (-(으)ㄴ)

아까 본 사람 (The person I saw earlier)

Particle 부터 (Since/From)

아까부터 기다렸어요. (I waited since earlier.)

Particle 는 (Topic/Contrast)

아까는 추웠어요. (It was cold earlier [but not now].)

Retrospective Modifier (-던)

아까 읽던 책 (The book I was reading earlier)

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Exemples par niveau

저는 아까 밥을 먹었어요.

I ate earlier.

Used with past tense verb 먹었어요.

아까 친구를 만났어요.

I met a friend earlier.

Used with past tense verb 만났어요.

아까 학교에 갔어요.

I went to school earlier.

Used with past tense verb 갔어요.

아까 숙제를 했어요.

I did my homework earlier.

Used with past tense verb 했어요.

아까 물을 마셨어요.

I drank water earlier.

Used with past tense verb 마셨어요.

아까 텔레비전을 봤어요.

I watched TV earlier.

Used with past tense verb 봤어요.

아까 집에 왔어요.

I came home earlier.

Used with past tense verb 왔어요.

아까 운동을 했어요.

I exercised earlier.

Used with past tense verb 했어요.

아까 전화가 왔어요.

A phone call came earlier.

Subject particle 가 used with past tense verb.

아까는 날씨가 좋았어요.

The weather was good earlier.

Topic particle 는 used to contrast earlier weather with now.

동생이 아까 나갔어요.

My younger sibling went out earlier.

Placed after the subject 동생이.

아까 산 사과가 맛있어요.

The apple I bought earlier is delicious.

Used to modify the noun 사과 (apple) via the verb 산 (bought).

아까 왜 울었어요?

Why did you cry earlier?

Used in a question with question word 왜 (why).

우리는 아까 커피를 마셨어요.

We drank coffee earlier.

Standard subject-adverb-object-verb structure.

아까 그 책을 다 읽었어요.

I finished reading that book earlier.

Used with the adverb 다 (all/completely).

아까 비가 많이 왔어요.

It rained a lot earlier.

Used with the adverb 많이 (a lot).

아까부터 머리가 계속 아파요.

My head has been hurting continuously since earlier.

Combined with particle 부터 (since) and present tense verb.

아까 만난 사람은 누구예요?

Who is the person you met earlier?

Modifying a noun phrase (만난 사람).

아까 말했듯이, 저는 내일 바빠요.

As I said earlier, I am busy tomorrow.

Used with the grammar pattern -듯이 (as/like).

아까는 미안했어요. 제가 너무 화를 냈네요.

I was sorry about earlier. I got too angry.

Used as a standalone noun referring to the earlier event.

아까 먹은 음식이 체한 것 같아요.

I think the food I ate earlier gave me indigestion.

Used with the grammar pattern -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (it seems like).

아까 찾던 서류가 여기 있습니다.

Here is the document you were looking for earlier.

Used with the retrospective modifier -던.

아까 본 영화 제목이 뭐였죠?

What was the title of the movie we saw earlier?

Used in a past tense question seeking confirmation (-죠).

아까부터 계속 비가 오고 있어요.

It has been raining continuously since earlier.

Combined with 부터 and present progressive -고 있다.

아까 회의에서 논의한 대로 진행합시다.

Let's proceed as discussed in the meeting earlier.

Used in a formal workplace context with -대로 (as).

아까 부장님께서 지시하신 사항입니다.

These are the instructions the manager gave earlier.

Used with honorific verb 지시하시다.

아까까지만 해도 멀쩡했는데 갑자기 고장 났어요.

It was fine until just earlier, but it suddenly broke.

Combined with 까지 (until) and 만 해도 (even just).

아까 그 상황에서는 그렇게 대답할 수밖에 없었어요.

In that situation earlier, I had no choice but to answer like that.

Used to reference a specific past context (그 상황).

아까 보내드린 이메일 첨부파일을 확인해 주시기 바랍니다.

Please check the attachment in the email I sent earlier.

Formal business Korean (보내드린, 바랍니다).

아까는 제가 감정이 격해져서 실언을 했습니다.

Earlier, my emotions ran high and I misspoke.

Formal apology explaining past behavior.

아까 주문하신 상품은 이미 발송 처리되었습니다.

The product you ordered earlier has already been dispatched.

Customer service terminology (주문하신, 발송 처리).

아까 통화 중에 배터리가 끊어졌어요.

The battery died during the phone call earlier.

Used to explain a past interruption.

아까 그 발언은 다분히 의도적인 것으로 보입니다.

That remark from earlier seems highly intentional.

Analytical usage in a formal discussion.

아까부터 눈치를 채고 있었지만 모르는 척했습니다.

I had noticed since earlier, but I pretended not to know.

Complex psychological description using -고 있었다 and -(으)ㄴ 척하다.

아까의 그 어색한 침묵이 아직도 마음에 걸려요.

That awkward silence from earlier is still weighing on my mind.

Used with the possessive particle 의 to make 'the silence of earlier'.

아까 제시하신 대안은 현실성이 다소 떨어지는 듯합니다.

The alternative you proposed earlier seems to lack somewhat in practicality.

Diplomatic disagreement in a professional setting.

아까는 경황이 없어서 제대로 인사를 못 드렸습니다.

Earlier, I was so distracted/hectic that I couldn't greet you properly.

Using advanced vocabulary (경황이 없다) to excuse past behavior.

아까 언급된 문제점들을 우선적으로 해결해야 할 것입니다.

We will need to prioritize solving the issues mentioned earlier.

Passive voice (언급된) and formal future obligation (-해야 할 것이다).

아까 그분이 하신 말씀의 진의를 파악하기 어렵군요.

It is difficult to grasp the true intention of what that person said earlier.

Advanced vocabulary (진의, 파악하다) in formal speech.

아까부터 줄곧 강조해 온 바와 같이, 안전이 최우선입니다.

As has been continuously emphasized since earlier, safety is the top priority.

Formal rhetorical structure (줄곧 강조해 온 바와 같이).

아까의 그 찰나적인 망설임이 결국 패배를 초래하고 말았다.

That momentary hesitation from earlier ultimately brought about defeat.

Literary style using -고 말았다 for an unfortunate outcome.

아까부터 뇌리를 떠나지 않는 그 상념에 사로잡혀 있었다.

I was captivated by that thought which hadn't left my mind since earlier.

Highly literary vocabulary (뇌리, 상념, 사로잡히다).

아까 논단에서 제기된 비판은 본질을 호도하는 측면이 짙다.

The criticism raised in the forum earlier has a strong tendency to obscure the essence.

Academic and critical discourse (논단, 호도하다, 측면이 짙다).

아까의 소란이 마치 거짓말이었던 것처럼 장내는 찬물을 끼얹은 듯 조용해졌다.

As if the commotion from earlier had been a lie, the venue became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

Complex descriptive metaphor (찬물을 끼얹은 듯).

아까 그가 내비친 미소 이면에는 짙은 냉소가 깔려 있었음을 직감했다.

I intuited that beneath the smile he revealed earlier lay a deep cynicism.

Psychological analysis using advanced vocabulary (이면, 냉소, 직감하다).

아까부터 일관되게 견지해 온 당의 입장은 변함이 없습니다.

The party's position, which has been consistently maintained since earlier, remains unchanged.

Political/official register (일관되게 견지해 온).

아까 스쳐 지나간 그 풍경이 묘한 기시감을 불러일으켰다.

That scenery that flashed by earlier evoked a strange sense of déjà vu.

Literary description of memory and perception (기시감).

아까의 격론 끝에 도출된 합의안은 양측의 고육지책이라 할 수 있다.

The agreement derived after the heated debate earlier can be called a desperate measure by both sides.

Advanced idiomatic and political vocabulary (격론, 도출된, 고육지책).

Collocations courantes

아까부터

아까 그

아까 말한

아까 만난

아까 본

아까 들은

아까 산

아까 먹은

아까 한

아까 일어난

Phrases Courantes

아까 말씀드린 대로

— As I mentioned earlier. Used in formal settings to refer back to a previous point.

아까 말씀드린 대로, 내일은 휴무입니다.

아까는 미안해

— Sorry about earlier. Used to apologize for something that happened recently.

아까는 미안해. 내가 예민했어.

아까부터 계속

— Continuously since earlier. Used to emphasize the duration of an ongoing action.

아까부터 계속 비가 오네요.

아까 그게 뭐야?

— What was that from earlier? Used to ask about something that happened or was seen recently.

아까 그게 뭐야? 깜짝 놀랐어.

아까 전화했었어?

— Did you call earlier? Used to confirm a missed call.

아까 전화했었어? 못 받았네.

아까 말했잖아

— I told you earlier. Used to express frustration when someone forgets something you said.

아까 말했잖아! 왜 또 물어봐?

아까 어디 갔었어?

— Where did you go earlier? Used to ask about someone's recent whereabouts.

아까 어디 갔었어? 한참 찾았어.

아까 본 사람

— The person we saw earlier. Used to refer to someone encountered recently.

아까 본 사람, 우리 학교 학생 같아.

아까 먹은 거

— The thing we ate earlier. Used to refer to a recent meal.

아까 먹은 거 소화가 안 돼.

아까 하던 얘기

— The story/conversation we were having earlier. Used to resume an interrupted conversation.

아까 하던 얘기 계속해 봐.

Souvent confondu avec

아까 vs 방금

방금 means 'just now' (seconds/minutes ago). 아까 means 'earlier' (minutes/hours ago).

아까 vs 이따가

이따가 means 'later' (future). 아까 means 'earlier' (past). They are opposites.

아까 vs 어제

어제 means 'yesterday'. 아까 is strictly for earlier on the *same day*.

Expressions idiomatiques

"아까 엎지른 물"

— Water spilled earlier. Similar to 'crying over spilled milk', meaning it's too late to fix a recent mistake.

아까 엎지른 물이니 이제 와서 후회해도 소용없다.

Idiomatic

"아까 먹은 마음"

— The resolve/mindset from earlier. Refers to a recent decision or determination.

아까 먹은 마음 변치 말고 끝까지 해보자.

Idiomatic

"아까 본 하늘"

— The sky seen earlier. A poetic way to refer to a fleeting moment or past beauty.

아까 본 하늘처럼 내 마음도 맑아졌다.

Literary

"아까 한 약속"

— The promise made earlier. Emphasizes the recency and binding nature of an agreement.

아까 한 약속 꼭 지켜야 해.

Neutral

"아까 흘린 땀"

— The sweat shed earlier. Refers to recent hard work or effort.

아까 흘린 땀이 헛되지 않을 거야.

Idiomatic

"아까 뱉은 말"

— The words spat out earlier. Refers to something said recently, often with regret.

아까 뱉은 말을 주워 담을 수는 없다.

Idiomatic

"아까 놓친 기회"

— The opportunity missed earlier. Expresses regret over a recent failure to act.

아까 놓친 기회가 너무 아쉽다.

Neutral

"아까 잡은 손"

— The hand held earlier. A romantic or nostalgic reference to a recent moment of connection.

아까 잡은 손의 온기가 아직 남아있다.

Literary

"아까 닫힌 문"

— The door closed earlier. Symbolizes a recently lost opportunity or ended relationship.

아까 닫힌 문을 다시 두드릴 용기가 없다.

Literary

"아까 꾼 꿈"

— The dream dreamt earlier. Refers to a recent aspiration or literal dream.

아까 꾼 꿈이 현실이 되었으면 좋겠다.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

아까 vs 방금

Both refer to the recent past.

방금 is much closer to the present moment than 아까. If you just walked in the door, you arrived 방금. If you walked in an hour ago, you arrived 아까.

방금 도착했어요 (I arrived just now). 아까 도착했어요 (I arrived earlier).

아까 vs 조금 전에

They have almost the exact same meaning.

조금 전에 is slightly more formal and literally means 'a little before'. 아까 is a single native word that feels more casual and conversational.

조금 전에 끝났습니다 (It finished a little while ago).

아까 vs 예전에

Both refer to the past.

예전에 refers to the distant past (months or years ago). 아까 refers strictly to the same day.

예전에 한국에 살았어요 (I lived in Korea in the past).

아까 vs 이따가

They sound somewhat similar and both relate to same-day time.

이따가 is the future counterpart to 아까. 이따가 means later today, while 아까 means earlier today.

이따가 만나요 (See you later).

아까 vs 금방

Can mean 'just now' or 'soon'.

금방 can refer to the immediate past or the immediate future depending on context. 아까 is strictly past.

금방 갈게요 (I will go soon).

Structures de phrases

아까 + [Noun] + [Object Particle] + [Past Verb]

아까 사과를 먹었어요.

아까 + [Subject] + [Subject Particle] + [Past Verb]

아까 친구가 왔어요.

아까부터 + [Present/Progressive Verb]

아까부터 비가 와요.

아까 + [Verb -(으)ㄴ] + [Noun]

아까 산 옷

아까 + 말씀드린 + 대로

아까 말씀드린 대로 진행합시다.

아까는 + [Past Adjective], 지금은 + [Present Adjective]

아까는 추웠는데 지금은 따뜻해요.

아까 + [Verb -던] + [Noun]

아까 하던 이야기

아까 + [Noun] + 의 + [Noun]

아까의 실수

Famille de mots

Noms

아까 (can function as a noun when combined with particles)

Apparenté

방금 (just now)

이따가 (later)

나중에 (later)

조금 전에 (a little while ago)

어제 (yesterday)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely High

Erreurs courantes

저는 아까 내일 갈 거예요. → 저는 이따가 갈 거예요.
You cannot use a past time marker with a future tense verb. If you mean 'later', use 이따가.
아까 어제 친구를 만났어요. → 어제 친구를 만났어요.
You cannot use this word to refer to yesterday. It is strictly for earlier on the same day.
아까 도착해요. → 아까 도착했어요.
The verb must be in the past tense because the action has already been completed.
방금 전에 3시간 전에 밥을 먹었어요. → 아까 3시간 전에 밥을 먹었어요.
방금 is for the immediate past. For something 3 hours ago, you must use 아까.
아까부터 기다렸어요. (Meaning: I waited earlier and stopped) → 아까 기다렸어요.
If you use 부터, it implies you are *still* waiting. If the waiting is over, just use the word without 부터.

Astuces

Always Check Your Tense

Before you finish your sentence, double-check that your verb ends in -았/었/였어요. This is the most common mistake beginners make.

Pair with 이따가

Whenever you practice this word, practice its opposite, 이따가 (later), at the same time. This builds strong associative memory.

Master the ㄲ

Spend time practicing the tense ㄲ sound. It is crucial for being understood clearly. Listen to native audio specifically for this sound.

The Same-Day Rule

Burn this rule into your memory: if you slept between the event and now, do not use this word. Use 어제 (yesterday) instead.

Workplace Ready

Memorize the phrase '아까 말씀드린 대로' (As I mentioned earlier). It will make you sound incredibly professional in Korean business settings.

Using 부터

Practice the exception to the past-tense rule: 아까부터 + present tense. This is a key intermediate grammar point.

Catch the Reference

When listening to Koreans, notice how they use this word to refer back to a previous topic. It's a great way to follow the flow of conversation.

Noun Modification

Try writing sentences using '아까 본 [Noun]' or '아까 먹은 [Noun]'. This elevates your writing from simple to complex sentences.

Sentence Placement

Experiment with putting the word at the very beginning of the sentence for emphasis, or right before the verb for a more neutral tone.

방금 vs 아까

Create a mental timeline. 0-5 minutes ago = 방금. 15 minutes to 12 hours ago = 아까. This will help you choose the right word instantly.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a crow saying 'Ah-kka! Ah-kka!' The crow is trying to tell you about something shiny it saw *earlier* today.

Association visuelle

Picture a clock face where the minute hand is pointing to a time just 30 minutes ago. The space between now and then is labeled '아까'.

Word Web

Time Past Earlier Today 방금 (Just now) 이따가 (Later) 과거 (Past) 시간 (Time)

Défi

Try to use 아까 three times today when speaking to a Korean friend or language partner. Use it once to talk about a meal, once to talk about a message, and once to talk about a feeling.

Origine du mot

The word 아까 is a native Korean word. It has been used in the Korean language for centuries to denote the recent past. Its exact morphological origins are difficult to trace definitively, but it is deeply embedded in the native vocabulary, distinct from Sino-Korean words.

Sens originel : A short time ago; the recent past.

Koreanic

Contexte culturel

No specific cultural sensitivities, but be aware of the register. While generally acceptable in polite speech (요 form), very formal situations might require '조금 전에'.

English speakers often overuse specific timeframes (e.g., 'two hours ago'). In Korean, it is more natural to use '아까' for anything that happened earlier in the same day.

Frequently used in K-drama dialogue to reference off-screen events. Commonly heard in Korean variety shows during banter. Used in Korean pop song lyrics to describe recent memories.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Talking about meals

아까 먹었어요
아까 배불렀어요
아까 식당에서
아까 마셨어요

Workplace communication

아까 말씀드린 대로
아까 보낸 메일
아까 회의에서
아까 부장님이

Asking about recent events

아까 어디 갔어?
아까 누구 만났어?
아까 뭐 했어?
아까 왜 그랬어?

Expressing physical states

아까부터 아파요
아까는 괜찮았어요
아까부터 졸려요
아까 피곤했어요

Referring to previous conversations

아까 하던 얘기
아까 말한 사람
아까 그 영화
아까 그 책

Amorces de conversation

"아까 점심에 뭐 드셨어요? (What did you eat for lunch earlier?)"

"아까 회의 시간에 무슨 이야기 했어요? (What did you talk about during the meeting earlier?)"

"아까 길에서 본 강아지 정말 귀엽지 않았어요? (Wasn't the puppy we saw on the street earlier really cute?)"

"아까 전화하셨죠? 제가 못 받았네요. (You called earlier, right? I missed it.)"

"아까부터 계속 비가 오는데 우산 있으세요? (It's been raining since earlier, do you have an umbrella?)"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about something interesting you saw or heard '아까' (earlier today).

Describe a meal you ate '아까' and how it tasted.

Write a short dialogue between two people arguing about something that happened '아까'.

Reflect on a mistake you made '아까' and what you learned from it.

Write about a feeling you had '아까' and how it has changed now.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, you cannot. This word is strictly used for events that happened earlier on the same day. If you want to talk about yesterday, you must use the word 어제. Using our target word for yesterday will confuse native speakers.

In almost all cases, yes. Because it refers to the past, the main verb must be in the past tense (e.g., 먹었어요, 갔어요). The only major exception is when you use it with the particle 부터 (since), as in 아까부터 기다려요 (I have been waiting since earlier).

방금 means 'just now' and refers to an action that happened seconds or a few minutes ago. 아까 means 'earlier' and refers to an action that happened further back in the day, like 30 minutes or a few hours ago. They are similar but differ in their proximity to the present.

It is a neutral, everyday word. It is perfectly acceptable to use in polite speech (with 요 or 습니다). However, in highly formal situations, such as a news broadcast or a very formal presentation, '조금 전에' might be preferred.

In Korean, the verb always comes at the end of the sentence. As an adverb, this word usually comes at the beginning of the sentence or right before the verb. Placing it at the very end is grammatically incorrect, though you might hear it as an afterthought in very casual speech.

You add the particle 부터 (meaning 'from' or 'since') to the word, creating '아까부터'. For example, '아까부터 비가 와요' means 'It has been raining since earlier'.

Yes, it can. While it is primarily an adverb, it can act like a noun modifier in phrases like '아까 그 사람' (that person from earlier) or '아까 일' (the matter from earlier).

The direct opposite, referring to 'later today', is 이따가. Learning these two words together is highly recommended as they frame the timeline of a single day.

The ㄲ is a tense consonant. It should be pronounced with more muscular tension in the throat and without the puff of air (aspiration) that accompanies the English 'k'. It sounds sharper and tighter.

No, never. Using it with future tense (e.g., 아까 갈 거예요) is grammatically incorrect and makes no logical sense, as the word inherently means 'earlier in the past'.

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Teste-toi 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence saying 'I ate lunch earlier.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

저는 아까 점심을 먹었어요.