Explanation at your level:
You use ~쯤 to talk about time. If you want to say 'about 2 o'clock', you say '2시쯤'. It is very easy to use!
Use this when you are not sure about numbers. For example, if you have 'about 10 apples', you say '사과 10개쯤'. It makes your Korean sound much more like a native speaker.
Beyond just time, you can use ~쯤 to estimate distance or money. It is a versatile tool for managing expectations in conversation. Remember to attach it directly to the noun.
In professional settings, ~쯤 helps soften requests or reports. It implies you have an estimate, though it is not exact. It is less formal than '경' but more common in spoken business meetings.
The nuance of ~쯤 extends to abstract concepts. You can use it to refer to a point in a process or a state of being. It allows for a level of ambiguity that is culturally preferred in Korean social interactions.
Historically and stylistically, ~쯤 serves as a marker of the speaker's subjective assessment. Its usage reflects the 'fuzzy logic' inherent in natural language, where precision is often sacrificed for social harmony and conversational flow.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Attaches to nouns
- Means about/around
- No space allowed
- Very common in speech
When you are talking to a friend and you aren't sure if it is exactly 3:00 or 3:05, you use ~쯤. It is the Korean equivalent of 'about' or 'around'.
Think of it as a softener. It makes your sentences sound more natural and less robotic. Instead of saying 'I will arrive at 5 o'clock' (which sounds like a strict deadline), saying '5시쯤' implies a casual, realistic expectation.
The word ~쯤 evolved from the noun 쯤, which historically referred to a 'degree' or 'extent'. Over centuries, it became a bound noun commonly attached to time and quantity markers.
It shares linguistic roots with other estimation markers in the Korean language. It is a purely Korean construction, reflecting the culture's preference for indirectness and politeness in communication.
You use ~쯤 primarily with time expressions like 시간 (time) or 시 (o'clock), and quantities like 얼마 (how much).
It is used in both casual and formal settings. However, in very strict formal writing, you might see 경 (around) used instead. For daily life, ~쯤 is the gold standard for estimation.
1. 몇 시쯤? (Around what time?): Used to ask for a rough estimate.
2. 어느 정도쯤 (To some extent): Used when describing a vague degree of something.
3. 이쯤에서 (At this point): Used to suggest stopping or changing a topic.
4. 그쯤 해둬 (Leave it at that): A way to tell someone to stop what they are doing.
5. 언제쯤 (Around when?): A common way to ask for a vague timeframe.
Grammatically, ~쯤 is a bound noun, meaning it must be attached to another word. Do not put a space between the noun and 쯤.
Pronunciation-wise, it sounds like 'jjeum'. The 'jj' is a tense, forced sound. It rhymes loosely with 'room' if you use a very sharp 'j' start.
Fun Fact
It evolved from a noun into a suffix.
Pronunciation Guide
Similar to 'chum' but with a tense 'jj' sound.
A sharp, clipped sound.
Common Errors
- Softening the 'jj'
- Adding a space
- Misplacing the particle
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Bound Nouns
수, 쯤
Time Particles
에, 부터
Quantifiers
개, 명
Examples by Level
2시쯤 만나요.
2 o'clock + about + meet
Attached to time
10분쯤 기다렸어요.
10 minutes + about + waited
Attached to duration
얼마쯤이에요?
How much + about + is it?
Attached to question word
내일 3시쯤 올게요.
Tomorrow 3 o'clock + about + will come
Attached to time
어제 8시쯤 잤어요.
Yesterday 8 o'clock + about + slept
Attached to time
5개쯤 있어요.
5 items + about + have
Attached to counter
한 달쯤 걸려요.
One month + about + takes
Attached to period
거기서 5분쯤 걸려요.
From there 5 minutes + about + takes
Attached to duration
1시쯤 점심 먹어요
100달러쯤 필요해요
10년쯤 살았어요
오후 4시쯤 도착해요
30분쯤 운동해요
몇 명쯤 올까요?
1000원쯤 해요
이거 1kg쯤 돼요
내년 5월쯤 졸업해요
그 사람 30대쯤 보여요
여기서 2km쯤 떨어져 있어요
회의가 2시간쯤 걸릴 거예요
이거 500쪽쯤 되는 책이에요
어느 정도쯤 이해했어요
그때쯤이면 다 끝날 거예요
서울까지 3시간쯤 걸려요
작년 이맘때쯤 여행했어요
그 문제는 이쯤에서 정리하죠
그는 100만 원쯤 벌 거예요
마감 기한은 다음 주쯤 될 것 같아요
이쯤 되면 다들 알 거예요
그는 10시쯤 퇴근할 것 같습니다
비용은 5만 원쯤 예상합니다
그는 20대 중반쯤 되어 보입니다
이쯤에서 타협점을 찾아봅시다
그 사건은 10년 전쯤 발생했습니다
그의 의견은 대략 이쯤으로 요약됩니다
이쯤 되면 상황이 심각해지겠군요
그는 100명쯤 되는 사람을 이끌고 있습니다
이쯤에서 결론을 내리도록 하죠
그는 3시쯤 도착할 예정입니다
우리는 1년쯤 뒤에 다시 만날 겁니다
그는 이쯤에서 물러나는 것이 좋겠다고 판단했다
그의 나이는 대략 60대쯤으로 추정된다
이쯤 되면 그도 자신의 실수를 깨달았을 것이다
우리는 100년쯤 된 나무를 보았다
그는 5시쯤 사무실을 나섰다
이쯤에서 대화를 마무리하는 것이 좋겠습니다
그는 1000달러쯤 되는 돈을 기부했다
그 사건은 2000년대 초반쯤 일어났다
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"이쯤에서"
At this point
이쯤에서 그만하자
neutral"몇 시쯤"
Around what time
몇 시쯤 올 거야?
casual"그쯤 해둬"
Stop it there
그쯤 해둬, 화나니까
casual"어느 정도쯤"
To some degree
어느 정도쯤 이해가 돼
neutral"언제쯤"
Around when
언제쯤 끝날까요?
neutral"그때쯤"
Around that time
그때쯤이면 괜찮아
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean approximation.
정도 is more about extent, 쯤 is more about timing/quantity.
10분 정도 vs 10분쯤
Both mean about.
약 is a prefix, 쯤 is a suffix.
약 10분 vs 10분쯤
Sentence Patterns
Time + 쯤 + Verb
3시쯤 가요
Quantity + 쯤 + Verb
2개쯤 줘요
Demonstrative + 쯤 + Verb
이쯤에서 멈춰
Question + 쯤 + Verb
몇 시쯤 올래?
Duration + 쯤 + Verb
1시간쯤 걸려요
Word Family
Nouns
Related
How to Use It
10/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It is a bound noun, no space allowed.
Only attaches to nouns.
It implies approximation.
Redundant, pick one.
They are interchangeable but '쯤' is more common in speech.
Tips
The 'Ish' Rule
Think of it as the Korean '-ish'.
Native Habit
Use it to soften your promises.
Politeness
It makes you sound less demanding.
No Space
Always attach it.
Tense Sound
Make the 'jj' sharp.
Redundancy
Don't use '약' and '쯤' together.
Versatility
It works with almost any number.
Daily Practice
Use it for every time you state today.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'jjeum' as 'jump'—you are jumping around the number, not landing on it exactly.
Visual Association
A clock with a fuzzy blur around the hands.
Word Web
Challenge
Try using '쯤' for every time you mention today.
Word Origin
Korean
Original meaning: Degree or extent
Cultural Context
None, very neutral.
Similar to 'ish' (e.g., 5 o'clock-ish).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Planning meetings
- 몇 시쯤?
- 3시쯤 어때?
Shopping
- 얼마쯤 해요?
- 1개쯤 필요해요
Travel
- 여기서 5분쯤 걸려요
Daily routines
- 7시쯤 일어나요
Conversation Starters
"몇 시쯤 만날까요?"
"그게 얼마쯤 해요?"
"언제쯤 끝날 것 같아요?"
"이쯤에서 쉴까요?"
"몇 개쯤 필요하세요?"
Journal Prompts
Write your daily schedule using 쯤.
Describe a time you were late.
Ask a friend about their plans.
Explain a price of an item.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is a bound noun.
No, only nouns.
It is neutral.
No, it means the opposite.
쯤.
Yes, common in novels.
Rarely, usually for time/quantity.
About or -ish.
Test Yourself
3시___ 만나요.
It attaches to time.
What does 10분쯤 mean?
쯤 means about.
You can put a space before 쯤.
It is a bound noun.
Word
Meaning
Matches quantity and time.
3시쯤에 만나요.
Score: /5
Summary
The particle ~쯤 is the easiest and most natural way to express approximation in Korean.
- Attaches to nouns
- Means about/around
- No space allowed
- Very common in speech
The 'Ish' Rule
Think of it as the Korean '-ish'.
Native Habit
Use it to soften your promises.
Politeness
It makes you sound less demanding.
No Space
Always attach it.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More business words
에 대한
A2Concerning or relating to; about, regarding.
~대하여
A2About, concerning, regarding.
대해서
A2Concerning or with regard to; about, regarding.
에 대해
A2About; regarding.
풍요롭다
A2To be abundant, prosperous, or rich.
관철하다
B2To carry through, achieve, or persist in one's will or goal until it is accomplished, despite difficulties.
~에 따라
B1According to, depending on; as stated by or determined by.
에 따라
A2According to; in accordance with.
에 의하면
B1According to; as stated by or reported by.
회계사
A2Accountant; a person whose job is to keep financial accounts.
