뜻
Doing something late is better than not at all.
문화적 배경
Slovenians are generally punctual, especially in the Gorenjska and Štajerska regions. Using this phrase is a way to maintain 'social harmony' (socialni mir) when that punctuality fails. In countries like Serbia or Montenegro, time is often seen as more fluid. Slovenians use this phrase to distinguish their 'Central European' effort to be on time from a more 'relaxed' southern attitude. In Slovenian universities, there is a tradition of the 'academic quarter' (akademska četrt), where being 15 minutes late is acceptable. This proverb is often used if someone exceeds even that grace period. Slovenians often send holiday cards (voščilnice) late. It is culturally acceptable to send a New Year's card in mid-January with this phrase written inside.
Use it with a smile
This phrase is 50% words and 50% body language. A friendly smile makes it an apology; a flat tone makes it an excuse.
Don't over-use
If you use this every day at work, your boss will stop finding it charming and start finding it unprofessional.
뜻
Doing something late is better than not at all.
Use it with a smile
This phrase is 50% words and 50% body language. A friendly smile makes it an apology; a flat tone makes it an excuse.
Don't over-use
If you use this every day at work, your boss will stop finding it charming and start finding it unprofessional.
The 'Pozneje' variation
Use 'Bolje pozneje kot nikoli' if you want to sound slightly more sophisticated or emphatic about the delay.
Birthday Rule
In Slovenia, it is actually considered bad luck to congratulate someone *before* their birthday, but *after* is perfectly fine with this phrase.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the missing word to complete the proverb.
Bolje ______ kot nikoli.
The proverb is 'Bolje pozno kot nikoli' (Better late than never).
In which situation is this phrase MOST appropriate?
You arrive at a wedding just as the cake is being cut, 2 hours late.
This phrase is used to acknowledge lateness while remaining positive.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Tukaj je tvoja knjiga, ki sem si jo sposodil lani.' B: 'O, hvala! _________.'
Returning a book after a year is a classic 'better late than never' moment.
Which of these is a common variation of the phrase?
Choose the correct variation.
'Pozneje' is the comparative form of 'pozno' and is a common variation.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
Punctuality vs. The Proverb
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제Bolje ______ kot nikoli.
The proverb is 'Bolje pozno kot nikoli' (Better late than never).
You arrive at a wedding just as the cake is being cut, 2 hours late.
This phrase is used to acknowledge lateness while remaining positive.
A: 'Tukaj je tvoja knjiga, ki sem si jo sposodil lani.' B: 'O, hvala! _________.'
Returning a book after a year is a classic 'better late than never' moment.
Choose the correct variation.
'Pozneje' is the comparative form of 'pozno' and is a common variation.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also with a boss if the atmosphere is relatively relaxed.
Yes, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For 5 minutes, a simple 'Oprostite za zamudo' is better.
There isn't a direct proverbial opposite, but 'Prepozno je' (It's too late) is the functional opposite.
Yes, the full form would be 'Bolje je pozno kot nikoli', but the 'je' is almost always dropped in the proverb.
Absolutely! It's one of the most common ways to start a text after ignoring someone for a few days.
Not at all. It is a living part of the modern Slovenian language.
No, that sounds incomplete and unnatural in Slovenian.
Yes, it's a common trope in Slovenian cinema when a character finally makes a grand gesture.
Yes, 'Bolje ikad nego nikad' is more common there, but 'Bolje kasno nego nikad' is also used.
It's risky. It might sound like you don't take the debt seriously.
관련 표현
Počasi se daleč pride
similarSlowly one goes far.
Kdor prej pride, prej melje
contrastFirst come, first served (The one who arrives first, mills first).
Čas je denar
contrastTime is money.
Dobra stvar rabi čas
builds onA good thing needs time.
