시간을 투자하다.
siganeul tujahada.
Invest time.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to describe spending time on something now to get a better result or skill in the future.
- Means: To treat time like money by 'spending' it on growth.
- Used in: Career talk, learning languages, or building deep relationships.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for passive activities like watching TV for fun.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
To dedicate a period of time to an activity, expecting a future benefit.
Contexto cultural
The 'Spec' culture makes time investment a necessity. Young people often feel guilty if they are not 'investing' their time productively. The 'Miracle Morning' trend in Korea involves investing early morning hours in reading or exercise before work. Companies emphasize 'R&D 시간 투자' (Investment in R&D time) as a core value for survival in the global market. Korean parents view 'time investment' in their children's academies (hagwons) as the most important family project.
Use with '아깝지 않다'
A very natural way to use this is '시간을 투자해도 아깝지 않아요' (It's not a waste even if I invest time). This shows high value.
Don't over-use in dating
Telling a new date 'I am investing time in you' can sound like you are calculating a profit. Stick to '함께하고 싶어' (I want to be with you).
Significado
To dedicate a period of time to an activity, expecting a future benefit.
Use with '아깝지 않다'
A very natural way to use this is '시간을 투자해도 아깝지 않아요' (It's not a waste even if I invest time). This shows high value.
Don't over-use in dating
Telling a new date 'I am investing time in you' can sound like you are calculating a profit. Stick to '함께하고 싶어' (I want to be with you).
The 'Spec' nuance
In a job interview, using '투자하다' instead of '쓰다' (to use) makes you sound much more professional and ambitious.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct particle for the target of investment.
저는 건강( ) 위해 매일 운동( ) 시간을 투자해요.
건강을 위해 (for health) and 운동에 시간을 투자하다 (invest time in exercise).
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using '시간을 투자하다'?
다음 중 '시간을 투자하다'를 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?
Investing time requires a goal (passing an exam) and effort.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 한국어 실력이 정말 많이 늘었네요! 나: 감사합니다. 매일 3시간씩 ( ).
'투자했거든요' explains the reason for the improvement (the return on investment).
Match the phrase variation to the correct context.
Match: 1. 시간을 할애하다, 2. 시간을 쏟다, 3. 시간을 잡아먹다
1-B, 2-A, 3-C.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Spend vs. Invest
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes, '돈을 투자하다' is the original meaning. '시간을 투자하다' is the metaphorical extension.
Only if you are a pro-gamer or learning it as a skill. If it's just for fun, '게임을 하며 시간을 보내다' is better.
'투자하다' is strategic and goal-oriented. '들이다' is about the care, effort, and sincerity put into a process.
No, it must be '[Activity]에 시간을 투자하다'. You are investing the time *into* something.
Yes, but they often use more revolutionary terms like '바치다' (to devote/dedicate) for national goals.
You can say '투자할 가치가 있어요' (It's worth investing) or '투자한 보람이 있어요' (It's rewarding to have invested).
Absolutely. It's a very common way to describe dedicated parenting in Korea.
Not if you're talking about something you're serious about, like a new diet or learning a language.
'시간을 낭비하다' (to waste time) or '시간을 허비하다' (to idle away time).
Yes, '감정을 투자하다' (to invest emotions) is used, often in the context of relationships that didn't work out.
Frases relacionadas
시간을 들이다
similarTo put time/effort into something.
시간을 쏟다
similarTo pour time into something.
시간을 낭비하다
contrastTo waste time.
시간을 할애하다
specialized formTo spare/allot time.
Onde usar
Job Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사에 입사하기 위해 어떤 노력을 하셨나요?
Applicant: 직무 관련 기술을 익히기 위해 지난 1년간 매일 4시간씩 시간을 투자했습니다.
Talking to a Teacher
Student: 선생님, 성적이 잘 안 올라서 고민이에요.
Teacher: 단어 암기에 시간을 조금 더 투자해 보는 게 어떨까?
With a Friend (Self-Improvement)
Friend A: 요즘 왜 이렇게 바빠?
Friend B: 나 요즘 테니스 배우는 거에 시간을 투자하고 있거든. 진짜 재밌어!
Business Meeting
Manager: 이 프로젝트가 성공할까요?
Team Lead: 시장 조사에 충분한 시간을 투자했기 때문에 좋은 결과가 있을 겁니다.
Dating/Relationships
Person A: 우리 요즘 대화가 너무 부족한 것 같아.
Person B: 미안해. 앞으로는 우리 관계에 시간을 더 투자할게.
Social Media Caption
Influencer: 오늘도 나를 위한 시간에 투자했습니다. #오운완 #자기계발
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of your clock as a piggy bank. Every hour you 'put in' (투자) to study is a coin that grows into a gold bar later.
Visual Association
Imagine a seedling growing out of a clock face. As the hands of the clock turn, the plant gets taller and stronger.
Rhyme
시간은 투자, 미래는 부자 (Invest time, be rich in the future).
Story
Min-su wanted to be a chef. Instead of playing games, he 'threw' ({투|投}) his 'capital' ({자|資})—which was his free time—into the kitchen every night. After a year, his 'time investment' paid off when he opened his own restaurant.
Word Web
Desafio
Write down three things you 'invested time' in today using the pattern: '[Noun]에 시간을 투자했어요.'
In Other Languages
To invest time
Korean uses the specific particle '~에' for the target.
Invertir tiempo
Spanish often uses 'dedicar tiempo' more frequently than 'invertir' in casual settings.
Investir du temps / Consacrer du temps
French 'investir' can sound slightly more technical/financial than the Korean version.
Zeit investieren
German may use 'Zeit aufwenden' for the 'effort' aspect of spending time.
時間を投資する (Jikan o tōshi suru)
Korean '투자하다' is used more broadly for personal growth than the Japanese equivalent.
استثمار الوقت (Istithmar al-waqt)
In casual Arabic, phrases like 'spending time' are much more common than 'investing'.
投入时间 (Tóurù shíjiān) / 投资时间
Chinese '投入' emphasizes the act of immersion more than the 'return' of investment.
Investir tempo
Similar to Spanish, 'dedicar tempo' is a very strong competitor in daily speech.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'spending time.'
Use '보내다' for neutral/fun activities (watching TV, hanging out). Use '투자하다' for growth (studying, working out).
Both involve 'giving' time.
'내다' means to 'make room' in a schedule. '투자하다' means to 'use' that time for a goal.
Perguntas frequentes (10)
Yes, '돈을 투자하다' is the original meaning. '시간을 투자하다' is the metaphorical extension.
Only if you are a pro-gamer or learning it as a skill. If it's just for fun, '게임을 하며 시간을 보내다' is better.
'투자하다' is strategic and goal-oriented. '들이다' is about the care, effort, and sincerity put into a process.
No, it must be '[Activity]에 시간을 투자하다'. You are investing the time *into* something.
Yes, but they often use more revolutionary terms like '바치다' (to devote/dedicate) for national goals.
You can say '투자할 가치가 있어요' (It's worth investing) or '투자한 보람이 있어요' (It's rewarding to have invested).
Absolutely. It's a very common way to describe dedicated parenting in Korea.
Not if you're talking about something you're serious about, like a new diet or learning a language.
'시간을 낭비하다' (to waste time) or '시간을 허비하다' (to idle away time).
Yes, '감정을 투자하다' (to invest emotions) is used, often in the context of relationships that didn't work out.
