Explanation at your level:
You use 동안 to talk about time. If you study for one hour, you say 'one hour 동안'. It is very easy to use! Just put it after your time word.
동안 helps you describe how long you do something. For example, 'I slept for a long time' becomes 'long time 동안 slept'. It is a must-have word for your daily life.
At this level, you can use 동안 to connect events. It helps you describe concurrent actions or specific time intervals in a story. It is essential for narrative fluency.
You can use 동안 to add nuance to your sentences. It distinguishes between a specific point in time and a continuous duration, allowing for more complex sentence structures.
Advanced learners use 동안 to frame temporal contexts in formal writing. It allows for the precise measurement of events, often appearing in academic or professional reports to define study periods.
At the mastery level, 동안 is used to observe the flow of time in literary contexts. It captures the essence of 'the interim' and allows for subtle observations about how events unfold within a set period.
30秒词汇
- 동안 means duration.
- It is a noun.
- Used with time words.
- Essential for daily conversation.
Welcome! Let's talk about the word 동안. In Korean, this is a super useful noun that helps you talk about time. Think of it as the 'container' for an action.
When you want to say you did something for a specific amount of time, 동안 is your best friend. Whether you are waiting for a bus or studying for an hour, this word helps define that window of time.
It is not just about the clock; it is about the experience of time passing while you are busy doing something. It makes your sentences sound natural and precise!
The word 동안 is a Sino-Korean word. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 同 (same/together) and 間 (space/interval).
Historically, it evolved to mean the 'interval' or 'space' that exists while things are happening together. It reflects the ancient philosophical view of time as a physical space that events occupy.
Over centuries, it became the standard way to express duration in the Korean language. It is fascinating how a word for 'space' became our go-to word for 'time'!
Using 동안 is quite straightforward. You usually attach it to a time phrase or a verb phrase to show duration.
Commonly, you will see it used with numbers like 한 시간 동안 (for one hour). It is very versatile and fits into both casual chats and formal reports perfectly.
Just remember: it is a noun, so it acts as the anchor for your time expression. It is a neutral word, so you don't have to worry about being too formal or too casual.
While 동안 itself is a noun, it appears in many common phrases. Here are five:
- 그동안: 'During that time' or 'meanwhile'.
- 오랜 동안: 'For a long time'.
- 잠시 동안: 'For a little while'.
- 방학 동안: 'During the school break'.
- 내내: Often used to emphasize the *entire* duration of the 동안.
Grammatically, 동안 acts as a noun that follows time expressions or clauses. It is pronounced 'dong-ahn'.
In English, it translates to 'during' or 'for'. Unlike English, where 'during' is a preposition, Korean 동안 keeps its noun-like behavior, often taking particles like 은/는 or 에.
There is no plural form, as it is an uncountable concept of time duration. Keep the stress even on both syllables for the most natural sound.
Fun Fact
It combines characters for 'same' and 'space' to define time.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'dong' as in song and 'ahn' like calm.
Similar to UK, with a slightly more open 'o'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'ng' sound
- Stressing the wrong syllable
- Dropping the final 'n'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Simple to integrate.
Very common in speech.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Time Particles
에, 부터, 까지
Noun Modification
하는 동안
Verb Endings
해요
Examples by Level
한 시간 동안 공부해요.
One hour during study.
Time + 동안
잠시 동안 기다리세요.
A little while during wait.
Adverb + 동안
방학 동안 여행해요.
Vacation during travel.
Noun + 동안
일주일 동안 쉬어요.
One week during rest.
Time period + 동안
오랜 동안 친구였어요.
Long time during friends.
Time span + 동안
그동안 잘 지냈어요?
That time during well lived?
Fixed expression
잠깐 동안 만나요.
Short moment during meet.
Short duration
하루 동안 바빠요.
One day during busy.
Time + 동안
10분 동안 쉬는 시간입니다.
겨울 동안 눈이 많이 와요.
그동안 공부를 많이 했어요.
잠시 동안 조용히 하세요.
오랜 동안 기다렸습니다.
여행하는 동안 행복했어요.
점심 시간 동안 쉽니다.
일하는 동안 전화하지 마세요.
회의하는 동안 휴대폰을 끄세요.
방학 동안 무엇을 할 계획인가요?
그동안 소식이 없어서 걱정했어요.
수업 시간 동안 집중해야 합니다.
머무는 동안 즐거운 시간 보내세요.
비가 오는 동안 집에 있었어요.
기다리는 동안 책을 읽었습니다.
대화하는 동안 웃음이 끊이지 않았어요.
프로젝트를 진행하는 동안 많은 것을 배웠습니다.
그동안 쌓아온 노력이 결실을 맺었습니다.
머무는 동안 불편한 점은 없으셨나요?
공사하는 동안 통행이 제한됩니다.
연설하는 동안 모두가 경청했습니다.
그동안의 오해를 풀고 싶습니다.
여행하는 동안 다양한 문화를 경험했어요.
기다리는 동안 지루하지 않았습니다.
그동안의 공백을 메우기 위해 노력 중입니다.
재임하는 동안 많은 업적을 남겼습니다.
심사하는 동안 철저한 검토가 이루어집니다.
논의하는 동안 다양한 의견이 제시되었습니다.
그동안의 경험이 큰 자산이 되었습니다.
변화하는 동안 적응하는 시간이 필요합니다.
수행하는 동안 안전 수칙을 준수하세요.
그동안의 성과를 보고하는 자리입니다.
영겁의 시간 동안 우주는 팽창해 왔습니다.
그동안의 고뇌가 얼굴에 드러납니다.
머무는 동안의 정취를 잊을 수 없습니다.
그동안의 침묵을 깨고 입을 열었습니다.
시대가 변하는 동안 가치관도 바뀌었습니다.
그동안의 세월이 무색할 만큼 젊어 보입니다.
지속되는 동안의 긴장감이 감돌았습니다.
그동안의 노고에 깊은 감사를 표합니다.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"그동안"
During that time/meanwhile
그동안 잘 지냈어요?
neutral"오랜 동안"
For a long time
오랜 동안 기다렸습니다.
neutral"잠시 동안"
For a little while
잠시 동안만 기다려주세요.
neutral"동안에"
In the middle of/during
식사하는 동안에 전화가 왔어요.
neutral"한동안"
For a while
한동안 연락이 없었어요.
neutralEasily Confused
Both refer to time.
동안 is duration, 중 is 'in the middle'.
공부하는 동안 vs 공부하는 중.
Both refer to intervals.
사이 is physical or abstract gap, 동안 is time duration.
두 사람 사이 vs 한 시간 동안.
Both relate to time.
시간 is 'time' as a concept, 동안 is 'duration'.
시간이 많다 vs 한 시간 동안.
Both mean duration.
내내 emphasizes the whole span.
하루 동안 vs 하루 내내.
Sentence Patterns
Time + 동안 + Verb
한 시간 동안 공부해요.
Verb + 는 동안 + Verb
밥 먹는 동안 TV를 봐요.
Noun + 동안 + Verb
방학 동안 여행해요.
Adverb + 동안 + Verb
잠시 동안 기다리세요.
Time span + 동안 + Verb
오랜 동안 기다렸어요.
词族
Nouns
相关
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
常见错误
동안 requires a duration, not a point in time.
동안 needs a modifier to define the duration.
They have slightly different nuances.
It cannot be conjugated.
It functions as a time marker.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a timer running.
When Native Speakers Use It
In almost every daily conversation.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the importance of time in Korean culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always keep it after the time word.
Say It Right
Keep the 'ng' sound clear.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it with exact times.
Did You Know?
It comes from Hanja.
Study Smart
Make a list of 5 durations.
Daily Habit
Use it when talking about your day.
Fluency Tip
Combine it with verbs.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Dong' (bell) ringing for a 'long' time.
Visual Association
A clock with a long shadow.
Word Web
挑战
Write 3 sentences about what you did today using 동안.
词源
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Same interval
文化背景
None, very safe word.
Directly maps to the concept of 'during' or 'for'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- 회의하는 동안
- 일하는 동안
- 점심 시간 동안
at school
- 수업 시간 동안
- 방학 동안
- 시험 기간 동안
traveling
- 여행하는 동안
- 머무는 동안
- 비행하는 동안
daily life
- 잠시 동안
- 한 시간 동안
- 그동안
Conversation Starters
"방학 동안 무엇을 했나요?"
"그동안 잘 지냈어요?"
"얼마 동안 한국어를 공부했어요?"
"기다리는 동안 무엇을 하나요?"
"일하는 동안 음악을 듣나요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about what you did during your last vacation.
Describe your routine during the week.
What have you been doing for the last month?
How do you spend your time during a long flight?
常见问题
8 个问题No, use 부터 or 까지 for points in time.
No, it is a noun.
No, it is uncountable.
Yes, it is very common.
동안 is the period, 내내 emphasizes the entire duration.
Yes.
Usually not, it follows a time phrase.
No, it is one of the first words students learn.
自我测试
한 시간 ___ 공부했어요.
동안 is the correct marker for duration.
Which means 'for a long time'?
오랜 means long.
동안 can be used with a specific point in time like 5:00.
동안 is for duration, not points in time.
Word
意思
Matching duration to meaning.
Time + duration + verb.
得分： /5
Summary
동안 is the essential tool for measuring the duration of your experiences in Korean!
- 동안 means duration.
- It is a noun.
- Used with time words.
- Essential for daily conversation.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a timer running.
When Native Speakers Use It
In almost every daily conversation.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the importance of time in Korean culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always keep it after the time word.
Related Content
更多general词汇
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.
