πŸ“˜ Grammar 33: How to Use ~γ„΄/은 지 – Talking About Time Passed in Korean

πŸ“˜ How to Use ~γ„΄/은 지 – Talking About Time Passed in Korean

Want to say “It’s been 3 years,” “I started 2 weeks ago,” or “It’s been a long time since we met” in Korean?

Then you need to learn the Korean grammar pattern ~γ„΄/은 지, which is used to express how much time has passed since something happened.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how to use ~γ„΄/은 지 naturally with verbs, how to ask and answer questions about time duration, and see lots of real-life examples!

πŸ“Œ What Does ~γ„΄/은 지 Mean?

~γ„΄/은 지 is used with action verbs to talk about the amount of time since something began or happened.

✔️ Often used with expressions like:

  • μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ (how long)
  • λμ–΄μš” / μ§€λ‚¬μ–΄μš” (it’s been…)

Structure:

  • Verb stem + γ„΄ 지 (if the verb stem ends in a vowel)
  • Verb stem + 은 지 (if the verb stem ends in a consonant)

+ time expression + λμ–΄μš” / μ§€λ‚¬μ–΄μš”


πŸ“˜ Example Sentences

  • ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό κ³΅λΆ€ν•œ 지 6κ°œμ›” λμ–΄μš” – I’ve been studying Korean for 6 months
    han-guk-eo-reul gong-bu-han ji yuk-gae-wol dwaet-seo-yo
  • μš΄μ „ 배운 지 1λ…„ λμ–΄μš” – It’s been a year since I learned to drive
    un-jeon bae-un ji il-nyeon dwaet-seo-yo
  • μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ 된 지 λͺ°λΌμš” – I don’t know how long it’s been
    eol-ma-na doen ji mol-la-yo
  • 친ꡬλ₯Ό λ§Œλ‚œ 지 μ˜€λž˜λμ–΄μš” – It’s been a long time since I met my friend
    chin-gu-reul man-nan ji o-rae-dwaet-seo-yo

πŸ“Š Grammar Table

Verb ~γ„΄/은 지 Form Meaning Romanization
ν•˜λ‹€ (to do) ν•œ 지 since doing han ji
보닀 (to see) λ³Έ 지 since seeing bon ji
읽닀 (to read) 읽은 지 since reading ilg-eun ji
κ°€λ‹€ (to go) κ°„ 지 since going gan ji

πŸ“˜ How to Ask and Answer “How long has it been?”

Q: μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ 된 지 λͺ°λΌμš” – I don’t know how long it’s been
Q: μ–Όλ§ˆ λ™μ•ˆ ν•œκ΅­μ— μ‚° 지 λμ–΄μš”? – How long have you been living in Korea?

A: 2λ…„ 된 지 λμ–΄μš” – It’s been 2 years
A: ν•œ 달 λμ–΄μš” – It’s been one month


πŸ’‘ Usage Tips

  • ~γ„΄/은 지 is always used with a time phrase (e.g. 1λ…„, 2μ£Ό)
  • Follow with λ˜λ‹€ or μ§€λ‚˜λ‹€ to complete the meaning
  • “μ˜€λž˜λλ‹€” is a common expression: “It’s been a long time”

❗ Common Mistakes

  • ❌ ν•œκ΅­μ— μ‚° 지에 1λ…„μ΄μ—μš” → ✅ ν•œκ΅­μ— μ‚° 지 1λ…„ λμ–΄μš”
  • ❌ 배운 지 μžˆλ‹€ → ✅ 배운 지 1λ…„ λμ–΄μš”
  • Don’t forget to add the time duration + λ˜λ‹€/μ§€λ‚˜λ‹€

πŸ§ͺ Mini Quiz – Test Yourself!

  1. How do you say “It’s been 3 months since I started”?
    a) μ‹œμž‘ν•œ 지 3κ°œμ›” λμ–΄μš”
    b) μ‹œμž‘ν•΄ 지 3κ°œμ›”μ΄μ—μš”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ a) μ‹œμž‘ν•œ 지 3κ°œμ›” λμ–΄μš”

  2. Translate: “It’s been a long time.”
    a) μ˜€λžœλ§Œμ΄μ—μš”
    b) μ˜€λž˜λμ–΄μš”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ b) μ˜€λž˜λμ–΄μš”

  3. How do you ask “How long have you been working?”
    a) μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ μΌν•œ 지 μžˆμ–΄μš”?
    b) μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ μΌν•œ 지 λμ–΄μš”?
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ b) μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ μΌν•œ 지 λμ–΄μš”?


✅ Conclusion

Now you can express how long it’s been since something happened using ~γ„΄/은 지 in Korean!

  • Use after action verbs
  • Combine with time expressions like 1λ…„, 3κ°œμ›”, 였래
  • Complete with λ˜λ‹€ or μ§€λ‚˜λ‹€

Try these:

  • “It’s been a week since I arrived” → λ„μ°©ν•œ 지 일주일 λμ–΄μš”
  • “How long have you known him?” → κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒμ„ μ•ˆ 지 μ–Όλ§ˆλ‚˜ λμ–΄μš”?


πŸ“˜ Coming Up Next

Next lesson: How to Use ~κΈ° λ•Œλ¬Έμ— – Expressing Reason in Korean
Learn how to say “Because I was busy,” “Because it rained,” and more!

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