바빠요
bappayo
In Korean, "I am busy" is expressed as 바빠요 (bappayo).
You use this phrase to state that you have a lot of work to do or that you have no free time. If you need to clarify that you are the one who is busy, you can add (저는) to the beginning to say (저는) 바빠요. If you are using "busy" as a reason for a situation (for example, "Because I am busy…"), you should use the form 바빠서.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the situation, you will use different forms: 바빠 is used in informal settings. For highly professional situations, use the formal style 바쁩니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the 요 at the end of 바빠요 to create 바빠 makes the phrase informal (반말), which is used only with close friends or people younger than you. To use the formal polite style (하십시오체) in professional environments, use 바쁩니다.
How do you pronounce it?
bappayo
Did you know?
- If you are extremely busy, you might say you are 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다, which literally translates to 'so busy one cannot even open their eyes or nose'.
- While 바빠요 means 'I am busy', Koreans often use the phrase 정신이 없다, which literally means 'I have no spirit' or 'my mind is gone', to describe a chaotic kind of busyness.
- In Korean, saying 바빠요 to a superior can actually sound rude, even with the polite 요 ending. In many professional settings, it is better to say you have 'much work' rather than simply being 'busy'.
Examples in context
- 이번 주는 운전연습을 하느라고 바빠요.I am busy this week because I practice driving.This sentence is useful for describing a reason for being busy using 바빠요.Tatoeba #3120698 by Wakano, translation #3120701 by Wakano
- 요즘 시험 기간이라 너무 바빠요.yo-jeum si-heom gi-gan-i-ra neo-mu ba-ppa-yo.I am very busy because it is exam period lately.
- 회의가 있어서 지금 좀 바빠요.hoe-ui-ga it-seo-seo ji-geum jom ba-ppa-yo.I am a bit busy now because I have a meeting.
Example conversation
Minji calls Minjun to ask if he can go to a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 지금 카페에 갈 수 있어요?Min-jun ssi, ji-geum ka-pe-e gal su it-eo-yo?Minjun, can you go to a cafe now?
- 민준 Min-jun미안해요, 민지 씨. 지금 너무 바빠요.mi-an-hae-yo, Min-ji ssi. ji-geum neo-mu ba-ppa-yo.I'm sorry, Minji. I am too busy right now.
- 민지 Min-ji무슨 일로 그렇게 바빠요?mu-seun il-lo geu-reot-ge ba-ppa-yo?What are you busy with?
- 민준 Min-jun업무가 많아서 조금 바빠요.eop-mu-ga manh-a-seo jo-geum ba-ppa-yo.I am a little busy because I have a lot of work.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
