시간
sigan[ɕʰiɡa̠n]
The English phrase "hours" is translated to Korean as 시간 (sigan).
시간 refers to the general concept of time or a specific duration or amount of time. To express the act of spending or passing time, you can use the common phrase 시간을 보내다. If you need to specify whether a time is AM or PM, you can use 오전 for AM and 오후 for PM.
Which one should you use?
While 시간 refers to a duration or an amount of time (hours), the word 시 is used to indicate a specific point in time on the clock (o'clock). To express the hours on the hour, use 시 after the number. When referring to half-past the hour, you can append 반 after the number.
How does it change in a sentence?
When 시간 is the subject of a sentence, such as in the phrase "Time flies," it is often used with the subject marker 이 to become 시간이.
How do you pronounce it?
sigan
Did you know?
- In traditional Korean timekeeping, the day was divided into twelve 'double-hours' named after the twelve zodiac animals, such as the 'hour of the rat'.
- In Korean culture, referring to 'time' often overlaps with 'availability'. When someone asks 시간 있어요?, they are often asking if you are free to hang out rather than if you possess a clock.
- In Korean, you must switch between two different counting systems depending on whether you are talking about 'o'clock' or 'hours'.
Examples in context
- 기차는 두 시간마다 가.The trains run every two hours.This sentence is useful for describing the frequency of an event using 시간.Tatoeba #8533875 by Eunhee, translation #8533339 by sundown
- 난 이미 세 시간을 일했어.I've worked three hours already.This sentence is useful for describing a duration of work using 시간.Tatoeba #8369686 by Eunhee, translation #3826779 by CK
- 두 시간 후에 해가 질 거야.The sun will go down in two hours.This sentence is useful for describing a future event based on a duration of 시간.Tatoeba #8533892 by Eunhee, translation #8533300 by sundown
- 세 시3 o'clock
- 네 시 반4:30
- 일곱 시 십오 분7:15
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about how much free time they have.
- 지은 Ji-eun오늘 자유 시간이 얼마나 있어?oneul jayu sigani eolmana isseo?How much free time do you have today?
- 민준 Min-jun한 세 시간 정도 있을 것 같아.han se sigan jeongdo isseul geot gata.I think I'll have about three hours.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준아, 우리 같이 영화 볼까?Minjun-a, uri gatchi yeonghwa bolkka?Minjun, shall we watch a movie together?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아, 지금 바로 가자.joa, jigeum baro gaja.Sure, let's go right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 시간, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
