빨리빨리
ppallippalli
The English phrase "hurry hurry" is translated into Korean as 빨리빨리 (ppallippalli).
빨리빨리 is an expression used to express a sense of urgency or to urge someone to increase their speed.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a reduplication of the adverb 빨리, which means "quickly". Therefore, 빨리빨리 literally means "quickly quickly".
Which one should you use?
While 빨리빨리 is a common expression to convey urgency, you might also use the verb 서두르다, which means "to hurry" or "to rush". If you want to say "hurry up!" informally, you can use 서둘러.
How do you pronounce it?
ppallippalli
When do people say it?
The phrase reflects the "ppalli-ppalli" culture in South Korea, which emphasizes speed and efficiency in daily life and service.
Did you know?
- The 빨리빨리 culture is often credited with helping South Korea rebuild its economy rapidly after the Korean War. This drive for speed influenced the nation's world-leading internet infrastructure and high-speed delivery systems.
- Using this phrase toward a superior or someone much older can be perceived as extremely blunt or even rude, despite its common usage among peers.
- The urgency of 빨리빨리 is visible in everyday technology, such as the way Koreans often press the 'close' button in elevators repeatedly or push the 'call' button for a lift many times before it arrives.
Examples in context
- 회의 시작 시간이 다가오니 서두르세요.Please hurry as the meeting's starting time is approaching.
- 신청 기한이 얼마 남지 않았으니 빨리 빨리 해 주세요.Please hurry quickly as the application deadline is approaching.
- 서둘러 일어나, 지각하겠어!Hurry up and wake up, or you'll be late!
- 빨리빨리 좀 해.ppalli-ppalli jom hae.Hurry up and do it quickly.
- 빨리빨리 준비하세요.ppalli-ppalli junbi-haseyo.Please get ready quickly.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are running late for a movie.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 빨리빨리 준비해!Hyunwoo-ya, ppalli-ppalli junbi-hae!Hyunwoo, hurry up and get ready!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo거의 다 됐어.geoui da dwaesseo.I'm almost done.
- 수빈 Su-bin늦겠어, 빨리빨리 나가자.neut-gesseo, ppalli-ppalli nagaja.We'll be late, let's hurry and go out.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo알았어, 지금 나가.arasseo, jigeum naga.Okay, I'm going out now.
