나 지금 바빠
na jigeum babba
To say "I am busy now" in Korean, you say 나 지금 바빠 (na jigeum babba).
This phrase is a statement used to tell someone that you cannot talk or do something because you have too much to do.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 나 (I), 지금 (now) and 바빠 (am busy).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you are speaking to someone older or in a higher social position, use 저 지금 바빠요 instead. For a polite way to say "I am busy now", you can use 지금 바빠요. In strictly formal situations or when speaking with individuals of higher status, use 지금 바쁩니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form (infinitive) of the verb is 바쁘다. Adding 요 to the end of 바빠 makes the statement polite, as seen in 바빠요. Another casual way to say "I am busy now" among friends is 지금 좀 바빠.
How do you pronounce it?
na jigeum babba
Did you know?
- The word 나 might be a cognate with the Old Japanese word for 'I', though many scholars believe it was actually a loan from Korean into Japanese.
- While 바쁘다 means 'busy', Korean speakers often add the word 좀 ('a little') to the phrase to soften the blow and sound more polite.
- In Korean culture, saying 나 지금 바빠 directly to a superior can be seen as rude, regardless of whether you are actually busy.
Examples in context
- 나 지금 바빠.na jigeum bappa.I am busy now.
- 미안, 나 지금 바빠서 전화 못 해.mian, na jigeum bappaseo jeonhwa mot hae.Sorry, I can't talk on the phone because I am busy now.
- 나 지금 바빠, 나중에 연락할게.na jigeum bappa, najunge yeollakhalge.I am busy now, I will contact you later.
Example conversation
Ji-eun calls Do-hyeon to ask him to go out, but he is working.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현아, 지금 같이 영화 볼래?Dohyeon-a, jigeum gachi yeonghwa bollae?Do-hyeon, do you want to watch a movie together now?
- 도현 Do-hyeon미안 지은아, 나 지금 바빠.mian Jieun-a, na jigeum bappa.Sorry Ji-eun, I am busy now.
- 지은 Ji-eun많이 바빠?mani bappa?Are you very busy?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 일이 너무 많아.eung, iri neomu mana.Yes, I have too much work.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나, 지금, CC BY-SA 4.0.
