아무것도 안 하고 있어
amugeotdo an hago isseo
The English phrase "I am doing nothing" can be said in Korean as 아무것도 안 하고 있어 (amugeotdo an hago isseo).
This phrase is a statement used to convey that you are not performing any activity at the moment. If you want to specifically convey the nuance of idling or loafing around, you can use 빈둥빈둥하고 있어.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 아무것도 안 하고 있어 is composed of 아무것도 (nothing/anything), 안 (not), 하고 (doing) and 있어 (am/is/are in a continuous state).
Which one should you use?
The variations 아무것도 하지 않습니다 and 아무 일도 하지 않고 있습니다 are formal versions used to say "I am doing nothing" or "I am not doing anything". Similarly, the informal versions 아무것도 안 해 and 아무 일도 안 해 can be used to say "I am doing nothing" or "I am not doing anything".
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 아무것도 안 하고 있어 is informal/casual. You can make it polite by adding the suffix '-요' to the end, resulting in 아무것도 안 하고 있어요. To change the tense from the present continuous to the past continuous (e.g., "I was doing nothing"), change the ending to 아무것도 안 하고 있었어.
How do you pronounce it?
amugeotdo an hago isseo
Did you know?
- The word 빈둥빈둥 is an onomatopoeia that mimics the rhythmic, slow movement of someone lounging or idling. It creates a vivid mental image of lazy movement rather than just a state of inaction.
- The contraction 안 used in these phrases was first attested in the 1447 text Yongbi eocheon'ga, showing that this specific way of negating actions has been used since the early days of the written script.
- Using 아무 일도 안 해 instead of 아무것도 안 해 shifts the meaning from 'nothing' to 'no work', which can sound like a deliberate refusal of responsibility rather than simple idleness.
Examples in context
- 저는 오늘 아무것도 하지 않습니다.I am doing nothing today.
- 아무 일도 하지 않고 있습니다.I am not doing anything.
- 지금 아무것도 안 하고 있어.jigeum amugeotdo an hago isseo.I am doing nothing right now.
- 그냥 집에서 아무것도 안 하고 있어.geunyang jibeseo amugeotdo an hago isseo.I am just doing nothing at home.
- 특별한 일 없이 아무것도 안 하고 있어.teukbyeolhan il eopsi amugeotdo an hago isseo.I am doing nothing without any special plans.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are talking on the phone.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은아, 지금 뭐 해?jieuna, jigeum mwo hae?Jieun, what are you doing now?
- 지은 Ji-eun나 그냥 아무것도 안 하고 있어.na geunyang amugeotdo an hago isseo.I am doing nothing.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 같이 영화 볼래?geureom gachi yeonghwa bollae?Then do you want to watch a movie together?
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아, 지금 갈게.joa, jigeum galge.Sure, I'll go now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안, CC BY-SA 4.0.
