바빴어요
bappasseoyo
The English phrase "I was busy" is translated into Korean as 바빴어요 (bappasseoyo).
This phrase is used to explain that you had a lot of work or activities to do in the past. You can emphasize that you were extremely busy by adding 너무 before the phrase, as in 너무 바빴어요 (I was too busy). To express that you were specifically mentally occupied or overwhelmed, you might use the expression 난 정신 없었어.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is derived from the dictionary form of the adjective 바쁘다, which means "to be busy".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 바빴어요 is the polite past tense of the adjective 바쁘다. The form 바빴다 serves as the plain or informal past tense, which is commonly used in writing or when speaking with close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
bappasseoyo
Examples in context
- 어제는 너무 바빴어요.eo-je-neun neo-mu ba-ppat-eo-yo.I was very busy yesterday.
- 지난주에 정말 바빴어요.ji-nan-ju-e jeong-mal ba-ppat-eo-yo.I was really busy last week.
- 시험 기간이라서 좀 바빴어요.si-heom gi-gan-i-ra-seo jom ba-ppat-eo-yo.I was a bit busy because it was exam period.
Example conversation
Two friends are catching up over coffee.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 요새 어떻게 지냈어요?hyeon-u ssi, yo-sae eo-tteo-ke ji-naet-eo-yo?Hyunwoo, how have you been lately?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo업무 때문에 조금 바빴어요.eom-mu ttae-mun-e jo-geum ba-ppat-eo-yo.I was a little busy because of work.
- 지은 Ji-eun많이 힘들었겠어요.man-i him-deul-eot-get-eo-yo.That must have been hard.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그래도 이제 괜찮아요.geu-rae-do i-je gwaen-chan-a-yo.But I am okay now.
