What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 나중에 (later), 전화 (telephone) and 할게요 (will do/will perform).
Which one should you use?
While 나중에 전화할게요 implies a promise to the listener, the phrase 나중에 전화할 거예요 would simply state a future fact without the nuance of a personal commitment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
나중에 전화할게 is a casual and common way to say "I'll call you later" and is suitable for friends or younger people. For highly polite/honorific situations, such as when speaking toward superiors or in business settings, use 나중에 전화드리겠습니다. You can also use 나중에 전화드릴게요 as a slightly less formal but still respectful way to express this intention.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb ending -ㄹ게요 expresses a promise or an intention to the listener, making it suitable for this specific social commitment.
How do you pronounce it?
najunge jeonhwahalgeyo
Did you know?
- The word 전화 (telephone) uses the Chinese characters for 'electricity' and 'speech', literally meaning 'electric speech'.
- In many casual Korean social settings, saying 나중에 전화할게요 can sometimes function as a polite way to end a conversation without a concrete plan to actually call.
- If you are calling a person of significantly higher status, you would never use the word 'you' in i will call you later, as the pronoun is omitted to avoid being rude.
Examples in context
- 나중에 전화드리겠습니다, 김 선생님I will call you later, Teacher Kim.
- 지금은 바빠서 나중에 전화할게요.jigeumeun bappaseo najunge jeonhwahalgeyo.I'm busy right now, so I will call you later.
- 집에 가서 나중에 전화할게요.jibe gaseo najunge jeonhwahalgeyo.I will call you later when I get home.
- 미안해요, 나중에 전화할게요.mianhaeyo, najunge jeonhwahalgeyo.I'm sorry, I will call you later.
Example conversation
Ji-eun is calling Hyeon-u while he is in a meeting.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 지금 통화 가능해요?Hyeon-u ssi, jigeum tonghwa ganeunghaeyo?Hyeon-u, are you able to talk right now?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니요, 지금 회의 중이라서 나중에 전화할게요.aniyo, jigeum hoe-ui jungiraseo najunge jeonhwahalgeyo.No, I'm in a meeting, so I will call you later.
- 지은 Ji-eun알겠어요. 나중에 연락 주세요.algesseoyo. najunge yeollak juseyo.I see. Please contact me later.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 나중에 다시 전화할게요.ne, najunge dasi jeonhwahalgeyo.Yes, I will call you again later.
