How to Say "Last Minute" in Korean

마지막 순간

majimak sungan

The English phrase 'last minute' can be translated into Korean as 마지막 순간 (majimak sungan).

This phrase is used as an adjective to describe something that happens very close to a deadline.

Meaning: very close to a deadline (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 마지막 (last) and 순간 (moment).

To express 'at the last minute' as an adverbial phrase, the particle 에 is added to the end of 마지막 순간.

majimak sungan

If a task is done at the very last second, you might use the term 발등에 불 떨어지다 (baldeunge bul tteoreojida), which means 'fire has fallen on one's foot'.
In high-pressure contexts like exams, you might hear the term 벼락치기 (byeorakchigi), which literally translates to 'lightning strike' to describe the act of cramming at the last minute.
The word 순간 (sungan) contains a character meaning 'blink of an eye', so the phrase literally evokes the idea of a moment as short as a single blink.

톰은 마지막 순간에 마음을 바꿨다.
Tom changed his mind at the last minute.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use 마지막 순간 with the particle 에 to mean 'at the last minute'.
Tatoeba #5526075 by raining211, translation #1095311 by CK
저는 마지막 순간에 회의에 참석할 수 있었습니다.
I was able to attend the meeting at the last minute.
마지막 순간에 결정을 내렸어요.
ma-jim-ak sun-gan-e gyeol-jeong-eul nae-ryeot-eo-yo.
I made the decision at the last minute.
마지막 순간에 도착하면 너무 늦어요.
ma-jim-ak sun-gan-e do-chak-ha-myeon neo-mu neu-jeo-yo.
It is too late if you arrive at the last minute.

Dohyun and Subin are talking about a project deadline.

도현 Do-hyeon

수빈 씨, 보고서 다 썼어요?
Subin ssi, bogoseo da sseosseoyo?
Subin, did you finish the report?
수빈 Su-bin

아니요, 마지막 순간까지 수정 중이에요.
aniyo, majimak sungankkaji sujeong jung-ieyo.
No, I am editing it until the last minute.
도현 Do-hyeon

너무 서두르지 마세요.
neomu seodureuji maseyo.
Don't rush too much.
수빈 Su-bin

걱정 마세요, 곧 끝나요.
geokjeong maseyo, got kkeunnyayo.
Don't worry, it will be finished soon.

Sources

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