나중에
najung'e
In Korean, 'later' is said as 나중에 (najung'e).
나중에 is used as an adverb to mean 'afterward in time'. It refers to an unspecified point in the future.
Meaning: afterward in time (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 나중 (later/the end) and the particle 에 (at/in).
Which one should you use?
While 나중에 refers to an unspecified time in the future, 나중에 is often used for a vague 'later', whereas 후에 (after) is typically used to denote a specific sequence of events (e.g., 'after doing X').
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the topic particle 는 to 나중에 creates 나중에는, which emphasizes the contrast between 'now' and 'later'.
How do you pronounce it?
najung'e
When do people say it?
나중에 봐 is a casual way to say See you later or Catch you later among friends. 잘 가 is used when saying goodbye informally and can be translated as Take care or Goodbye. A common way to say 'See you later' is 나중에 봐요.
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, saying 나중에 can sometimes function as a polite 'no' or a way to decline an invitation without causing a loss of face.
- The noun 나중 implies a sense of 'the end' or 'the final stage', suggesting that 'later' is not just a different time, but a subsequent state of being.
- In casual speech, simply saying 나중에 can function as a standalone sentence to mean 'Some other time' or 'Maybe later', effectively ending a conversation.
Examples in context
- 지금 말고, 아마 나중에.Not now, maybe later.This sentence shows how to use 나중에 to suggest a vague future time instead of now.Tatoeba #8533870 by Eunhee, translation #8533341 by sundown
- 톰이 나중에 너한테 설명할거야.Tom will explain this to you later.This sentence demonstrates using 나중에 to describe a future action being explained to someone.Tatoeba #8361449 by Eunhee, translation #6529346 by CK
- 나는 그 결정을 나중에서야 후회했어.I later regretted that decision.This sentence illustrates using 나중에 to describe a regret felt at a later time.Tatoeba #8363493 by Eunhee, translation #7112287 by CM
- 나중에 만나요Let's meet later.
- 이따가 보도록 하죠Let's see each other later.
- 후에 다시 연락 드리겠습니다I will contact you again later.
- 나중에 봐요!See you later!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Ji-hun are discussing when to clean the living room.
- 지은 Ji-eun지금 거실 청소할까?jigeum geosil cheongso-halkka?Shall we clean the living room now?
- 지훈 Ji-hun나중에 같이 하자.najunge gachi haja.Let's do it together later.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 언제 할 거야?geureom eonje hal geoya?Then when are you going to do it?
- 지훈 Ji-hun저녁 먹고 나중에 해.jeonyeok meokgo najunge hae.Do it later after eating dinner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “later” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
