빨리
ppalli[p͈a̠ʎʎi]
The English phrase 'quickly' is translated into Korean as 빨리 (ppalli). If unsure, use 빨리. Wiktionary also lists 어서 (eoseo).
Meaning: rapidly, fast (adv)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 빨리 | ppalli | [p͈a̠ʎʎi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 어서 | eoseo | [ʌ̹sʰʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
빨리 is the most common and versatile way to say 'quickly' in Korean. It is used to describe the speed of an action or a process, such as something happening rapidly or a person moving fast.
Which one should you use?
While both 빨리 and 어서 can be translated as 'quickly', they focus on different aspects. 빨리 focuses on physical speed, such as running or cooking. In contrast, 어서 focuses on urgency or promptness, often carrying a nuance of 'come on' or 'hurry up' to encourage someone to do something immediately.
How do you pronounce it?
ppalli
When do people say it?
The word 어서 is used in the standard polite greeting 어서 오세요, which is used by shopkeepers to welcome customers. It literally means 'come quickly' or 'come promptly'.
Did you know?
- The term 빨리빨리 (ppalli-ppalli) is a cultural phenomenon describing the collective Korean drive for speed and efficiency in all aspects of life.
- In social settings, saying 빨리 to a superior can be seen as rude or demanding, regardless of the grammatical politeness level used.
- In Korea, the concept of 빨리빨리 culture is credited with helping the country achieve rapid economic growth and high-speed internet infrastructure.
Examples in context
- 양파는 감자보다 빨리 익는다.Onions cook more quickly than potatoes.This sentence shows how to use 빨리 to describe the speed of a cooking process.Tatoeba #11106353 by intertime, translation #40512 by CK
- 빨리 스페인어가 늘었으면 좋겠네.I hope my Spanish improves quickly.This sentence uses 빨리 to describe the speed of an improvement.Tatoeba #3718354 by rainbow4us, translation #3741650 by nwah
- 너 집으로 돌아가는 게 좋을 것 같아. 어서.You should go back home, quickly.This sentence uses 어서 to urge someone to take action immediately.Tatoeba #8533857 by Eunhee, translation #8533414 by shekitten
- 회의가 곧 시작되니까 빨리 가 보세요.The meeting is about to start, so please go quickly.
- 신속하게 조치할 필요가 있습니다.It is necessary to take prompt action.
- 빨리 와!Come quickly!
- 빠르게 달려!Run quickly!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are preparing to leave for a movie.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 준비 다 됐어요?Jieun ssi, junbi da dwaesseoyo?Jieun, are you all ready?
- 지은 Ji-eun아직 조금 남았어요. 조금만 기다려 주세요.ajik jogeum namasseoyo. jogeumman gidaryeo juseyo.There is still a little left. Please wait a little bit.
- 민준 Min-jun영화가 늦으면 안 되니까 빨리 준비해요.yeonghwaga neujeumyeon an doenikka ppalli junbihaeyo.We shouldn't be late for the movie, so get ready quickly.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 알겠어요. 금방 갈게요!ne, algesseoyo. geumbang galgeyo!Yes, I understand. I'll be ready soon!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quickly” translations and entries 빨리, 어서, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
