Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 근래 | geullae | [ˈkɯ(ː)ɭɭɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈkɯ(ː)ɭɭe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 요즘 | yojeum | [jod͡ʑɯm] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 요새 | yosae | [josʰɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [josʰe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 최근 | choegeun | [ˈt͡ɕʰwe̞(ː)ɡɯn] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈt͡ɕʰø̞(ː)ɡɯn] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
These terms are used to describe the recent past. Depending on the specific word, you may be referring to a continuous trend happening throughout the current period or a specific point in time that has just passed.
Which one should you use?
The words differ based on the type of time they describe. 요즘 is used to describe a continuous state or trend happening during the current period of time, similar to 'these days' or 'lately'. In contrast, 최근 is used to refer to a specific point or a short period of time that has just passed. 요새 is a colloquial contraction of 요사이 and is used interchangeably with 요즘 in spoken conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies between these forms. 근래 is a more formal or literary term often used in news reports, official documents or written contexts. 최근에 is a general and versatile term for 'recently' in formal situations. 요즘 is informal, while 요새 is used in colloquial spoken conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 에 to 최근 makes it the temporal adverbial 최근에, which means 'in recent times'.
How do you pronounce it?
geullae
Did you know?
- While 요새 is commonly used in conversation to mean 'these days', it is also the exact same word used for 'fortress' or 'stronghold' in Korean.
- The word 요즘 is actually a shortened form of the longer word 요즈음, where the middle syllable has been swallowed over time.
- Because 요즘 describes a continuous trend, using it to describe a one-time event that happened a few days ago can sound grammatically awkward to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 요즘 해외여행 가는 학생들이 늘고 있다.The number of students traveling abroad has been increasing recently.This sentence uses 요즘 to show an increasing trend of students traveling abroad.Tatoeba #4769964 by rainbow4us, translation #4910938 by minmin123
- 그녀는 최근에 아기를 낳았어.She recently gave birth.This sentence uses 최근 to describe a specific recent event of giving birth.Tatoeba #13256599 by atitarev, translation #10465128 by sundown
- 수아 씨, 요즘 요가 하신다더니 정말 날씬해지셨네요.Miss Sua, she's been doing yoga recently and really lost a lot of weight!This sentence uses 요즘 to talk about a recent habit of doing yoga.Tatoeba #2658179 by KoreanBeaver, translation #3657426 by rbbrbb
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their health habits.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 근래에 운동 좀 하고 있어요?Hyeon-u ssi, geun-rae-e undong jom hago isseoyo?Hyeon-u, have you been exercising recently?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니요, 바빠서 거의 못 했어요.Aniyo, bappaseo geoui mot haesseoyo.No, I've been too busy to do it.
- 지은 Ji-eun건강을 위해서 조금이라도 움직여 보세요.Geongang-eul wihaeseo jogum-irado umjigyeo boseyo.Try to move a little for your health.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo맞아요, 내일부터는 꼭 시작할게요.Majayo, naeil-buteoneun kkok sijak-halgeyo.You're right, I'll definitely start tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recently” translations and entries 근래, 요즘, 요새, 최근, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 근래, 요새, 요즘, 최근, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
