지금 vs 이제 vs 방금 vs 금방 | The many ways to say “now” in Korean

안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다~

I’ve made many a post comparing similar concepts and explaining their differences. I’ve called it my “this vs that” series.

If you find this post useful, you’ll also like:

• 가다 vs 오다

• 마음에 듣다 vs 좋아하다 (like vs like)

• 나는 vs 내가 (I vs I)

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지금 – Now, right now

"지금" refers to the current moment or present time. It emphasizes the state or action happening at the very moment of speaking.

Examples:

• 지금 뭐 해? → What are you doing now?

• 지금 비가 오고 있어요. → It’s raining right now.

• 지금 안 바빠요. → I’m not busy right now.

• 지금 갈게요. → I’ll go right now.

• 지금 생각해 보니까 그게 맞는 것 같아요. → Now that I think about it, that seems right.

이제 – Now, from now on, at this point

"이제" implies a transition from one state or situation to another. It often refers to a shift or change starting at the current moment.

Examples:

• 이제 괜찮아. → I'm okay now.

• 이제부터 열심히 할게요. → I will work hard from now on.

• 이제 자야겠어요. → I should go to sleep now.

• 이제 시간이 없어요. → Now there’s no time.

• 이제 너 차례야. → Now it’s your turn.

방금 – Just now, a moment ago

"방금" refers to an action or event that happened very recently, usually within the last few moments.

Examples:

• 방금 전화가 왔어요. → A call just came in.

• 방금 친구를 만났어요. → I just met a friend.

• 방금 먹었어요. → I just ate.

• 방금 문을 닫았어요. → I just closed the door.

• 방금 뉴스에서 들었어요. → I just heard it on the news.

금방 – Soon, just now

"금방" has two meanings depending on context:

• When referring to the past, it means "just now."

• When referring to the future, it means "soon."

Examples:

• 금방 올게요. → I’ll be back soon.

• 금방 끝낼게요. → I’ll finish it soon.

• 금방 먹었어요. → I just ate.

• 금방 다녀올게요. → I’ll be right back.

• 금방 깨달았어요. → I just realized it.

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Summary of Differences:

• 지금

  • Meaning: Now

  • Focus: Current action or state

  • Time Frame: Present

• 이제

  • Meaning: Now, from now on

  • Focus: Transition or change starting now

  • Time Frame: Present to future

• 방금

  • Meaning: Just now

  • Focus: Action or event that happened very recently

  • Time Frame: Recent past

• 금방

  • Meaning: Just now / Soon

  • Focus: Action that happened recently or will happen soon

  • Time Frame: Recent past or near future

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PRACTICE TIME

Fill in the blanks with the correct word: 지금, 이제, 방금, or 금방.

1. ______ 뭐 해? (What are you doing now?)

2. ______ 수업이 끝났어요. (The class just ended.)

3. ______ 나갈게요. (I’ll leave soon.)

4. ______부터 열심히 공부할 거예요. (I will study hard from now on.)

5. ______ 비가 오기 시작했어요. (It just started raining.)

6. ______ 괜찮아. 다 잘 될 거야. (It’s okay now. Everything will be fine.)

7. 친구가 ______ 전화했어. (My friend called just now.)

8. ______ 가려고 했는데 전화가 왔어. (I was about to leave soon, but I got a call.)

9. ______ 배가 너무 아파요. (My stomach hurts right now.)

10. 너무 늦었으니까 ______ 자야 해요. (Since it’s too late, I should go to bed now.)

Answer Sheet is at the end!

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Dialogue Example A:

A: 지금 뭐 해?→ What are you doing now?

B: 방금 숙제를 끝냈어.→ I just finished my homework.

A: 그래? 이제 뭐 할 거야?→ Really? What will you do now?

B: 금방 친구를 만날 거야.→ I will meet a friend soon.

Dialogue Example B:

A: 지금 출발할 거야?→ Are you leaving now?

B: 아니, 방금 도착했어.→ No, I just arrived.

A: 그럼 이제 뭐 할 거야?→ Then what are you going to do now?

B: 금방 밥 먹으러 갈 거야.→ I’m going to grab something to eat soon.

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ANSWER SHEET:

1. 지금 뭐 해?

   지금 = now (refers to the present moment) You’re asking what someone is doing at this very moment.

2. 방금 수업이 끝났어요.

   방금 = just now (very recent past, within seconds or minutes)

   You’re saying the class ended just a moment ago.

3. 금방 나갈게요.

   금방 = soon or just now depending on context; here it means soon

   You’re saying you’ll go out very soon, within a few minutes.

4. 이제부터 열심히 공부할 거예요.

   이제 = now, from this point on

   You’re declaring that from now on, you will study hard (focus on the transition).

5. 방금 비가 오기 시작했어요.

   방금 = just now (very recent past)

   You're saying it just started raining.

6. 이제 괜찮아. 다 잘 될 거야.

   이제 = now (after something has changed)

   You’re reassuring someone that now, things are okay, implying a change from before.

7. 친구가 방금 전화했어.

   방금 = just now (a moment ago)

   Your friend just called, very recently.

8. 금방 가려고 했는데 전화가 왔어.

   금방 = about to / in a moment (future sense)

   You were just about to leave when a call came in.

9. 지금 배가 너무 아파요.

   지금 = right now (present condition)

   Your stomach hurts right now.

10. 너무 늦었으니까 이제 자야 해요.

    이제 = now, after a point has been reached (too late)

    Because it’s too late, it’s now time to go to bed.

    
    

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That's the end of this lesson! Thanks for reading.

I have linked 3 related lessons below that I think you'll also like - check one of them out ;)

If you like me including the practice section, let me know so I can do it more often.