South Korea has a reputation for moving and working fast. Pretty much everything is done is a quick manner and while it works a lot of times, it can also have its downsides. The words and phrases for ‘hurry up’ are shouted loudly on a daily basis here. We’ll teach you some of these phrases now.
빠르다 (ppa-leu-da)
This is a beginner-level verb that means ‘to be fast’. Even though it means ‘to be fast’, it can be used to mean ‘hurry up’. You’ve probably heard its conjugated form often in daily speech, ‘빨리 빨리’. Korea is often called a ‘빨리 빨리’ country. Here are some other basic conjugations for this verb:
빨라요 (ppal-la-yo) = present (declarative)
빨랐어요 (ppal-la-sseo-yo) = past (declarative)
빠를 거예요 (ppa-reul kkeo-ye-yo) = future (declarative)
Example sentences:
진짜 빠르다! (jin-jja ppa-reu-da) = You’re really fast!
나는 빠른 음악을 좋아해. (na-neun ppa-reun eu-ma-geul jjo-a-hae) = I like fast music.
Now if you wanted to say hurry up, you would use this verb like this:
빨리! (ppal-li) = Hurry up!
빨리 해! (ppal-li hae) = Hurry up and do it!
빨리 와! (ppal-li wa) = Hurry and come on!
빨리 타! (ppal-li ta) = Hurry and get on! (a vehicle like a car or bus)
빨리 가! (ppal-li ga) = Hurry up and go!
As you can see, you can combine this with lots of verbs to imply someone needs to rush or do something quickly.
서두르다 (seo-du-reu-da)
Next up, this word actually means ‘to hurry’. It’s also used quite frequently and has a more urgent feeling to it. You would use this when you really, really want someone to be fast. Almost like you’re very frustrated with them. Here are the basic conjugations for this verb:
서둘러요 (seo-dul-leo-yo) = present (declarative)
서둘렀어요 (seo-dul-leo-sseo-yo) = past (declarative)
서두를 거예요 (seo-du-reul kkeo-ye-yo) = future (declarative)
The future form of this form is something you’ll rarely hear. Here are some examples:
우리 시간이 없어요. 서둘러 주세요. (u-ri si-ga-ni eop-sseo-yo. seo-dul-leo ju-se-yo) = We don’t have time. Please hurry up.
서둘러! (seo-dul-leo-yo) = Hurry up!
서둘러! 버스가 오고 있어! (seo-dul-leo! beo-seu-ga o-go i-sseo!) = Hurry up! The bus is coming!
급하다 (geu-pa-da)
Finally, we have this verb. It means to be urgent, pressing, or in a hurry. It’s most often used when someone talks about needing to go to the bathroom in a hurry. Like ‘서두르다’ it can also mean ‘hurry up’ in certain contexts. Here are some basic conjugations for this verb.
급해요 (geu-pae-yo) = present tense (declarative)
급했어요 (geu-pae-sseo-yo) = past tense (declarative)
급할 거예요 (geu-pal kkeo-ye-yo) = future tense (declarative)
And some examples:
걱정하지마. 나는 급하지 않아. (geok-jjeong-ha-ji-ma. na-neun geu-pa-ji a-na) = Don’t worry. I’m not in a hurry (it’s not urgent).
미안한데 나 진짜 급해. (mi-an-han-de na jin-jja geu-pae) = I’m sorry but I’m really in a hurry.
Did you understand them all? Don’t be in a hurry and make sure you study these carefully 🙂