-쯤
About, Around
Use -쯤 after a noun (usually a number, time, or quantity) to show that the amount is an estimate, not an exact figure. It translates to 'about' or 'around'.
How It Works
-쯤 is an incredibly useful particle for making estimates and giving approximate information. It attaches directly to the end of a noun, most often one that expresses a number, without any space.
You can use it in various situations:
- Time: To talk about an approximate time. (e.g., 세 시쯤 - around 3 o'clock, 10분쯤 - about 10 minutes)
- Quantity/Amount: To estimate a number of people or things. (e.g., 100명쯤 - about 100 people, 2킬로쯤 - about 2 kilograms)
- Price: To give an approximate cost. (e.g., 만 원쯤 - about 10,000 won)
- Age: To guess someone's age. (e.g., 서른 살쯤 - around 30 years old)
-쯤 is also frequently used with question words like 몇 (how many), 언제 (when), and 얼마 (how much) to ask for an approximate value.
For example: 몇 시쯤 만날까요? (Around what time shall we meet?)
Examples (5)
- 두 시쯤 만날까요?
Shall we meet around 2 o'clock?
Word by Word: Two o'clock around shall meet?
- 학생이 몇 명쯤 왔어요?
About how many students came?
Word by Word: Student how many people about came?
Here, -쯤 is attached to the question word '몇 명' (how many people) to ask for an approximate number.
- 이 책은 만 원쯤 해요.
This book costs about 10,000 won.
Word by Word: This book 10,000 won about does.
- 서울에서 부산까지 3시간쯤 걸려요.
It takes about 3 hours from Seoul to Busan.
Word by Word: Seoul from Busan to 3 hours about it takes.
- 언제쯤 도착할 것 같아요?
Around when do you think you'll arrive?
Word by Word: When about will arrive it seems like?
-쯤 can be attached to '언제' (when) to ask for an approximate time of an event.
Common Mistakes
Putting a space before -쯤.
Not Quite다섯 시 쯤 갈게요.Better다섯 시쯤 갈게요.-쯤 is a particle, so it must be attached directly to the noun it modifies without a space. Think of it like the subject particle -이/가 or the object particle -을/를.
Confusing -쯤 (about) with -처럼 (like).
Not Quite저는 가수쯤 노래를 잘하고 싶어요.Better저는 가수처럼 노래를 잘하고 싶어요.-쯤 means 'approximately' and is used with quantities, time, and prices. To express similarity or say 'like' something, you must use the particle -처럼.
Related Patterns
- Core sentence particles
-쯤 is a particle that attaches to nouns to add meaning, similar to other core sentence particles like 은/는 (topic) or 에 (location). Understanding how particles work is key to using -쯤 correctly.
- Question formation
-쯤 is very commonly used in question formation with question words like '몇' (how many), '언제' (when), and '얼마' (how much) to ask for an estimated answer. For example, '몇 시쯤?' (Around what time?).
- -나 (선택)Or, About
The particle -나 after a number does not make an estimate. It means 'as many as', and it shows surprise that the number is large, the opposite feeling to an estimate. For example, '열 명이나' means 'as many as ten people', while '열 명쯤' means 'about ten people'. To estimate, use -쯤, 정도, or 가량.
- -경Around, About (Time/age)
-경 is a more formal, Sino-Korean equivalent of -쯤. It also means 'around' or 'about' but is typically used in written texts or formal announcements, especially with dates and times (e.g., '오후 3시경' - around 3 PM).