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HOW TO SAY A LITTLE IN KOREAN

좀 (jom), which means “a little, a bit, some.” JOM is the shortened version of 조금 (JOGEUM).

Example phrases using 좀 (jom):

좀 있다가 전화할께요.
Jom itdaga junhwa halggeyo.
I’ll call you a little later.
(formal)

 이것 좀 먹어 봐! 진짜 맛있어!
Egut jom muguh bwa! Jinjja mashissuh!
Try some of this! It’s really delicious!
(informal)

 좀 싱겁다. 소금 좀 넣어.
Jom shingubda. Sogeum jom nuhuh.
It’s a little bland. Put in a little salt.
(informal) 

 좀 더 기다려 주세요.
Jom duh geedaryuh juseyo.
Please wait a little more.
(formal)

 좀 서둘러야돼요.
Jom suhdooluhya dweyo.
We have to hurry a bit.
(formal)

Did your friend order something delicious at the restaurant and you want to have a bite? Ask them…

좀 먹어 봐도 돼?
Jom muguh bwado dwe?
Can I eat some?
(informal)

Busy doing something? Simply reply:

좀 있다가.
Jom itdaga.
A little later.
(informal)

Add a 요 (yo) at the previous statement to make it formal:

좀 있다가요.
Jom itdagayo.
A little later.

Here are example conversations that use 좀 (jom):

미나야, 숙제 언제 할거야?
Minaya, sukje unje halguhya?
Mina, when are you going to do homework?
(informal)

좀 있다가요. 좀 쉬구요.
Jom itdagayo. Jom shweeguyo.
A little later. After I rest a bit.
(formal)

우리 밥 언제 먹어?
Oori bap unje muguh?
When are we going to eat?
(informal)

좀 있다가. 여섯시 어때?
Jom itdaga. Yuhsusshi uhddae?
A little later. How does 6 o’clock sound?
(informal)

Here are some super simple phrases that you can use on daily basis:

좀 걷자.
Jom gutja.
Let’s walk a little.
(informal)

 좀 쉬자.
Jom shweeja.
Let’s rest a little.
(informal)

 좀 먹자.
Jom mukja.
Let’s eat a little.
(informal)

 좀 자자.
Jom jaja.
Let’s sleep a little.
(informal)

 좀 있다봐!
Jom itdabwa!
See you a little later!

Here are some phrases you might hear in a Korean drama:

난 좀 달라.
Nan jom dallah.
I’m a little different.
(informal)

 나도 좀 살자.
Nado jom salja.
Just let me live a little.
(informal)
---
왜 그래? 말 좀 해봐.
Wae geurae? Mal jom haebwa.
What’s wrong? Say a little something.
(informal)

 좀 비켜 줄래?
Jom beekyuh joolae?
Can you move out of the way?
(informal)

 벌써 또 나가? 아~ 좀 쉬자.
Bulssuh ddo naga? Ah~ Jom shweeja.
Are we going back out again? Ah, let’s rest a little.
(informal)

Have you been home ALL DAY LONG? Or feeling frustrated about something? Maybe you need to blow off some steam. Go get a little fresh air.

바람 좀 쐐자.
Baram jom sswaeja.
Let’s get some fresh air.
(informal)

 바람이나 좀 쐐.
Baramena jom sswae.
Go get some fresh air.
(informal)

 바람 좀 쐘가?
Baram jom sswaelgga?
Shall we get some fresh air?
(informal)

I love these fresh air phrases. Growing up, adults in my family would use these phrases often. If they want to go out for a walk after dinner as a light exercise, they’d invite me by asking: 바람 좀 쐘가?

Surprise! JOM can also mean “please” in certain situations. Here are some examples:

핸드폰 좀 꺼주시겠어요?
Hendeupon jom gguhjushi gessuhyo?
Would you please turn off your cell phone?
(formal)

 차 좀 빼주실래요?
Cha jom bbaejulshillaeyo?
Would you please move your car out?
(formal)