지금 vs 방금
Korean word comparison
Listen to 지금
Listen to 방금
| 지금 | 방금 |
|---|---|
JI-gum adverb | [bang-geum] adverb |
| at this moment; right now | just now; a moment ago |
How they differ
"방금" refers to something that happened very recently, usually a moment before the present. Unlike "지금," which points to the present moment itself, "방금" looks back to the immediate past.
When to use each
When to use 지금: Use "지금" when the action or state is happening at this very moment.
When to use 방금: Use "방금" when you mean "just a moment ago" and want to emphasize recency in the past.
Side-by-side examples
- 지금 전화하고 있어요.
(I am on the phone right now.) - 방금 전화했어요.
(I just made a phone call.)
Register & nuance: "방금" is neutral and very common in conversation; it is not a formal or literary word.