지난 — meaning in English: Last

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Guess the translation for past

복잡한

bogjabhan

질병

jilbyeong

역

yeog

경고

gyeong

지난

jinan

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neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers commonly use '지난' when referring to events that occurred in the past, such as discussing last week, last month, or a last-minute decision. For instance, in a casual conversation, one might say '지난 주에 친구를 만났어요' (I met my friend last week) or in a more formal setting, someone might use it to summarize a meeting held last semester.

Synonyms & nuances

'지난' is often compared to '이전의' (ijeon-ui), which also means 'previous'. However, '지난' specifically denotes a time that has fully passed, while '이전의' can refer to any time before now without the implication of completion. Therefore, you would choose '지난' when discussing something that is distinctly in the past.

Culture

'지난' is derived from the Korean verb '지나다' (jinada), meaning 'to pass' or 'to go by'. This reflects the Korean perspective on time, which often emphasizes the transient nature of moments. Interestingly, in Korean culture, discussing the past often elicits nostalgia and reflection, making '지난' a word that carries emotional weight.

FAQ

Q.What does '지난' mean in English?

'지난' translates to 'last' in English, often used in contexts referring to past time periods, such as last week or last year.

Q.How do you use '지난' in a sentence?

You can use '지난' before a noun to indicate that it refers to the last occurrence of that noun, such as '지난 주' (last week) or '지난 달' (last month).

Q.Are there any common mistakes with '지난'?

A common mistake is using '지난' with future contexts. Remember, '지난' strictly refers to something that has already occurred, so it should not be used for future events.

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