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seoulmate
Difference between 이미 and 벌써
What I understand:
이미 = 벌써 = already
이미 - used when both speakers know the fact
벌써 - used only when the speaker knows the fact
예: 그 사람은 이미 학교를 졸업했어요. - both speaker and listener know that
그 사람은 벌써 학교를 졸업했어요 - only the speaker knows the fact
What I don't understand:
What's the purpose of 이미 if both(speaker+listener)know that fact that he/she graduated?In what context would that sentence be used?
2016년 9월 21일 오전 7:03
답변 · 4
1
이미 and 벌써 are normally used as the same meaning.
The sentence, "그 사람은 이미 학교를 졸업했어요", can be used when both speaker and listener know the fact and only speaker does.
When both of them know that, the sentence has the meaning of 'as you know'. And when just speaker know the fact, the sentence gives listener new information about someone graduating already.
And actually 그사람은 이미 학교를 졸업했어요 and 그사람은 벌써 학교를 졸업했어요 can be used at the same situation.
2016년 9월 21일
1
The important thing is that 벌써 includes a sense of surprise while 이미 is more flat and factual.
이미 only applies to something that is already past (이미 늦었어요).
벌써 on the other hand can be used for things happening now to mean it's sooner than you thought.
So 아니, 벌써 세 시야! (Gee, it's already 3 o'clock!) is natural, but 이미 세 시야! sounds weird.
Because of this, 벌써 tends to be used more widely than 이미, especially in daily conversation.
Explaining it by only one person or both persons knowing it doesn't seem the right way to me.
2016년 9월 21일
Thank you so much!
2016년 9월 21일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!
seoulmate
언어 구사 능력
영어, 독일어, 한국어, 루마니아어
학습 언어
독일어, 한국어
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