Meaning and Usage
"벌써" means "already" and is used to express that something has happened sooner or earlier than expected. It often conveys surprise or a sense of time passing quickly.
Common Contexts
You will hear "벌써" in daily conversations about time, completion of tasks, or unexpected early occurrences.
Collocations and Patterns
- 벌써 + verb (e.g., 벌써 갔어요?): to indicate an action has already been completed.
- 벌써 + time expression (e.g., 벌써 밤이에요): to emphasize how quickly time has passed.
- 벌써 + question form (e.g., 벌써 끝났어요?): to express surprise or check if something is done earlier than expected.
Register and Politeness
"벌써" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without changing form.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "벌써" with "아직" (not yet). Remember, "벌써" means something has happened earlier than expected, while "아직" means it has not happened yet.