Meaning and Usage
"지난번" means "last time" or "the previous occasion." It is commonly used to refer to a specific past event or meeting that both the speaker and listener are aware of.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "지난번" in conversations about meetings, events, or experiences that happened before the current moment. It helps to specify which past instance is being discussed.
Collocations and Patterns
- 지난번에 + verb: to talk about what happened last time (e.g., 지난번에 만났어요 - met last time)
- 지난번보다 + comparative: to compare with last time (e.g., 지난번보다 더 좋아요 - better than last time)
- 지난번 이야기: the story or issue from last time
Register and Politeness
"지난번" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It fits well in everyday conversation, business meetings, and written communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "지난번" with "지난" which means "last" or "past" but is more general. "지난번" specifically points to a particular previous occasion, so use it when you want to emphasize that specific event.