Level 4

곧이어

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Meaning and Usage

The adverb '곧이어' means 'soon after' or 'immediately following' an event. It is used to describe something that happens directly after another event without much delay.

Common Contexts

You will often see '곧이어' in narratives or descriptions of sequences, such as in storytelling, news reports, or daily conversations when emphasizing the quick succession of events.

Collocations and Patterns

  • '곧이어 + verb' : Indicates that the action happens immediately after the previous one.
  • Often used with verbs like 시작하다 (to start), 일어나다 (to happen), or 나타나다 (to appear).

Register and Politeness

'곧이어' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is common in written and spoken Korean.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '곧이어' with '곧' (soon) alone. Remember, '곧이어' emphasizes the sequence and immediacy after a previous event, not just the near future.

Example Sentences

비가 그치자 곧이어 무지개가 떴다.

Biga geuchija gotieo mujigae ga tteotda.

As soon as the rain stopped, a rainbow appeared shortly after.

그는 인사말을 하고 곧이어 발표를 시작했다.

Geuneun insamal eul hago gotieo balpyo reul sijakhaetda.

He gave a greeting and soon after started the presentation.

영화가 끝나고 곧이어 조명이 켜졌다.

Yeonghwa ga kkeutnago gotieo jomyeong i kyeojyeotda.

The movie ended and soon after the lights were turned on.