Meaning and Usage
"일단" is a very common adverb in Korean that means "first of all," "for now," or "temporarily." It is used when you want to prioritize one action or decision before others or when you want to do something temporarily before making a final decision.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "일단" in daily conversations when people suggest starting with something simple or immediate before moving on to more complex tasks. It can also imply a temporary or provisional state.
Collocations and Patterns
- 일단 ~부터: "first, starting with ~" — used to indicate the first step in a sequence.
- 일단 ~고 나서: "once ~ is done" — used to show a sequence of actions.
- 일단은: "for the time being" — used to express a temporary condition or decision.
Register and Politeness
"일단" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It fits well in spoken and written Korean.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "일단" with "일찍" (early) or "일부" (some). Remember, "일단" focuses on the order or temporary nature of an action, not on time of day or quantity.