Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sometimes" in Korean
“Sometimes” in Korean is 가끔 (pronounced "gakkeum").
가끔
gakkeum
Usage & Context
The word for sometimes, indicating something happens occasionally. This is commonly used in describing irregular habits and activities.
Example Sentence
나는 가끔 영화를 봐요.
I sometimes watch movies.
How to use 가끔 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sometimes” is 가끔, romanized as gakkeum.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 가끔.
Pronunciation Guide
"가끔" (gakkeum) sounds like "gah-kuhm". "Ga" is pronounced like "gah" in "garden", and "kkeum" is like "kuhm" in "come" but with a tense, double 'k' sound. The 'kkeum' syllable has a slight emphasis.
More Example Sentences
Describing a personal hobby or occasional activity.
저는 가끔 혼자 여행을 가요.
I sometimes travel alone.
Expressing occasional feelings of nostalgia.
가끔 옛날 생각이 나요.
Sometimes I think about the old days.
Explaining a coping mechanism for fatigue.
피곤할 때 가끔 낮잠을 자요.
When I'm tired, I sometimes take a nap.
Cultural Context
"가끔" is the most common way to say "sometimes" or "occasionally." It's a very neutral and widely used adverb in everyday conversations, describing anything from infrequent hobbies to occasional thoughts. It's less formal than "이따금" and more common than "어쩌다" in modern usage.
Editorial note
We review entries like 가끔 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
가끔 만나.
Let's meet sometimes. (Casual suggestion)
가끔 생각나.
It comes to mind sometimes.
가끔은 괜찮아.
Sometimes it's okay.
Related Expressions
때때로
ttae-ttae-ro
sometimes, occasionally (slightly more formal)
어쩌다
eo-jjeo-da
occasionally, by chance (implies less frequently or unexpectedly)
자주
ja-ju
often (antonym)
항상
hang-sang
always (antonym)
More Numbers and Time Words
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