Saying 'After School' In Korean: A Simple Guide

Hey guys! Learning a new language can be super exciting, especially when you're diving into Korean. One of the first things you might want to know is how to say "after school." It's a phrase you'll probably use a lot if you're talking about your daily routine or making plans with friends. In this article, we'll break down the different ways to say "after school" in Korean, along with some example sentences to help you get the hang of it. Let's jump right in!

The Basic Translation: 방과 후 (banggwa hu)

When it comes to saying "after school" in Korean, the most straightforward translation is 방과 후 (banggwa hu). Let's break this down:

• 방과 (banggwa) means "after classes" or "after school."
• 후 (hu) means "after."

So, putting them together, 방과 후 (banggwa hu) literally translates to "after classes" or "after school." This is a formal and widely accepted way to express "after school" in Korean, suitable for most situations.

How to Use 방과 후 (banggwa hu) in Sentences

To really understand how to use this phrase, let's look at some example sentences. This will help you see how it fits into different contexts and how to structure your sentences correctly. Understanding the sentence structure and context can make a big difference in how well you can communicate.

1. 방과 후에 뭐 할 거야? (banggwa hue mwo hal geoya?)

   • This sentence means "What are you going to do after school?"
   • 뭐 (mwo) means "what."
   • 할 거야 (hal geoya) means "are you going to do."
   • This is a common question to ask friends when making plans.

2. 방과 후에 도서관에 갈 거예요. (banggwa hue doseogwane gal geoyeyo.)

   • This translates to "I am going to the library after school."
   • 도서관 (doseogwan) means "library."
   • 에 (e) is a particle indicating location (to the).
   • 갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) means "I am going to go."

3. 방과 후에 친구랑 같이 영화를 볼 거예요. (banggwa hue chingurang gachi yeonghwaleul bol geoyeyo.)

   • This means "I am going to watch a movie with my friend after school."
   • 친구 (chingu) means "friend."
   • 랑 (rang) means "with."
   • 같이 (gachi) means "together."
   • 영화를 (yeonghwaleul) means "movie."
   • 볼 거예요 (bol geoyeyo) means "I am going to watch."

4. 방과 후 스터디 그룹에 참여해요. (banggwa hu seuteodi geurube chamyeohaeyo.)

   • This sentence means, “I participate in the after-school study group.”
   • 스터디 그룹 (seuteodi geurup) is “study group.”
   • 에 (e) is a particle, indicating location (in/to).
   • 참여해요 (chamyeohaeyo) means “participate.”

Using 방과 후 (banggwa hu) is perfect for formal conversations or when you want to be clear and precise. It’s a great starting point for anyone learning Korean.

More Casual Ways to Say “After School”

While 방과 후 (banggwa hu) is the standard way to say “after school,” there are also more casual ways to express the same idea. These are great for talking with friends and people you're close to. Using casual language can make your Korean sound more natural and relatable. It shows you're comfortable with the language and culture.

학교 끝나고 (hakgyo kkeunnago)

학교 끝나고 (hakgyo kkeunnago) is a more relaxed way to say "after school." Let's break it down:

• 학교 (hakgyo) means "school."
• 끝나고 (kkeunnago) means "after finishing" or "after it ends."

So, 학교 끝나고 (hakgyo kkeunnago) literally means "after school ends." This phrase is perfect for everyday conversations with friends. It’s less formal than 방과 후 (banggwa hu) and adds a friendly touch to your speech. If you're just chatting with your buddies, this is the way to go.

How to Use 학교 끝나고 (hakgyo kkeunnago) in Sentences

Let’s see how this phrase works in some example sentences. This will help you get a feel for how to use it in real-life conversations.

1. 학교 끝나고 뭐 해? (hakgyo kkeunnago mwo hae?)

   • This means "What are you doing after school?"
   • 뭐 해 (mwo hae) is a casual way to say "what are you doing?"
   • Notice that this is a more relaxed version of the earlier example using 방과 후 (banggwa hu).

2. 학교 끝나고 PC방 갈래? (hakgyo kkeunnago PCbang gallae?)

   • This translates to "Do you want to go to the PC bang after school?"
   • PC방 (PCbang) means "PC bang" (internet cafe).
   • 갈래 (gallae) means "do you want to go?"

3. 학교 끝나고 떡볶이 먹으러 가자! (hakgyo kkeunnago tteokbokki meogeureo gaja!)

   • This means "Let's go eat tteokbokki after school!"
   • 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) is a popular Korean street food (spicy rice cakes).
   • 먹으러 가자 (meogeureo gaja) means "let's go eat."

4. 학교 끝나고 집에서 쉴 거야 (hakgyo kkeunnago jibeseo shwil geoya).

   • This translates to, “I’m going to rest at home after school.”
   • 집에서 (jibeseo) means “at home.”
   • 쉴 거야 (shwil geoya) means “will rest” or “going to rest.”

수업 끝나고 (sueop kkeunnago)

Another similar phrase is 수업 끝나고 (sueop kkeunnago), which means "after class ends".

• 수업 (sueop) refers to a class or lesson.
• 끝나고 (kkeunnago), as mentioned, means "after finishing".

This phrase is useful if you're referring to a specific class rather than the entire school day. For example:

수업 끝나고 바로 갈게 (sueop kkeunnago baro galge) - "I'll go right after class ends."

Key Takeaways for Saying