How to Say “Wait A Moment” in Korean: 잠깐만 (jamkkanman)
“Jamkkanman” means “just a moment” / “hold on” — what you say to pause someone or buy yourself a second.
“Jamkkanman” means “just a moment” / “hold on” — what you say to pause someone or buy yourself a second.
잠깐만 (jamkkanman) — wait a moment / hold on
How it feels and when to use it
“Jamkkan” (a moment) + “-man” (only). The polite version “jamkkanmanyo” works for strangers; on the phone you’ll hear “jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo” (please hold).
Politeness levels
- 잠깐만 (jamkkanman) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 잠깐만 in real Korean:
- 방금 잠깐만, — One second please,
- 잠깐만요 타임. — Hold on there.
- (형 잠시만요) — (wait a minute)
A common mistake to avoid
“Jamkkanman” also means “excuse me, coming through” — In a crowd, “jamkkanmanyo” politely means “let me through.” Same phrase, different job — context (and a squeeze past) makes it clear.
Related expressions
- 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) — one moment please
- 빨리 (ppalli) — quickly
Want to hear 잠깐만 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “잠깐만” mean in Korean?
- “Jamkkanman” means “just a moment” / “hold on” — what you say to pause someone or buy yourself a second. It’s romanized as “jamkkanman.”
- Is “잠깐만” formal or casual?
- “잠깐만” is casual (반말); “잠깐만요” is polite (해요체); “잠시만 기다려 주세요” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “잠깐만”?
- It’s pronounced “jamkkanman.” “Jamkkanman” also means “excuse me, coming through”: In a crowd, “jamkkanmanyo” politely means “let me through.” Same phrase, different job — context (and a squeeze past) makes it clear.
- When should I use “잠깐만”?
- “Jamkkan” (a moment) + “-man” (only). The polite version “jamkkanmanyo” works for strangers; on the phone you’ll hear “jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo” (please hold).
- What can I say instead of “잠깐만”?
- Try “잠시만요” (one moment please) or “빨리” (quickly).