요즘
yojeum · TOPIK 1
these days, lately
📅 요즘 = 요즈음 shortened: 요 (this) + 즈음 (around the time) = around now
요즘 is a contraction of 요즈음. 요 is a close-range form of 이 (this), and 즈음 means around a certain time. So the word literally says around this time, which is why it means these days or lately.