일찍

iljjik · TOPIK 1

early

🐓 일찍 starts with 일 (il) = one: be number one, the first to arrive

The first syllable 일 sounds exactly like the Sino-Korean word for one. Whoever comes early is number one in line. The tense ending -jjik is short and clipped, like something done quickly and ahead of time.

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