Confusing Words · TOPIK II
방금 vs 금방 vs 곧
just now · just now / right away, quickly · soon, shortly
The key is the direction of time: 방금 looks back (just now), 곧 looks ahead (soon), and 금방 can go either way, with an added sense of “quickly”.
At a glance
| Word | Core meaning | Nuance | Typical pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 방금 | just now, a moment ago | Past only. Used with past tense; set phrase 방금 전(에). | 방금 -았/었어요 방금 전(에) |
| 금방 | right away, in no time; also just now | Both directions, conversational. Stresses speed: 금방 끝나요, 금방 더러워져요. 금방이라도 = any minute. | 금방 갈게요 / 금방 끝나요 금방이라도 -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 |
| 곧 | soon, shortly | Future only. Neutral to formal; common in announcements. Set phrase 곧 있으면. | 곧 -(으)ㄹ 거예요 / -겠습니다 곧 있으면 |
How they differ
1. Which way does time point? 방금 왔어요 (I just arrived) looks back. 곧 와요 (he’s coming soon) looks ahead. 금방 does both: 금방 왔어요 (I just got here) and 금방 갈게요 (I’ll be there right away). So: 곧 왔어요 ✕ for “just came”, 방금 갈게요 ✕ for “coming soon”.
2. 금방 = quickly; 곧 = soon. 금방 is about how fast something happens: 흰 옷은 금방 더러워져요 (white clothes get dirty so fast) ○ / 곧 더러워져요 △. 곧 simply says the time until an event is short: 곧 겨울이에요 (winter is coming soon).
3. Fixed phrases. Each word has its own set phrase: 방금 전(에) (a moment ago), 금방이라도 (any minute now), 곧 있으면 (before long). They don’t swap: 금방 전 △, 방금이라도 ✕.
4. Register. 금방 is conversational. 곧 sounds neutral and is the natural choice in formal announcements: 곧 착륙하겠습니다 (we will be landing shortly). English “soon / in a sec” can both be 금방 in casual speech, but only 곧 in a PA announcement.
| Sentence | 방금 | 금방 | 곧 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ___ 전화 온 사람이 누구예요? | ◎ | ○ | ✕ |
| 잠깐만 기다려. ___ 갈게. | ✕ | ◎ | ◎ |
| (안내 방송) 우리 비행기는 ___ 인천공항에 착륙하겠습니다. | ✕ | △ | ◎ |
| 흰 옷은 ___ 더러워져서 잘 안 입어요. | ✕ | ◎ | △ |
| 빵이 ___ 나와서 아직 따뜻해요. | ◎ | ○ | ✕ |
◎ natural ○ possible △ awkward ✕ wrong
In use
방금 버스가 떠났어요.
The bus just left.
방금 전에 한 말 다시 한번 해 주세요.
Please say again what you said a moment ago.
금방 끝나니까 조금만 기다려 주세요.
It’ll be done in no time, so please wait a little.
하늘이 어두워서 금방이라도 비가 올 것 같아요.
The sky is so dark it looks like it could rain any minute.
곧 있으면 여름 방학이에요.
Summer vacation is coming up soon.
공연이 곧 시작됩니다. 자리에 앉아 주세요.
The performance will begin shortly. Please take your seats.
One step further
For “already / so soon”, Korean uses 벌써: 벌써 끝났어요? In writing, 곧 also means “that is / namely” (이것이 곧 문제의 핵심이다), a separate usage. To say what you are about to do, 곧 pairs well with -(으)ㄹ 거예요: 곧 출발할 거예요.
Common mistakes
저도 곧 왔어요. 오래 안 기다렸어요.
저도 방금 왔어요. 오래 안 기다렸어요.
곧 points to the future; “I just got here” is 방금 왔어요.
지금 나가요! 방금 갈게요!
지금 나가요! 금방 갈게요!
방금 only refers to the past; for “I’ll be right there” use 금방 (or 곧).
하늘이 너무 어두워요. 방금이라도 비가 올 것 같아요.
하늘이 너무 어두워요. 금방이라도 비가 올 것 같아요.
“Any minute now” is the set phrase 금방이라도; 방금 can only look back.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the right word: 방금, 금방, 곧
1. ___ 전까지 여기 있었는데 어디 갔지?
Answer
방금 — “Until a moment ago” = 방금 전까지 (the standard form with 전).
2. ___ 있으면 크리스마스예요.
Answer
곧 — 곧 있으면 is a set phrase: “before long”.
3. 하늘이 너무 어두워요. ___이라도 비가 올 것 같아요.
Answer
금방 — 금방이라도 = any minute now.
4. 1부가 끝나고 ___이어 2부가 시작됐어요.
Answer
곧 — 곧이어 = right after that; a fixed word.
5. 이 책은 쉬워서 하루 만에 ___ 다 읽었어요.
Answer
금방 — Finished quickly and easily = 금방.
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