How to Say Wait in Korean: 잠깐만 (Jamkkanman)

"Wait" in Korean is 잠깐만 (jamkkanman) or 잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo) in the polite form. Pronounce it "jam-kkan-man-yo."

How to Say "Wait" in Korean

The first time I heard 잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo) in Seoul, it was at a restaurant. The waitress was running around everywhere, and when I tried to get her attention, she threw a "잠깐만요!" at me without even turning around. I understood the universal message: "one second, I'll be right back."

Twelve years later, I can say that 잠깐만요 is probably one of the words I use most in daily life — on the phone, at restaurants, with friends, at work. It's a simple word but one with a thousand nuances depending on context.

The Three Main Ways to Say "Wait"

잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo) — Wait a moment

This is the most common and versatile expression. 잠깐 (jamkkan) means "a brief instant."

• 잠깐만 (jamkkanman) — Wait (casual)
• 잠깐만요 (jamkkanmanyo) — Wait a moment (polite)
• 잠깐만요! (jamkkanmanyo!) — Just a moment! (when in a hurry)

This is the Swiss Army knife of waiting in Korean. You can use it in almost any situation: at a restaurant when the server comes too early to take your order, on the phone when you get another call, or when you're digging for your wallet in your bag.

잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) — Just a moment, please

Slightly more formal than 잠깐만요. 잠시 (jamsi) also means "a short moment" but with a somewhat more refined connotation.

• 잠시만 (jamsiman) — One moment (casual)
• 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) — One moment, please (polite)
• 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo) — Please wait a moment (very polite)

The difference between 잠깐만요 and 잠시만요? Honestly, it's subtle. 잠시만요 sounds a bit more professional. It's what you'll hear on the phone in a business context: "잠시만요, 확인하겠습니다" (One moment, I'll check).

기다려 주세요 (gidaryeo juseyo) — Please wait

More formal and more explicit. 기다리다 (gidarida) is the verb "to wait" and -어 주세요 (-eo juseyo) is the polite request form.

• 기다려 (gidaryeo) — Wait (casual)
• 기다려요 (gidaryeoyo) — Wait (polite simple)
• 기다려 주세요 (gidaryeo juseyo) — Please wait (polite + request)
• 좀 기다려 주시겠어요? (jom gidaryeo jusigesseoyo?) — Could you wait a moment? (very polite)

This expression is more direct and implies a potentially longer wait. If someone tells you 기다려 주세요, expect to wait several minutes, not seconds.

Nuances and Contexts

At the Restaurant

Korean restaurants are loud, lively places where these expressions are vital:

• 저기요! 잠깐만요! (jeogiyo! jamkkanmanyo!) — Excuse me! One moment! (to call the server)
• 주문 좀 이따 할게요 (jumun jom itta halgeyo) — I'll order a bit later
• 아직 다 안 왔어요, 잠시만요 (ajik da an wasseoyo, jamsimanyo) — Not everyone has arrived yet, one moment

Veteran tip: in Korean restaurants, there's often a call button on the table (벨 - bel). Press it instead of shouting 저기요. It's much more civilized and the server will come to you.

On the Phone

The phone is the kingdom of 잠시만요:

• 잠시만요, 바꿔 드릴게요 (jamsimanyo, bakkwo deurilgeyo) — One moment, I'll transfer you
• 잠시만요, 메모할게요 (jamsimanyo, memohalgeyo) — One moment, let me take notes
• 잠깐만요, 다른 전화가 와서요 (jamkkanmanyo, dareun jeonhwaga waseyo) — One moment, I have another call

In Stressful Situations

When you need time to think or someone is pressuring you:

• 잠깐! 생각 좀 할게 (jamkkan! saenggak jom halge) — Wait! Let me think
• 잠깐만, 아직 준비 안 됐어 (jamkkanman, ajik junbi an dwaesseo) — Wait, I'm not ready yet
• 잠깐만요, 지금 바빠요 (jamkkanmanyo, jigeum bappayo) — One moment, I'm busy right now

Korean Time Culture

빨리빨리 vs 잠깐만

Korea is a country of fascinating contradictions. On one side, there's the 빨리빨리 (ppallippalli — hurry hurry!) culture where everything must go as fast as possible. On the other, there's the constant 잠깐만요 that punctuates every interaction.

How do these two concepts coexist? After 12 years of observation, here's my theory: Koreans want OTHERS to be fast, but they reserve the right to take their time when it's their turn. 잠깐만요 is the universal defense against everyone else's 빨리빨리.

The Concept of 눈치 (nunchi) and Waiting

눈치 (nunchi) — that Korean ability to read the atmosphere and unspoken emotions — plays a crucial role in the art of making someone wait. Good 눈치 will tell you:

• When to say 잠깐만요 vs when to hurry up
• How long the other person is willing to wait
• Whether your 잠깐만 is acceptable or you're pushing it

Advanced Waiting Expressions

To go further, here are expressions Koreans use naturally:

• 금방 올게요 (geumbang olgeyo) — I'll be right back
• 금방 끝나요 (geumbang kkeunnayo) — It'll be done soon
• 조금만 더 기다려 주세요 (jogeumman deo gidaryeo juseyo) — Just a little longer, please
• 좀 이따가요 (jom ittagayo) — A bit later
• 다 됐어요? (da dwaesseoyo?) — Is it ready? (when waiting for something)
• 아직이요 (ajigiyo) — Not yet
• 거의 다 됐어요 (geoui da dwaesseoyo) — It's almost ready

The expression 금방 (geumbang — right away) is treacherous. When a Korean says 금방, it can mean 2 minutes or 20 minutes. It's the Korean "I'll be there in 5 minutes" — rarely accurate, always optimistic.

Waiting in Lines in Korea

Koreans are generally disciplined in queues (줄 — jul), especially compared to what I experienced in France. But there are codes:

• 줄 서세요 (jul seoseyo) — Please line up
• 여기 줄이에요? (yeogi jurieyo?) — Is this the line?
• 마지막이 누구예요? (majimagi nuguyeyo?) — Who's last?

In Korean hospitals and government offices, the numbered ticket system (번호표 — beonhopyo) is king. You take a number and wait. No 잠깐만요 will help — it's your number or nothing.

Patience in Korean Life

A fascinating cultural aspect: despite the 빨리빨리, Koreans can show extraordinary patience in certain contexts:

• 맛집 (matjip) — Waiting 1-2 hours outside a popular restaurant? Normal.
• 팝업스토어 (papeobeustoeo) — Standing in line 3 hours for a favorite idol's pop-up store? Gladly.
• 카페 (kape) — Waiting 30 minutes for coffee at the new trendy café? Of course.

But ask them to wait 5 minutes for an elevator? 빨리빨리!

Words for NOT Waiting

Because sometimes, you don't want to wait:

• 빨리요! (ppalliyo!) — Hurry!
• 급해요 (geupaeyo) — It's urgent
• 시간이 없어요 (sigani eopseoyo) — I don't have time
• 서두르세요 (seodureuseyo) — Please hurry (polite)

Nicolas's Practical Tips

1. 잠깐만요 is your safety net — Use it whenever you need 2 seconds to think in Korean
2. Never say 기다려 to someone older — Use 기다려 주세요 or 잠시만요
3. 금방 ≠ right away — Always add 10 minutes to any Korean estimate
4. At restaurants, look for the 벨 button — More effective than shouting 저기요
5. Learn 거의 다 됐어요 — It's the phrase everyone wants to hear when they're waiting

Mastering the art of waiting in Korean means mastering a fundamental aspect of daily life in Korea. And trust me, after 12 years, I still say 잠깐만요 at least 20 times a day.

Further reading: the opposite of 잠깐만요 is 빨리빨리: how to say "hurry up" in Korean. To tell someone you're coming, see "I'll be back" and "on my way" in Korean, and when people talk too fast: "please speak slowly" in Korean.

→ Start learning Korean