🕐 Expressing 'Before/After' Actions in Korean: -기 전에 / -고 나서

In Korean, expressing the order of actions—what happens before or after—is essential for everyday conversation. You’ll often hear expressions using -기 전에 (before doing...) and -고 나서 (after doing...). Let’s break down how to use them properly with examples and practice expressions!

1. How to Use -기 전에 (Before Doing)

This is used to express that one action happens before another. Attach -기 to the verb stem, then add 전에.

학교에 가기 전에 아침을 먹었어요.
Hakgyoe gagi jeone achimeul meogeosseoyo.
I ate breakfast before going to school.

자기 전에 책을 읽어요.
Jagi jeone chaegeul ilgeoyo.
I read a book before sleeping.

2. How to Use -고 나서 (After Doing)

This is used after the past tense of a verb stem (with -고) to indicate one action happens after another.

운동하고 나서 샤워했어요.
Undonghago naseo syawohaesseoyo.
After exercising, I took a shower.

수업이 끝나고 나서 친구를 만났어요.
Sueobi kkeutnago naseo chingureul mannasseoyo.
I met my friend after class ended.

3. Difference in Nuance

Both are about action sequences, but:

-기 전에 = something happens first, the main action comes later.
-고 나서 = main event happens after something has already happened.

⚠ You cannot use 먹고 나서 공부했어요 to mean "Before studying, I ate." That would be 공부하기 전에 먹었어요.

4. Practice Expressions

운전하기 전에 음악을 틀어요.
Unjeonhagi jeone eumageul teureoyo.
I play music before driving.

밥을 먹고 나서 이를 닦아요.
Babeul meokgo naseo ireul dakkayo.
I brush my teeth after eating.

공부하기 전에 커피를 마셨어요.
Gongbuhagi jeone keopireul masyeosseoyo.
I drank coffee before studying.

5. Did You Know?

🗺 Did you know Korean is the official language of both South and North Korea, and it's spoken by over 77 million people worldwide? In countries like the U.S., Vietnam, and Uzbekistan, Korean language schools are rapidly growing. Studying the structure of Korean sentences like sequencing helps learners better understand how daily routines are naturally expressed in Korean life!

6. Learn with Me on italki

🎓 Ready to practice using these expressions in real conversations? Book a Korean class with me on italki and get personalized guidance to boost your fluency!