Korean grammar patterns › Level 2
-(으)ㄴ 지
since (doing): how much time has passed since an action
Level 2 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
Measures how much time has passed since an action happened: V-(으)ㄴ 지 + time + 되다/넘다/지나다. 지 is written with a space.
Forming it
| 오다 | → 온 지 |
| 먹다 | → 먹은 지 |
| 살다 | → 산 지 |
| 듣다 | → 들은 지 |
Always the past modifier -(으)ㄴ, even if the situation continues: ✗ 한국에 사는 지 → 한국에 산 지. Don't confuse it with -(으)ㄴ지 'whether' (no space).
Examples
한국에 온 지 벌써 1년이 됐어요.
It's already been a year since I came to Korea.
점심을 먹은 지 얼마 안 됐어요.
It hasn't been long since I ate lunch.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄴ 후에 just means 'after'; -는 동안 is a span ('while, during'), not time elapsed up to now.