늦어
neu-chuh
neujeo
descriptive
늦다
To say to be late politely in the present tense, use 늦어요 (neu-chuh-yoh) · neujeoyo. Below is the full conjugation of 늦다 across the three tenses and three everyday speech levels.
Grammar note (descriptive): Descriptive verbs (형용사) function like adjectives in Korean and conjugate the same way as regular action verbs. They cannot take the progressive -고 있어요 or imperative forms. 좋다 (to be good) → 좋아요; 크다 (to be big) → 커요 (으-irregular).
Conjugation table
pron. = pronunciation guide · RR = Revised Romanization
| Tense | Casual (반말) | Polite (요) | Formal (합니다) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | 늦어요 neu-chuh-yoh neujeoyo | 늦습니다 neut-seum-nee-dah neutseumnida | |
| Past | 늦었어 neu-chuh-ssuh neujeosseo | 늦었어요 neu-chuh-ssuh-yoh neujeosseoyo | 늦었습니다 neu-chuh-sseum-nee-dah neujeosseumnida |
| Future | 늦을 거야 neu-cheul guh-yah neujeul geoya | 늦을 거예요 neu-cheul guh-yae-yoh neujeul geoyeyo | 늦을 겁니다 neu-cheul guhm-nee-dah neujeul geomnida |
Other useful forms
Honorific / Command Polite (-(으)세요)
늦으세요
neu-cheu-sae-yoh
neujeuseyo
Suggestion / Let's Polite (요)
늦어요
neu-chuh-yoh
neujeoyo
Question Polite (요)
늦어요?
neu-chuh-yoh-?
neujeoyo?
Connective "and" — (고)
늦고
neut-goh
neutgo
Conditional "if" — (면)
늦으면
neu-cheu-myuhn
neujeumyeon
Progressive (고 있어요)
늦고 있어요
neut-goh ee-ssuh-yoh
neutgo isseoyo
Want to (고 싶어요)
늦고 싶어요
neut-goh shee-puh-yoh
neutgo sipeoyo
Can / Able to ((으)ㄹ 수 있어요)
늦을 수 있어요
neu-cheul soo ee-ssuh-yoh
neujeul su isseoyo
Because / So (아/어서)
늦어서
neu-chuh-suh
neujeoseo
Noun form — (기)
늦기
neut-gee
neutgi
Noun form — (음)
늦음
neu-cheum
neujeum