-(으)ㄹ 즈음

-(으)ㄹ 즈음 means "around the time when something happens": it marks an approximate time, not an exact moment.

시간·순서Time & sequence

Han: 즈음 combines with the -(으)ㄹ modifier, not -는, even when the event is in the past.

Examples

해가 질 즈음 바닷가를 산책하면 정말 좋아요.Taking a walk along the beach around sunset is really nice.

집에 거의 도착할 즈음에 비가 그치기 시작했다.Around the time I was almost home, the rain began to stop.

제가 회사에 들어갔을 즈음에는 직원이 열 명도 안 됐어요.Around the time I joined the company, there were fewer than ten employees.

대학을 졸업할 즈음 진로 문제로 고민이 많았어요.Around the time I was graduating from university, I worried a lot about my career path.

Don’t mix up

-(으)ㄹ 즈음vs-(으)ㄹ 때-(으)ㄹ 때 names the time or moment itself; -(으)ㄹ 즈음 means only "roughly around then", so for precise moments choose 때: 문을 열 때 조심하세요.

-(으)ㄹ 즈음vsN에 즈음하여N에 즈음하여 attaches to event nouns and means "on the occasion of" in formal speeches; -(으)ㄹ 즈음 attaches to verbs and marks approximate time: 창립 10주년에 즈음하여 인사를 드립니다.

How to build it

V+(으)ㄹ 즈음(에)

completed action: V+았/었을 즈음(에)

도착하다 → 도착할 즈음에, 끝나다 → 끝날 즈음에, 들어가다 → 들어갔을 즈음에

The verb takes the -(으)ㄹ form even when the main clause is in the past; do not use -는 즈음 or -(으)ㄴ 즈음. Use -았/었을 즈음 only when the action was already completed by that time.
It expresses a rough time span, so it sounds odd with exact moments or instructions tied to a precise point; use -(으)ㄹ 때 there.
It is somewhat formal and common in writing and narration; in casual speech Koreans usually say -(으)ㄹ 쯤 or -(으)ㄹ 무렵.
The particle 에 is often dropped, and 에는 or 에도 can be added for contrast or emphasis.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~회의가 끝나는 즈음에 전화가 왔어요.~~

Right: 회의가 끝날 즈음에 전화가 왔어요.

즈음 combines with the -(으)ㄹ modifier, not -는, even when the event is in the past.

Practise -(으)ㄹ 즈음 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 5 grammar

All TOPIK grammar