…
Questions & Answers about jigeum hoeui jungieyo.
What does the pattern N + 중이에요 mean here?
It’s the pattern N + 중이다, meaning “to be in the middle of N.” With activity nouns, it means you’re currently engaged in that activity.
- 회의 중이에요 = in the middle of a meeting
- 식사 중이에요 = in the middle of eating
- 통화 중이에요 = on a call (in the middle of a call)
- 운전 중이에요 = driving (can’t talk)
Where is the subject “I/we” in Korean?
Korean often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. 지금 회의 중이에요 usually implies “I’m in a meeting,” but it could be “we’re in a meeting” depending on context. You can add a subject for clarity:
- 저는 지금 회의 중이에요 (I…)
- 저희는 지금 회의 중이에요 (We…)
Can I say 지금 회의예요 instead? What’s the difference?
지금 회의예요 means “It is a meeting now” (describing what it is), which sounds odd if you mean you are in the midst of a meeting. To express being occupied by the meeting, use 회의 중이에요. If you want “I have a meeting now,” say:
- 지금 회의가 있어요.
What’s the difference between 회의 중이에요, 회의하고 있어요, and 회의하는 중이에요?
All can describe a meeting in progress, but nuances differ:
- 회의 중이에요: compact, slightly more formal/notice-like; common in signs, texts, or quick replies.
- 회의하고 있어요: progressive form; everyday spoken Korean.
- 회의하는 중이에요: “in the middle of doing a meeting”; grammatical and fine, but with this noun, 회의 중이에요 is more natural.
Why is it 중이에요 and not 중예요?
Because 중 ends in a consonant. The copula attaches as:
- after a consonant: 이에요 (중 + 이에요 → 중이에요)
- after a vowel: 예요 (e.g., 의사예요)
Is the spacing 회의 중이에요 or 회의중이에요?
Standard spacing is 회의 중이에요 (space before 중). You’ll see 회의중 on signs or UIs for brevity, but in normal writing, keep the space.
How do you pronounce 회의 and 중이에요 naturally?
- 회의 is commonly pronounced close to “hwe‑i” (many speakers say 회이). Revised romanization: hoeui.
- 중이에요: “jung‑ie‑yo.”
- Full sentence: roughly “jigeum hwe‑i jung‑ieyo.”
Can I drop 지금?
Yes. 회의 중이에요 still means you’re currently in a meeting; 지금 just highlights “right now.” For contrastive emphasis, you can say 지금은 회의 중이에요 (“Right now (as opposed to other times), I’m in a meeting”).
How do I make this more formal or more casual?
- Formal polite (announcements, business): 지금 회의 중입니다.
- Informal polite (most conversations): 지금 회의 중이에요.
- Casual (with close friends/peers): 지금 회의 중이야.
- Honorific to/for a respected subject: 지금 회의 중이세요.
How do I ask, “Are you in a meeting right now?”
- 지금 회의 중이세요? (polite/honorific)
- 지금 회의 중이에요? (polite)
- 지금 회의 중이야? (casual)
What’s the difference between 중 and 동안?
- 중 = “in the middle of (an ongoing activity).” Example: 회의 중이에요.
- 동안 = “for/during (a time span).” Example: 회의 동안 휴대폰을 꺼 주세요. (Please turn off your phone during the meeting.)
Can I use the verb pattern V-는 중이에요 instead?
Yes: V-는 중이에요 = “in the middle of doing V.”
- 먹는 중이에요 (I’m eating)
- 전화하는 중이에요 (I’m making a call) With 회의, the noun form 회의 중이에요 is more idiomatic than 회의하는 중이에요.
If I mean someone else is in a meeting, how do I say it?
Add a subject:
- 그분은 지금 회의 중이에요. (He/She is…)
- 팀은 지금 회의 중이에요. (The team is…)
- 김 과장님은 지금 회의 중이세요. (Honorific)
How do I negate it or change the tense?
- Negative: 지금 회의 중이 아니에요. (I’m not in a meeting now.)
- Past: 아까 회의 중이었어요. (I was in a meeting earlier.)
- Future/assumption: 곧 회의 중일 거예요. (They’ll be in a meeting soon / are probably in one.)
Is 회의 the same as 미팅?
Both can mean “meeting” at work. 회의 is the standard Sino-Korean word and sounds more formal/neutral. 미팅 is borrowed from English; it’s common in office talk but can sound casual or trendy. Note: 미팅 can also mean a group blind date in some contexts.
Why not say 회의 중에 있어요?
Native usage favors N 중이다 (e.g., 회의 중이에요). While …중에 있다 appears in some formal writing (e.g., 검토 중에 있다), in everyday speech it sounds stiff or odd. Use 중이에요 for natural conversation.
What are other common nouns that go with 중이에요?
- 수업 중이에요 (in class)
- 작업 중이에요 (in the middle of work/operation)
- 회의 준비 중이에요 (preparing for a meeting)
- 점검 중이에요 (under inspection/maintenance)
- 등록 중이에요 (in the middle of registering)
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do speech levels work in Korean?”
Korean has multiple speech levels that indicate formality and politeness. The most common are the formal polite (‑습니다/‑ㅂ니다), informal polite (‑아요/‑어요), and casual (‑아/‑어) forms. Which level you use depends on who you're speaking to and the social context.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning KoreanMaster Korean — from jigeum hoeui jungieyo to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions