hoksi jigeum tonghwa ganeunghae?

By any chance, are you available to talk on the phone now?

Breakdown of hoksi jigeum tonghwa ganeunghae?

• 지금: now
• 혹시: by any chance
• 통화: phone call
• 가능하다: possible

Questions & Answers about hoksi jigeum tonghwa ganeunghae?

What does the word 혹시 do here? Is it required?

• 혹시 softens the question, like “by any chance / just checking.” It makes the ask less direct and more polite.
• It’s optional. Without it (지금 통화 가능해?), the sentence is more straightforward but not rude in casual contexts.
• Note: 혹시 can also mean “in case” in other structures, but here it’s just a hedge.

How polite is 혹시 지금 통화 가능해? Who can I say it to?

• It’s in casual speech (해체). Use it with close friends, classmates, or peers you’re informal with.
• To strangers, seniors, teachers, superiors, or customers, switch to a polite/honorific form.

How do I make this more polite or honorific?

Common upgrades, from neutral-polite to very formal:

• 혹시 지금 통화 가능해요? (neutral polite)
• 혹시 지금 통화 가능하세요? (polite + honorific to the listener; very common)
• 혹시 지금 통화 가능하실까요? (polite, tentative; very safe)
• 혹시 지금 통화 괜찮으세요? (sounds friendly/natural)
• 지금 통화 가능하십니까? (formal/business)
• You can also ask permission-style:
  • 혹시 지금 전화드려도 될까요? / 지금 통화해도 될까요?

What exactly is 가능해 grammatically?

• It comes from the descriptive verb 가능하다 (“to be possible”).
• Stem 가능하-
  • casual ending -여/해 → 가능해; with a question intonation → 가능해?
• Polite: 가능해요?; honorific: 가능하세요?; very formal: 가능합니까?

Why are there no particles like 가? Could I say 통화가 가능해?

• Spoken Korean often drops particles and subjects when obvious.
• Full(er) versions are fine: 지금 통화가 가능해? / 지금은 통화가 가능해?
• The subject “you” is understood; explicitly saying 너 can sound blunt (see below).

Is 지금 necessary? What about 지금은 or 지금에?

• 지금 isn’t required; 통화 가능해? is also natural.
• 지금은 adds contrast (“now, as opposed to other times”): 지금은 통화 가능해?
• Don’t use 지금에/지금에서 here. 지금 functions as an adverb.

Why use 통화 and not 전화?

• 통화 focuses on the act of talking on the phone (the conversation).
• 전화 is “a phone/call” or “to phone.” You’d more naturally say:
  • 전화할 수 있어? or 전화해도 돼? rather than 전화 가능해?
• For availability to speak, 통화 (가능/돼) sounds most idiomatic.

What’s the difference among 통화 가능해?, 통화할 수 있어?, and 통화 돼?

• 통화 가능해?: “Is a call possible?” Slightly businesslike/neutral.
• 통화할 수 있어?: “Can you talk?” (ability/availability) very everyday.
• 통화 돼?: “Does talking (on the phone) work now?” Very colloquial; also implies connection/permission feasibility.
• With 지금, all three usually mean “Are you available to talk now?” Choose based on tone/register.

How is it pronounced naturally?

• 혹시 → [혹씨] (the ㅅ is tensed after a final consonant)
• 지금 통화 links smoothly; nothing special to change
• 가능해? is pronounced as written, with rising intonation
• In fast speech the whole line flows as one unit with the main pitch rise on the final 해?

Is the spacing correct? Can I write 통화가능해?

• Write: 통화 가능해? (noun + predicate separated)
• Incorrect: 통화가능해?
• Polite/honorific keep the space: 통화 가능해요? / 통화 가능하세요?
• 혹시 and 지금 are also separate words: 혹시 지금 통화 가능해?

Can I move 혹시 or drop parts of the sentence?

• Word order is flexible:
  • 지금 혹시 통화 가능해?
  • 혹시 통화 가능해?
  • 통화 혹시 가능해? (less common but heard)
• You can drop 혹시 for a more direct tone, or drop 지금 if time is understood from context.

Is using 너 okay, like 너 지금 통화 가능해?

• 너 is very direct and can sound brusque unless you’re close and the hierarchy allows it.
• With friends, calling their name is softer: 지훈아, 지금 통화 가능해?
• With older people or superiors, avoid 너; use polite/honorific forms (e.g., 가능하세요?, titles + -님).

How do people shorten this in texts?

• 지금 통화 가능?
• 통화 가능해?
• 통화 돼?
• Add softeners if needed: 혹시 지금 통화 가능?, 통화 좀 돼? (좀 softens the request)

What are natural replies?

• Yes:
  • 응, 지금 가능해.
  • 네, 지금 가능해요.
  • 네, 가능합니다.
• No / alternative:
  • 지금은 어려워요. 30분 뒤에 가능해요.
  • 지금 통화가 안 돼요. 나중에 전화드릴게요.
  • 회의 중이에요. 끝나고 연락드릴게요.