Learn Hardcore Korean: balpyo jeone soni tteollyeoyo. - My hands shake before a presentation.

-전에 means “before (time).” It follows a noun to make an adverbial time phrase: 발표 전에 = “before the presentation.”
발표 전 is a noun phrase (“pre-presentation”), typically used to modify another noun, e.g., 발표 전 준비 (“pre-presentation prep”). By itself, it doesn’t function as an adverb unless you add a particle: 발표 전에는.
발표하기 전에 (“before presenting”) uses the verb nominalizer -기. Both 발표 전에 and 발표하기 전에 are natural; the former treats “presentation” as an event, the latter highlights the act of presenting. The difference is subtle in everyday speech.

Why is it 손이, not 손은?

이/가 marks the grammatical subject and often introduces or focuses new information: “(It’s) the hands (that) are trembling.”
은/는 is the topic marker and adds a contrast or generalization: 손은 떨려요 can imply “As for (my) hands, they tremble (perhaps unlike something else).”
Here, 손이 is the default and most neutral.

Do I need to say 제 손이 to mean “my hands”?

No. Korean usually omits possessives for body parts when the owner is obvious from context. 손이 떨려요 is naturally understood as “my hands are trembling.” You can add 제 for clarity or contrast: 제 손이 떨려요 (“my hands (in particular) are trembling”).

Does 손 mean one hand or both hands? Why no 들?

손 can mean “hand” or “hands” depending on context. Korean doesn’t require a plural marker for general statements.
손들 is possible but uncommon; you’d only add 들 if you need to stress plurality.

What exactly does 떨려요 mean, and how is it formed?

떨려요 is the present polite form of 떨리다 (“to tremble, to be shaky”), which often describes an involuntary state.
Conjugation: 떨리다 → 떨리어요 → 떨려요 (in Korean, -리 + -어요 contracts to -려요).

Why use 떨려요 instead of 떨어요?

떨려요 (from 떨리다) describes an involuntary symptom/state: “(My) hands are trembling.”
떨어요/떨어요 (from 떨다) expresses the act of shaking/trembling and is usually used either:
- with a body-part object: 손을 떨어요/떨고 있어요 (“I’m shaking/trembling my hands”), or
- in set phrases like 몸을 떨다.
With a subject-marked body part, Koreans strongly prefer 떨리다: 손이 떨려요. Also, beware: 손이 떨어요 can be read as “my hand falls (off)” in casual reading, so avoid it.

Is 떨리다 a passive verb?

It’s often called a “passive/inchoative” counterpart of 떨다. In practice, 떨리다 focuses on the state/symptom arising without volition (“be shaky/tremble”), while 떨다 is the active “shake/tremble” action. For involuntary nervous trembling, 떨리다 is the idiomatic choice.

Can I drop 손이 and just say 떨려요?

Yes. 떨려요 by itself is very natural and often means “I’m nervous” or “I’m (so) shaky.” The subject (hands/heart/body) is understood from context.

What’s the difference between 저는 떨려요 and 손이 떨려요?

손이 떨려요 explicitly states the symptom in the hands.
저는 떨려요 is idiomatic for “I’m nervous/shaky.” Here 저는 is a topic, and the (true) subject like 손/몸/가슴 is implicit. Avoid 제가 떨려요 in this sense; use the topic 저는.

How would I make this more formal or more casual?

Formal polite (합니다체): 발표 전에 손이 떨립니다.
Casual: 발표 전에 손이 떨려.
Very casual/exclamatory: 발표 전에 손이 너무 떨려!

How do I negate it?

Short negation: 발표 전에 손이 안 떨려요.
Long negation: 발표 전에 손이 떨리지 않아요. Both are natural; the second sounds a bit more formal or explicit.

Can I add emphasis like “really” or “a lot”?

Yes. Put the adverb before the verb (or right after the time phrase):

발표 전에 손이 너무/정말/엄청/많이 떨려요.
Degree adverbs like 조금 (a little) also work: 조금 떨려요.

What about word order—can I move 발표 전에?

Adverbials like time phrases usually come early, so 발표 전에 손이 떨려요 is most natural. Other orders (e.g., 손이 발표 전에 떨려요) can sound marked or awkward unless you’re giving special focus.

Why is there a space in 발표 전에? Is 발표전에 okay?

Write it with a space. 전 is a bound noun and keeps a space from the preceding noun: 발표 전. When adding 에 to make the adverbial, it’s still spaced: 발표 전에. So, not 발표전에.

Can I use 은/는 on 전에 for contrast, like 발표 전에는?

Yes. 발표 전에는 topicalizes the time phrase and often adds contrast or generality:

발표 전에는 손이 떨려요, 하지만 발표가 끝나면 괜찮아요.

How would I say “before my presentation” explicitly?

Add a possessor: 제 발표 전에 손이 떨려요. (You can also say 우리 발표 전에 in group contexts.)

Is 발표할 때 손이 떨려요 the same as “before the presentation”?

Not quite. 발표할 때 means “when presenting/during the presentation,” while 발표 전에 is “before the presentation.” Choose based on timing.

How can I ask someone politely, “Do your hands shake before presentations?”

Polite: 발표 전에 손이 떨리세요?
Plain polite: 발표 전에 손이 떨려요? Use -시- (떨리세요) for honorific respect toward the listener.

What’s the difference between 떨려요 and 긴장돼요?

떨려요 literally references trembling and is often used for nervous excitement (physical or emotional).
긴장돼요 = “I’m nervous/tense.” You can use both together: 발표 전에 긴장돼서 손이 떨려요.

Can you break the sentence down morphologically and give a quick pronunciation/romanization?

발표 (presentation) + 전 (before, bound noun) + 에 (adverbial particle) + 손 (hand[s]) + 이 (subject marker) + 떨리- (tremble) + 어요 → 여요 (polite ending)
Contraction: 떨리어요 → 떨려요
Romanization: balpyo jeone soni tteollyeoyo
Pronunciation tips: 손이 is pronounced close to [소니], 떨려요 to [떨려요].