ginjangdoel ttaeneun sumeul cheoncheonhi swieoyo.

When I feel nervous, I breathe slowly.

Breakdown of ginjangdoel ttaeneun sumeul cheoncheonhi swieoyo.

• ~을: object particle
• ~는: topic particle
• 긴장되다: to be nervous
• ~ㄹ 때: when

Questions & Answers about ginjangdoel ttaeneun sumeul cheoncheonhi swieoyo.

What does 긴장될 때는 mean literally?

Literally, 긴장될 때는 means when one becomes nervous / when you feel nervous.

Breakdown:

• 긴장되다 = to become nervous, tense, or anxious
• -ㄹ 때 = when
• 는 = topic/contrast marker

So 긴장될 때는 is something like as for when you get nervous or when you’re nervous.

Why is it 긴장될 때 and not 긴장할 때?

Both can be possible in Korean, but they feel a little different.

• 긴장하다 = to be nervous / to get nervous
• 긴장되다 = to become nervous, to feel tense, to end up in a nervous state

In everyday Korean, 긴장되다 is very common when talking about how someone feels, especially in situations like before a test, presentation, or performance.

So:

• 긴장할 때 = when you get nervous
• 긴장될 때 = when you become nervous / when you feel nervous

In this sentence, 긴장될 때는 sounds very natural for talking about the feeling that comes over you.

What is the function of 는 in 때는?