A1 Expression Formell

언제입니까?

1751

When is it?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '언제입니까?' to ask for the time or date of an event in a formal setting.

  • Means: 'When is it?' (asking for a specific time or date).
  • Used in: Business meetings, formal inquiries, or speaking to strangers.
  • Don't confuse: '언제입니까?' (formal) with '언제야?' (very casual).
Clock icon + Question mark = Scheduled event inquiry

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple way to ask 'When?'. You use it when you want to know the time or date of something important. It is very polite.
This phrase is the formal interrogative for 'when'. It is essential for A2 learners to differentiate between formal and informal speech. By adding '입니까', you show respect to the listener, which is crucial in Korean culture when interacting with strangers or in a business context.
At the B1 level, you should understand that '언제입니까?' is part of the formal '하십시오' style. It is used to maintain professional distance. Unlike casual forms, this avoids the '야' ending, which can be perceived as aggressive or overly intimate in formal settings. It is the standard for public inquiries.
The usage of '언제입니까?' reflects the sociolinguistic requirement for honorifics in Korean. It is a functional expression that serves as a marker of social distance. In professional environments, using this form is not optional; it is a requirement for maintaining workplace decorum and demonstrating cultural competence.
From a linguistic perspective, '언제입니까?' demonstrates the inflectional morphology of the Korean language. The copula '이다' is conjugated into the formal interrogative mood. This phrase is a prime example of how Korean grammar encodes social hierarchy directly into the syntax, requiring the speaker to perform a social assessment before utterance.
The phrase '언제입니까?' serves as a nexus between temporal inquiry and social pragmatics. In the framework of Korean honorifics, the choice of the '하십시오' style indicates a high-context interaction where the speaker prioritizes the maintenance of 'chemyon' (face) and social harmony. Mastery involves not just grammatical accuracy, but the intuitive selection of this register over the 'haeyoche' or 'haeche' styles based on the interlocutor's social status.

Bedeutung

Asking about the time or date of an event.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Hierarchy is everything. Using '입니까' shows you respect the other person's status. In meetings, being direct but polite is key. This phrase is the standard for that. Students use this with professors to show they are serious and respectful. Customers use this to ask for times, and staff use it to confirm details.

💡

Context is Key

Always check who you are talking to before choosing your ending.

⚠️

Don't be a Robot

Don't use this with friends, or you'll sound like a textbook.

Bedeutung

Asking about the time or date of an event.

💡

Context is Key

Always check who you are talking to before choosing your ending.

⚠️

Don't be a Robot

Don't use this with friends, or you'll sound like a textbook.

💬

Respect Matters

In Korea, using formal speech is a sign of intelligence and respect.

Teste dich selbst

Complete the formal question.

회의는 _____?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 언제입니까

Since it is a formal setting (implied), use the formal ending.

Which is the most formal?

Choose the most formal way to ask 'When is it?'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 언제입니까?

This is the '하십시오' style, the most formal.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 출장이 _____? B: 다음 주입니다.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 언제입니까

The response '다음 주입니다' is formal, so the question must be formal.

Match the situation to the phrase.

You are talking to your boss.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 언제입니까?

Always use formal language with a boss.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

12 Fragen

Yes, it is perfect for teachers.

No, it is the safest way to talk to a stranger.

It is a standard Korean sound change rule.

Only if it is a formal business email.

Always start formal.

Yes, in office or historical scenes.

Use the '입니다' form.

Only if you are being very formal.

Extremely common in professional life.

No, it is gender-neutral.

Yes, it works for any time.

It is one of the first formal phrases taught.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

언제예요?

similar

When is it? (polite)

🔗

언제야?

contrast

When is it? (casual)

🔗

몇 시입니까?

builds on

What time is it?

🔗

날짜가 언제입니까?

specialized form

What is the date?

Wo du es verwendest

💼

Office Meeting

Employee: 팀장님, 다음 회의는 언제입니까?

Manager: 내일 오후 세 시입니다.

formal
✈️

Airport Inquiry

Passenger: 비행기 출발은 언제입니까?

Staff: 오후 다섯 시입니다.

formal
🍽️

Restaurant Reservation

Customer: 예약은 언제입니까?

Staff: 오늘 저녁 일곱 시입니다.

formal
📝

School Exam

Student: 기말고사는 언제입니까?

Teacher: 다음 주 월요일입니다.

formal
🏥

Doctor's Appointment

Patient: 진료는 언제입니까?

Nurse: 오전 열 시입니다.

formal
🎉

Event Planning

Organizer: 개막식은 언제입니까?

Assistant: 토요일 오전입니다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'When' as 'On-Jae' (On the day).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant golden clock in a formal office. Every time you ask '언제입니까?', the clock chimes politely.

Rhyme

When you need to know the time, ask '언제입니까?' to be sublime.

Story

Mr. Kim is a busy man. He walks into his office and asks his assistant, '회의는 언제입니까?'. The assistant checks the calendar and smiles, '오후 두 시입니다.' Mr. Kim nods, satisfied with the formal tone.

Word Web

시간 (time)날짜 (date)언제 (when)회의 (meeting)약속 (appointment)일정 (schedule)

Herausforderung

Ask 3 people today about the time of an event using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cuándo es?

Korean requires register-based conjugation.

French moderate

C'est quand ?

Korean word order is rigid.

German high

Wann ist es?

German does not have honorific levels.

Japanese high

いつですか？ (Itsu desu ka?)

Particles differ slightly.

Arabic moderate

متى هو؟ (Mata huwa?)

Arabic lacks Korean-style honorifics.

Chinese moderate

什么时候？ (Shénme shíhòu?)

Chinese is less formal-inflection heavy.

Korean high

언제입니까?

None.

Portuguese high

Quando é?

Korean requires honorifics.

Easily Confused

언제입니까? vs. 언제예요? vs 언제입니까?

Learners often mix up the formality levels.

Use '예요' for daily polite, '입니까' for professional/formal.

FAQ (12)

Yes, it is perfect for teachers.

No, it is the safest way to talk to a stranger.

It is a standard Korean sound change rule.

Only if it is a formal business email.

Always start formal.

Yes, in office or historical scenes.

Use the '입니다' form.

Only if you are being very formal.

Extremely common in professional life.

No, it is gender-neutral.

Yes, it works for any time.

It is one of the first formal phrases taught.

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