A1 · Principiante Capítulo 5

Talking About Time and Schedules

6 Reglas totales
64 ejemplos
5 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of scheduling and time-telling in Korean with ease.

  • Identify days of the week and relative time markers.
  • Combine native and Sino-Korean numbers to tell accurate time.
  • Apply time particles to build clear, scheduled sentences.
Time is on your side!

Lo que aprenderás

Hey there, future Korean speaker! Ready to master how to talk about time and schedules in Korean? This chapter is your ticket to confidently discussing when things happen, making plans, and understanding timetables. We'll kick things off with those special words for 'today,' 'yesterday,' and 'tomorrow' (오늘, 어제, 내일). These guys are unique because they stand on their own – no need for the time particle '에' here! Then, you'll discover how incredibly easy it is to name all the days of the week; just add the day's root to 요일. Next up, we'll tackle telling time, which has a fun twist: you use native Korean numbers for hours and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes. It might sound tricky, but trust me, it's like riding a bike – you'll get the hang of it super fast! Finally, we'll unlock the power of the particles '에,' '부터,' and '까지.' The particle '에' is your go-to for pinpointing exact moments, like 'at 2 PM.' Just remember not to use it with 'today,' 'yesterday,' or 'tomorrow'! '부터' acts like a 'start button,' letting you say 'from' a certain time, and '까지' sets the finish line – meaning 'until' or 'by' a specific time or deadline. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to tell someone when your Korean class is, set a coffee date with a friend, or even explain your daily schedule with ease. Get ready to become a time-telling pro in Korean!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: State dates and precise times for appointments.

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to your essential guide for mastering A1 Korean grammar related to time and schedules! In this chapter, you'll gain the foundational skills to confidently discuss when events happen, make plans, and understand timetables in Korean. Being able to talk about time is one of the most practical and frequently used aspects of any language, and Korean is no exception.
Whether you're setting up a coffee date, asking about store hours, or simply describing your daily routine, this knowledge is absolutely crucial for real-world communication.
This guide will walk you through the specifics of telling time, using special words for 'today,' 'yesterday,' and 'tomorrow,' and applying key particles that pinpoint exact moments or define duration. We'll explore how Korean days of the week are formed, the unique system for telling time in Korean (mixing native and Sino-Korean numbers!), and the indispensable particles 에, 부터, and 까지. By the end, you'll not only understand these concepts but also be able to use them in everyday conversations, making your journey to fluency in Korean much smoother.
Get ready to become a time-telling expert!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core mechanics of talking about time in Korean. First, we have three special words: 오늘 (today), 어제 (yesterday), and 내일 (tomorrow). These words are unique because they don't need the time particle 에 when used to indicate 'when' something happens.
For example, 오늘 만나요 (Let's meet today) is perfectly correct.
Next, forming the Korean days of the week is wonderfully straightforward. You simply take the character representing the day's element (like moon, fire, water, etc.) and add 요일 (yo-il), which means 'day of the week'. So, 월요일 (Monday), 화요일 (Tuesday), 수요일 (Wednesday), 목요일 (Thursday), 금요일 (Friday), 토요일 (Saturday), and 일요일 (Sunday) become easy to remember.
Telling time in Korean has a fun twist: you use native Korean numbers for hours and Sino-Korean numbers for minutes. For example, three o'clock is 세 시 (se si), using the native Korean 'three' (셋 becomes 세 before 시). Twenty minutes is 이십 분 (i-sip bun), using the Sino-Korean 'twenty' (이십).
So, 3:20 PM would be 오후 세 시 이십 분 (o-hu se si i-sip bun).
The particle 에 is your go-to for marking specific points in time, like 'at 2 PM' or 'on Monday'. For instance, 두 시에 만나요 (Let's meet at two o'clock). However, remember the golden rule: 에 is *not* used with 오늘, 어제, or 내일.
Finally, we have the dynamic duo for duration: 부터 (bu-teo) and 까지 (kka-ji). 부터 acts like 'from' or 'starting from' a certain time or day. 수요일부터 (from Wednesday).
까지 means 'until', 'up to', or 'by' a specific time or deadline. 다섯 시까지 (until five o'clock). You can use them together to express a duration: 아침 아홉 시부터 저녁 여섯 시까지 일해요 (I work from 9 AM until 6 PM).
Mastering these particles is key for describing schedules and appointments in A1 Korean.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 내일에 만나요. (Nae-il-e man-na-yo.)
✓ Correct: 내일 만나요. (Nae-il man-na-yo.)
*Explanation:* The time particle 에 is not used with 오늘 (today), 어제 (yesterday), or 내일 (tomorrow). These words intrinsically carry the meaning of 'on' or 'at' that day.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 하나 시 삼 분이에요. (Ha-na si sam bun-i-e-yo.) (It's one o'clock and three minutes.)
✓ Correct: 한 시 삼 분이에요. (Han si sam bun-i-e-yo.)
*Explanation:* When telling time, native Korean numbers are used for hours, but specific forms are used for 1, 2, 3, and 4 before the counter 시 (hour). 하나 becomes 한, 둘 becomes 두, 셋 becomes 세, and 넷 becomes 네. For minutes, you *always* use Sino-Korean numbers.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 수업은 두 시부터 세 시. (Su-eop-eun du si-bu-teo se si.) (Class is from two o'clock until three o'clock.)
✓ Correct: 수업은 두 시부터 세 시까지예요. (Su-eop-eun du si-bu-teo se si-kka-ji-ye-yo.)
*Explanation:* When indicating a duration
from X until Y,
both 부터 (from) and 까지 (until) are typically used together to clearly define the start and end points. Omitting 까지 leaves the end point ambiguous.

Real Conversations

A

A

몇 시에 만날까요? (Myeot si-e man-nal-kka-yo?) (What time should we meet?)
B

B

세 시에 만나요. (Se si-e man-na-yo.) (Let's meet at three o'clock.)
A

A

한국어 수업은 언제예요? (Han-gu-geo su-eop-eun eon-je-ye-yo?) (When is Korean class?)
B

B

매주 화요일 오전 열 시부터 열한 시 반까지예요. (Mae-ju hwa-yo-il o-jeon yeol si-bu-teo yeol-han si ban-kka-ji-ye-yo.) (It's every Tuesday from 10 AM until 11:30 AM.)
A

A

언제까지 이메일을 보내야 해요? (Eon-je-kka-ji i-me-il-eul bo-nae-ya hae-yo?) (By when do I need to send the email?)
B

B

내일까지 보내 주세요. (Nae-il-kka-ji bo-nae ju-se-yo.) (Please send it by tomorrow.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I ask

What time is it?
in Korean?

You can ask 지금 몇 시예요? (Ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo?) which literally means

What time is it now?
This is a key A1 Korean phrase for basic communication.

Q

Can I use 오늘부터 or 내일부터?

Yes! While 오늘, 어제, and 내일 don't take 에, they *can* be combined with 부터 and 까지 to indicate a starting or ending point. For example, 오늘부터 운동할 거예요 (I will exercise from today).

Q

What's the difference between 오전 and 오후?

오전 (o-jeon) means 'AM' (ante meridiem), referring to the morning before noon. 오후 (o-hu) means 'PM' (post meridiem), referring to the afternoon and evening after noon. These are essential for specifying times in Korean grammar.

Q

Is there a specific way to say 'noon' or 'midnight'?

Yes! 정오 (jeong-o) means 'noon' (literally 'exact noon'), and 자정 (ja-jeong) means 'midnight'. You can use them with 에, like 정오에 만나요 (Let's meet at noon).

Cultural Context

In Korean culture, punctuality is highly valued, so clearly communicating times and schedules is very important. When making plans, it's common to confirm the exact time and day using the patterns learned here. Koreans often use 오전 (AM) and 오후 (PM) to avoid ambiguity, especially in formal settings or when scheduling.
Using 부터 and 까지 to describe work hours or class schedules is a fundamental part of daily conversation, reflecting the structured nature of many aspects of Korean life.

Ejemplos clave (8)

1

오늘 뭐 해요?

¿Qué haces hoy?

Hoy, Ayer, Mañana (오늘, 어제, 내일)
2

어제 너무 피곤했어요.

Ayer estuve muy cansado.

Hoy, Ayer, Mañana (오늘, 어제, 내일)
3

월요일에 학교에 가요.

Voy a la escuela el lunes.

Días de la semana en coreano (요일)
4

금요일은 불금이에요!

¡El viernes es viernes social (de fuego)!

Días de la semana en coreano (요일)
5

저는 보통 아침 7시에 일어나요.

Normalmente me levanto a las 7 de la mañana.

Partícula de tiempo coreana `에`: Marcando 'cuándo' sucede algo
6

우리 토요일 저녁에 맛있는 거 먹자!

¡Comamos algo rico el sábado por la tarde!

Partícula de tiempo coreana `에`: Marcando 'cuándo' sucede algo
7

Naeil-buteo daieoteu sijakal geoya.

Voy a empezar la dieta desde mañana.

Partícula 부터: El botón de 'Inicio' para el tiempo (Desde...)
8

Jeomsimsiganeun yeol-du-si-buteo han-si-kkaji-yeyo.

La hora del almuerzo es de 12:00 a 1:00.

Partícula 부터: El botón de 'Inicio' para el tiempo (Desde...)

Consejos y trucos (4)

⚠️

¡Olvida el '에'!

Nunca, pero nunca, le pongas la partícula '에' a estas palabras. Se ven perfectas solitas: «어제 학교에 친구랑 갔어요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hoy, Ayer, Mañana (오늘, 어제, 내일)
🎯

El atajo del chat

Al escribir por mensaje, puedes saltarte la partícula '에' para sonar más natural: «우리 토요일에 만날까?»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Días de la semana en coreano (요일)
💡

El truco de la 'Media'

Igual que en español decimos 'y media', en coreano usamos «반». Es mucho más natural decir «세 시 반» que decir los minutos completos.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Decir la hora: Horas nativas y minutos chinos (시/분)
🎯

Aprende frases hechas

No memorices 아침 y 에 por separado. Apréndelo como un solo bloque: «아침에». Esto hará que hables mucho más rápido y natural.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula de tiempo coreana `에`: Marcando 'cuándo' sucede algo

Vocabulario clave (5)

오늘 (oneul) today 요일 (yoil) day of the week 시간 (sigan) time/hour 분 (bun) minute 공부하다 (gongbuhada) to study

Real-World Preview

coffee

Making a Plan

Review Summary

  • Word + (optional particle)
  • Time + 에
  • Time + 부터
  • Time + 까지

Errores comunes

You cannot use the time particle '에' with relative time words like 'today', 'yesterday', or 'tomorrow'.

Wrong: 오늘에 공부해요.
Correcto: 오늘 공부해요.

When using native numbers for hours, 1, 2, 3, and 4 change their form.

Wrong: 셋 시 (set si)
Correcto: 세 시 (se si)

Don't confuse 'until' (까지) with 'from' (부터).

Wrong: 2시까지 공부해요 (from 2 o'clock).
Correcto: 2시부터 공부해요 (from 2 o'clock).

Next Steps

You have mastered the clock! Keep this energy up as we move into describing the world around you. You're doing fantastic!

Write your next weekend's schedule in Korean.

Continue to: Connecting People and Things

Práctica rápida (10)

Completa el espacio con el día correcto: Viernes.

오늘은 ___이에요. (Hoy es viernes.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 금요일
금요일 es viernes. 금 significa Oro o Metal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Días de la semana en coreano (요일)

Une la frase en coreano con su significado en español.

Conecta las expresiones de tiempo:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
내일 es mañana, 지금 es ahora y 아침 es mañana (AM).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula 부터: El botón de 'Inicio' para el tiempo (Desde...)

Encuentra y corrige el error.

Find and fix the mistake:

저는 보통 주말에서 운동해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 저는 보통 주말에 운동해요.
주말 (fin de semana) es un periodo de tiempo que requiere 에. 에서 se usa para lugares.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula de tiempo coreana `에`: Marcando 'cuándo' sucede algo

Rellena el espacio con la palabra de tiempo correcta.

___ 넷플릭스를 봤어요. (Ayer vi Netflix.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제
El verbo '봤어요' está en pasado, así que debes usar '어제'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hoy, Ayer, Mañana (오늘, 어제, 내일)

Elige la frase correcta.

¿Cuál de estas frases es gramaticalmente correcta?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내일 뭐 해요?
La palabra 내일 (mañana) es un tiempo relativo y no necesita la partícula 에.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula de tiempo coreana `에`: Marcando 'cuándo' sucede algo

Selecciona la partícula correcta para el contexto.

¿Qué frase significa correctamente 'Hago ejercicio desde las 9 AM'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 9시부터 운동해요.
Para puntos de inicio en el tiempo, siempre usamos 부터. 에서 es para lugares y 까지 significa 'hasta'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula 부터: El botón de 'Inicio' para el tiempo (Desde...)

Identifica el error de escritura.

¿Cuál opción está escrita correctamente?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오늘부터
En coreano, las partículas se escriben pegadas al sustantivo, sin espacios ni guiones.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Partícula 부터: El botón de 'Inicio' para el tiempo (Desde...)

¿Qué frase es gramaticalmente correcta?

Elige la frase que no use partículas incorrectas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제 피자를 먹었어요.
오늘 y 내일 no pueden llevar '에'. La tercera opción es perfecta.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hoy, Ayer, Mañana (오늘, 어제, 내일)

Completa el espacio con la forma correcta de la hora.

Nos vemos a las 2:00: 우리 ___ 시에 만나요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 두
Para las horas usamos números nativos. 'Dos' es «둘», pero cambia a «두» antes de «시».

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Decir la hora: Horas nativas y minutos chinos (시/분)

Encuentra la parte que suena rara.

지금은 일 시 오 분이에요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 지금은 한 시 오 분이에요.
No puedes usar el número sino-coreano «일» (1) para las horas. Debes usar el nativo «한».

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Decir la hora: Horas nativas y minutos chinos (시/분)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

¡Claro! Aunque '에' está prohibido, puedes usar '은/는' o '도'. «오늘도 회사에서 일해요» significa 'Hoy también trabajo'.
Normalmente al puro principio o tras el sujeto. «저는 hoy 집에서 쉬어요» es muy natural.
Es un sustantivo que significa 'día de la semana', como el '-es' en lunes o martes: «월요일은 한 주의 시작이에요.»
El coreano no tiene mayúsculas, así que no te preocupes por eso: «오늘 무슨 요일이에요?»
¡Por la historia de Corea! Los nativos son los originales, y los sino-coreanos vienen de la influencia china. Se usan ambos porque las horas son pocas (1-12) y los minutos son muchos (1-60). «한 시 오 분».
Solo en el ejército o en anuncios de vuelos (formato 24h). En el 99% de tu vida diaria, NO. Sonaría muy raro. «세 시» es lo correcto.
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