A1 · Débutant Chapitre 5

Talking About Time and Schedules

6 Règles totales
64 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

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!

Ce que tu vas apprendre

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.

Guide du chapitre

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.

Exemples clés (8)

1

오늘 뭐 해요?

Tu fais quoi aujourd'hui ?

Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)
2

어제 너무 피곤했어요.

J'étais tellement fatigué hier.

Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)
3

월요일에 학교에 가요.

Je vais à l'école le lundi.

Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)
4

금요일은 불금이에요!

Vendredi, c'est le Vendredi Brûlant (TGIF) !

Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)
5

지금 몇 시예요?

Quelle heure est-il maintenant ?

Lire l'heure : Heures natives et minutes sino-coréennes
6

우리 내일 오후 두 시에 만나요.

On se voit demain à 14h.

Lire l'heure : Heures natives et minutes sino-coréennes
7

저는 보통 아침 7시에 일어나요.

D'habitude, je me lève à 7h du matin.

Particule de temps coréenne `에` : Marquer 'quand' quelque chose se passe
8

우리 토요일 저녁에 맛있는 거 먹자!

Mangeons quelque chose de bon samedi soir !

Particule de temps coréenne `에` : Marquer 'quand' quelque chose se passe

Conseils et astuces (4)

⚠️

Oublie le '에' !

Ne colle jamais, au grand jamais, la particule '에' à 오늘, 어제 ou 내일. Ils se débrouillent très bien tout seuls : «오늘 공부해요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)
🎯

Le raccourci des SMS

Quand tu textos tes potes, tu peux souvent oublier le «에». Dire «토요일 만날까?» est très naturel entre amis.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)
💡

L'astuce du 'Demi'

Comme en français on dit 'et demi', en coréen on utilise «반». C'est beaucoup plus naturel de dire «세 시 반» au lieu de 30 minutes.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Lire l'heure : Heures natives et minutes sino-coréennes
🎯

Apprends par blocs

Ne mémorise pas juste le mot 'matin'. Apprends directement le bloc «아침에». Ça rendra ta parole beaucoup plus fluide et naturelle.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Particule de temps coréenne `에` : Marquer 'quand' quelque chose se passe

Vocabulaire clé (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

Erreurs courantes

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

Wrong: 오늘에 공부해요.
Correct: 오늘 공부해요.

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

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

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

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

Pratique rapide (10)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

내일 학교에 갔어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내일 학교에 갈 거예요.
Tu ne peux pas utiliser '내일' (demain) avec un verbe au passé ('갔어요'). Il faut passer au futur ('갈 거예요').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)

Associe la particule de départ avec le bon contexte.

Relie les mots 'Depuis' à leur usage :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
On utilise '부터' pour les heures de début et '에서' pour les lieux de départ.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Points Finaux Coréens : Jusqu'à, Pour & À (까지)

Tu es dans un taxi. Indique ta destination au chauffeur.

Quelle est la façon la plus naturelle de dire 'À l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît' ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 공항까지 가 주세요.
Même si '에' est possible, '까지' est la forme standard et la plus naturelle pour indiquer un point d'arrivée à un chauffeur.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Points Finaux Coréens : Jusqu'à, Pour & À (까지)

Trouve l'erreur d'espacement.

Je vais attendre jusqu'à demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 내일까지 기다릴게요.
En coréen, les particules doivent être collées au nom sans espace. '내일까지' est la bonne écriture.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Points Finaux Coréens : Jusqu'à, Pour & À (까지)

Quelle phrase est correcte grammaticalement ?

Choisis la phrase qui utilise le mot de temps sans particule incorrecte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제 피자를 먹었어요.
오늘 et 내일 ne peuvent pas prendre la particule '에'. '어제 피자를 먹었어요' évite bien la particule et utilise le passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)

Choisis la bonne particule selon le contexte.

Quelle phrase signifie 'Je fais du sport à partir de 9h' ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 9시부터 운동해요.
Pour les points de départ temporels, on utilise toujours 부터. 에서 est pour le lieu.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Particule 부터 : Le bouton « Start » temporel (À partir de...)

Trouve l'erreur dans 'Je pars lundi'.

Find and fix the mistake:

월요일 가요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 월요일에 가요.
Tu as besoin de la particule de temps «에» pour dire 'le' lundi.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)

Comment demande-t-on 'Quel jour sommes-nous ?'

Choisis la bonne question :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 오늘 무슨 요일이에요?
«무슨 요일» demande spécifiquement le jour de la semaine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)

Complète avec le bon jour : Vendredi.

오늘은 ___이에요. (Aujourd'hui, c'est vendredi.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 금요일
금요일 signifie vendredi. '금' veut dire Or ou Métal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Les jours de la semaine en coréen (요일)

Complète la phrase avec le bon mot de temps.

___ 넷플릭스를 봤어요. (J'ai regardé Netflix hier.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 어제
Le verbe '봤어요' (regardé) est au passé, donc tu dois utiliser '어제' (hier).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Aujourd'hui, Hier, Demain (오늘, 어제, 내일)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Oui ! Si '에' est interdit, tu peux utiliser '은/는' pour le sujet ou '도' pour dire 'aussi'. Par exemple : «오늘도 일해요.»
Souvent au tout début, ou juste après le sujet. «저는 오늘 쉬어요» et «오늘 저는 쉬어요» sont tous les deux parfaits.
«요일» signifie simplement 'jour de la semaine'. C'est comme le '-di' en français dans Lun-di ou Mar-di. «월요일» en est un exemple.
Le coréen n'a pas de majuscules, donc pas de stress ! Écris juste «월요일» normalement.
C'est l'histoire du coréen ! Les nombres natifs sont originaux, les sino-coréens viennent du chinois. On utilise les deux pour l'heure car les heures sont de petits comptes, alors que les minutes vont jusqu'à 60. «세 시 오 분».
Seulement à l'armée ou pour des annonces de vols très formelles. Dans 99% des cas, c'est NON. Ça sonnerait très bizarre, comme dire
Il est la trois heure
.
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