일주일

§ What does 일주일 (il-ju-il) mean?

The Korean word 일주일 (il-ju-il) simply means 'a week' or 'one week'. It's a fundamental word you'll use constantly to talk about time. Think of it as directly translating to 'seven days'.

DEFINITION

A period of seven days.

You'll hear and use 일주일 whenever you need to specify a duration of seven days, whether it's for planning, recalling past events, or discussing future schedules. It's a fixed unit of time, just like 'day' or 'month'.

§ When do people use 일주일?

Koreans use 일주일 in almost any situation where you would use 'a week' in English. Here are some common scenarios:

• Talking about how long something takes or will take: This is probably the most frequent use.

• Stating how long something lasted:

• Describing frequency (less common, but possible):

§ 일주일 vs. 주 (ju)

You might also encounter the word 주 (ju), which also means 'week'. So what's the difference?

• 일주일 (il-ju-il): Specifically means 'one week' or 'a period of seven days'. The '일 (il)' here is the number 'one'.
• 주 (ju): Can mean 'week' generally, and is often used as a counter when combined with other numbers. For example, '두 주' (du ju) would mean 'two weeks'.

Think of it this way: when you want to say 'a week' as a single, standalone unit, 일주일 is very common and natural. When you're counting multiple weeks, you'll use 주 with Korean numbers.

Both are correct, but 일주일 emphasizes the 'one' week more explicitly. As a learner, start by mastering 일주일 for 'a week', and you'll be well understood.

Learning to use 일주일 correctly will significantly improve your ability to discuss timelines and schedules in Korean. Practice using it in sentences to describe your own weekly activities or plans.

§ Korean word: 일주일

Korean Word

일주일

Definition

A period of seven days; a week.

CEFR Level

A2

§ How to use it in a sentence

The word 일주일 (il-ju-il) is a very common and practical word in Korean. It simply means 'a week' or 'one week'. You'll use it all the time to talk about timeframes and how long something takes or lasts.

It's a noun, so it can be combined with particles to show its role in a sentence. Let's look at some common ways to use it.

§ Basic usage: 일주일 + 입니다/이에요

You can use 일주일 with the basic linking verb 입니다/이에요 (im-ni-da/i-e-yo) to state that something is one week.

Translation Hint

The trip duration is one week.

§ Expressing 'for a week' or duration: 일주일 동안

To say 'for a week' or to express that an action continues for the duration of a week, you use the particle 동안 (dong-an) after 일주일.

Translation Hint

I will be in Korea for one week.

Translation Hint

He couldn't sleep for a week.

§ Indicating a starting point in the past: 일주일 전

To say 'a week ago', you combine 일주일 with 전 (jeon), which means 'before' or 'ago'.

Translation Hint

I read that book a week ago.

§ Indicating a future point: 일주일 후/뒤

To say 'in a week' or 'a week later', you use 후 (hu) or 뒤 (dwi) after 일주일. Both are largely interchangeable in this context.

Translation Hint

We will meet again in a week.

Translation Hint

The exam starts a week later.

§ Marking a specific time 'on a week': 일주일에

When you want to say 'in a week' or 'per week' to indicate frequency or a specific time, you can attach the locative particle 에 (e).

Translation Hint

I exercise twice a week.

§ Asking about duration: 몇 주일/얼마나

If you want to ask 'how many weeks' or 'for how long', you can use 몇 주일 (myeot ju-il) or 얼마나 (eol-ma-na).

• Using 몇 주일 (myeot ju-il):

  몇 주일 동안 휴가예요?

  Translation Hint

  How many weeks is your vacation?

• Using 얼마나 (eol-ma-na):

  한국에서 얼마나 있을 거예요?

  Translation Hint

  How long will you be in Korea?

  (You could answer this with 일주일 동안 있을 거예요.)

§ Important Note on Counting Weeks

Keep practicing using 일주일 in different sentences, and you'll get comfortable with it very quickly. It's a fundamental building block for discussing time in Korean!

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

When you're talking about 'a week' in Korean, the most common and direct word you'll use is 일주일. However, it's helpful to understand how it relates to other time words and when you might hear or use something slightly different. Let's break it down.

DEFINITION

일주일 (il-ju-il): A period of seven days. This is the standard, most neutral way to say 'a week' in Korean. It's used for counting duration.

Think of 일주일 as 'one week' in the sense of duration. If you want to say 'two weeks,' you'd use 이주일 (i-ju-il). For 'three weeks,' 삼주일 (sam-ju-il), and so on. The '일' at the end comes from '주' (week) and '일' (day), meaning 'seven days that make up a week.'

DEFINITION

주 (ju): Week. This is the base word for 'week.' You'll often see it combined with numbers or other particles.

While 일주일 specifically means 'one week' as a duration, '주' is the more general term for 'week.' You'll use it in phrases like:

• 이번 주 (i-beon ju): This week

• 지난 주 (ji-nan ju): Last week

• 다음 주 (da-eum ju): Next week

• 매주 (mae-ju): Every week

DEFINITION

한 주 (han ju): One week. This also means 'one week,' similar to 일주일, but it uses the native Korean number '한' (han) for 'one' instead of the Sino-Korean '일' (il).

While 일주일 is more common for stating a general duration, 한 주 can also be used. It often feels a bit more conversational or emphasizes the 'one' aspect. For example, if you're talking about 'one more week,' you might use 한 주 더 (han ju deol).

Here's a quick summary of when to use each:

• Use 일주일 when you are counting a duration of seven days. It's precise and standard. (e.g., How long will it take? 일주일.)

• Use 주 as the base word for 'week' in phrases indicating specific weeks (this week, next week) or frequency (every week). (e.g., What are you doing 이번 주?)

• Use 한 주 when you want to emphasize 'one week' as a single unit or in more conversational contexts, often with other particles. (e.g., Give me 한 주 more.)

For most learners at the A2 level, focusing on 일주일 for 'a week's duration' and understanding how '주' is used in common phrases like '이번 주' will cover most of your needs. As you get more comfortable, you'll naturally pick up the subtle nuances of 한 주.