언제예요?
eonjeyeyo?
When is it?
Phrase in 30 Seconds
언제예요? is the essential Korean phrase used to ask 'When is it?' regarding any event, date, or time.
- Means: 'When is it?' used for dates, times, or upcoming events.
- Used in: Scheduling appointments, asking about birthdays, or checking flight times.
- Don't confuse: With '몇 시예요?' which specifically asks for the clock time.
Explanation at your level:
मतलब
A question asking for the time or date of an event.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
Koreans often use the lunar calendar for traditional holidays. When asking '언제예요?' about Chuseok or Seollal, be prepared for a date that changes every year. Punctuality is vital in business. Asking '언제예요?' in a meeting implies you are ready to be there exactly on time, or even 5 minutes early. Age hierarchy is determined by birth year. Asking '생일이 언제예요?' is a polite way to figure out the social hierarchy between two people. The 'Pali-pali' (hurry-hurry) culture means people often ask '언제예요?' to check if something can be done faster.
The Vowel Rule
Always remember: Vowel ends with -예요, Consonant ends with -이에요. Since '언제' ends in 'ㅔ', it's always '언제예요'.
Don't be too blunt
Adding '혹시' (by any chance) before the phrase makes it sound much more polite: '혹시 생일이 언제예요?'
मतलब
A question asking for the time or date of an event.
The Vowel Rule
Always remember: Vowel ends with -예요, Consonant ends with -이에요. Since '언제' ends in 'ㅔ', it's always '언제예요'.
Don't be too blunt
Adding '혹시' (by any chance) before the phrase makes it sound much more polite: '혹시 생일이 언제예요?'
Approximate with '쯤'
If you want to sound more like a native, ask '언제쯤이에요?' (About when is it?) to show you aren't being overly demanding.
Wait for the answer
In Korea, giving a specific time is considered polite. If someone asks you '언제예요?', try to give a clear date or time rather than 'whenever'.
खुद को परखो
Complete the sentence to ask 'When is the birthday?'
생일이 ______?
'언제예요' is the correct form for 'When is it?'.
Which of the following is the most formal way to ask 'When is it?'
Choose the formal version:
The '-입니까' ending is the highest level of formality.
Fill in the blank in the dialogue.
가: 수업이 ______? 나: 오후 3시예요.
Since the answer is a time (3 PM), the question must be 'When'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are asking a close friend when they are free.
'언제야?' is the casual form (banmal) used with friends.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
언제 vs 몇 시
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
12 सवालYes! It is the most common way to ask for a date. You can also use '며칠이에요?' for a specific day.
It is '언제예요'. '언제' ends in a vowel, so the copula contracts.
Use the past tense: '언제였어요?'.
Yes, it is polite. However, '언제입니까?' is even safer in a very formal corporate culture.
'언제' is 'when' (general), '몇 시' is 'what time' (specific clock time).
State the time/date followed by '이에요/예요'. For example: '내일이에요' (It's tomorrow).
It is only rude if used with someone older or a stranger. With friends, it's perfect.
Yes, but '음식 언제 나와요?' is more natural in a restaurant.
Yes, in sentences like '언제 한번 만나요' (Let's meet sometime).
In very fast, casual speech, the 'ye' sound can be dropped, but it's grammatically incorrect.
Say '언제까지예요?'.
Say '언제부터예요?'.
संबंधित मुहावरे
언제든지
similarWhenever / Anytime
언제나
similarAlways
몇 시예요?
similarWhat time is it?
언제쯤
specialized formAbout when
언제가 좋아요?
builds onWhen is good?
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Asking about a birthday
민수: 지수 씨, 생일이 언제예요?
지수: 제 생일은 10월 5일이에요.
Checking a meeting time
팀장님: 오늘 회의가 언제예요?
비서: 오후 2시예요.
At the airport
여행객: 도쿄행 비행기가 언제예요?
직원: 오후 4시 30분이에요.
Asking about a store opening
손님: 가게 오픈이 언제예요?
주인: 아침 9시예요.
Talking about a K-pop comeback
팬 1: BTS 컴백이 언제야?
팬 2: 다음 달 21일이야!
Asking about a deadline
학생: 숙제 제출이 언제예요?
선생님: 이번 주 금요일까지예요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Eon-je' sounding like 'On Jay'. When is the party? It's 'On Jay's' calendar!
Visual Association
Imagine a large wall calendar where every single day has a giant question mark on it. The calendar is glowing, and the word '언제' is written across the top.
Rhyme
언제예요? (Eon-je-ye-yo?) / 내일이에요! (Nae-il-i-e-yo!)
Story
You are at a busy Korean train station. You see a clock but it has no hands. You walk up to the station master and ask '언제예요?' pointing at the empty clock. He smiles and hands you a ticket with the time written on it.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Try to ask three different people (or AI) '언제예요?' about three different events today: a meal, a task, and a break.
In Other Languages
¿Cuándo es?
Spanish requires the inverted question mark at the beginning.
C'est quand ?
French uses the 'C'est' (It is) construction.
Wann ist es?
German requires the subject 'es' (it) to be explicitly stated.
いつですか？ (Itsu desu ka?)
Japanese uses a question particle 'ka', while Korean uses intonation and a question mark.
متى؟ (Mata?)
Arabic often omits the verb 'to be' in the present tense.
什么时候？ (Shénme shíhòu?)
Chinese does not conjugate a verb 'to be' in this question.
Quando é?
Portuguese uses the verb 'ser' in the third person singular.
When is it?
English requires the dummy subject 'it'.
Easily Confused
Learners often use '언제예요?' to ask for the current time.
Use '몇 시' for the clock and '언제' for the calendar or events.
The sounds 'eonje' and 'eodi' can be confused by beginners.
Remember 'D' for 'Distance/Direction' (Eodi) and 'J' for 'January/June' (Eonje).
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (12)
Yes! It is the most common way to ask for a date. You can also use '며칠이에요?' for a specific day.
It is '언제예요'. '언제' ends in a vowel, so the copula contracts.
Use the past tense: '언제였어요?'.
Yes, it is polite. However, '언제입니까?' is even safer in a very formal corporate culture.
'언제' is 'when' (general), '몇 시' is 'what time' (specific clock time).
State the time/date followed by '이에요/예요'. For example: '내일이에요' (It's tomorrow).
It is only rude if used with someone older or a stranger. With friends, it's perfect.
Yes, but '음식 언제 나와요?' is more natural in a restaurant.
Yes, in sentences like '언제 한번 만나요' (Let's meet sometime).
In very fast, casual speech, the 'ye' sound can be dropped, but it's grammatically incorrect.
Say '언제까지예요?'.
Say '언제부터예요?'.
