A2 phrase 2分で読める

~ㄹ/을 때

This phrase means 'when' and is used to talk about the time or occasion something happens.

~l/eul ttae
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use ~ㄹ/을 때 to say 'when'. For example, if you want to say 'When I eat', you say '먹을 때'. It is very easy! You just add it to the action word. Use it to talk about your day, like 'When I go to school' or 'When I watch TV'. It helps you connect two small ideas into one bigger sentence. Try it with your favorite verbs today!

At this level, you can use ~ㄹ/을 때 to describe longer situations. You can say 'When it is raining' (비가 올 때) or 'When I am busy' (바쁠 때). It is great for telling short stories about your past or your plans. Remember to check if your verb ends in a consonant or vowel so you pick the right version of the grammar!

Now you can use this structure to express more complex thoughts. You can combine it with other grammar points to say things like 'I usually listen to music when I am studying' (공부할 때 음악을 들어요). It is a vital tool for expressing habits and specific circumstances. You will find that native speakers use this in almost every conversation to provide context for their actions.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using ~ㄹ/을 때 in more nuanced ways, such as expressing contrast or specific emotional states. You can use it to frame your opinions, such as 'When I think about the future, I feel excited' (미래를 생각할 때 설레요). You should also notice how it functions in formal writing, where it helps maintain a clear timeline of events.

In advanced contexts, ~ㄹ/을 때 is used to create sophisticated narrative structures. You can use it to link abstract concepts or philosophical reflections. For instance, 'When considering the implications of this policy, one must be careful' (이 정책의 영향을 고려할 때 신중해야 합니다). It allows for precise temporal framing in academic or professional discourse, distinguishing between simultaneous actions and sequential events with great clarity.

Mastering this phrase at the C2 level involves understanding its subtle role in literary and formal rhetoric. It is used to create rhythm and pacing in long, complex sentences. You will see it in high-level literature to set the atmospheric 'time' of a scene. It is the subtle glue that holds complex Korean sentences together, allowing for the expression of deep, multi-layered temporal relationships that are essential for native-level fluency.

30秒でわかる単語

  • Used to express 'when' or 'while'.
  • Attached to verb/adjective stems.
  • Consonant vs. vowel rules apply.
  • Essential for daily communication.

Think of ~ㄹ/을 때 as your go-to tool for saying 'when' in Korean. It is not a standalone word but a helpful ending you attach to verbs or adjectives to set the scene for your sentence.

You use it to describe the specific moment or situation where something else takes place. Whether you are talking about your childhood, the weather, or your daily routine, this phrase helps you connect your ideas smoothly. It is incredibly versatile and one of the first building blocks you will master in your Korean journey!

The word 때 (ttae) itself is a native Korean noun meaning 'time' or 'occasion'. Historically, it has been used to denote a specific point in the flow of time.

When combined with the prospective modifier ~ㄹ/을, it creates a structure that looks forward to the occurrence of an event. Over centuries of language evolution, this construction solidified into the standard way to express temporal clauses, mirroring how many other languages evolved to use nouns of time to create adverbial phrases.

You use ~ㄹ/을 때 by checking the verb stem. If the stem ends in a vowel or 'ㄹ', you use ~ㄹ 때. If it ends in a consonant, you use ~을 때.

It is used in almost every register, from casual conversations with friends to formal business reports. Because it is so common, it pairs with almost any action verb (like 'eat', 'sleep', 'go') or descriptive adjective (like 'happy', 'sad', 'busy'). It is the backbone of storytelling in Korean.

While ~ㄹ/을 때 is a grammatical pattern, it appears in many common expressions. 1. 밥 먹을 때: When eating. 2. 잘 때: When sleeping. 3. 어렸을 때: When I was young. 4. 기쁠 때: When happy. 5. 슬플 때: When sad.

These are not idioms in the traditional sense but are the most frequent collocations that native speakers use daily to express their emotional and physical states.

The grammar is straightforward: Verb/Adjective + ~ㄹ/을 때. Pronunciation is key here; the 'ttae' part is a tense sound, meaning you should press your tongue against the roof of your mouth and release it sharply.

It does not have plural forms or articles, making it much simpler than English 'when' clauses. Focus on the transition between the verb stem and the ending to sound natural. It rhymes loosely with words like 'stay' but with a much sharper, glottal start.

Fun Fact

The word '때' can also mean 'dirt' on the skin, which is a funny coincidence in Korean!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ttɛ/

Sounds like 'teh' with a very tense, hard 't'.

US /ttɛ/

Similar to 'teh' but with a sharp, glottal start.

Common Errors

  • Softening the 'tt' sound
  • Missing the space in speech
  • Mispronouncing the 'ㄹ' sound

Rhymes With

배 (pear) 개 (dog) 새 (bird) 해 (sun) 왜 (why)

Difficulty Rating

読解 1/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Requires grammar knowledge

Speaking 2/5

Common in speech

リスニング 2/5

Frequently heard

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

먹다 가다 자다

Learn Next

동안 때문에 마다

上級

~ㄹ/을 때마다 ~ㄹ/을 때까지

Grammar to Know

Noun + 이다

학생일 때

Verb conjugation

먹다 -> 먹을 때

Prospective modifier

할 일

Examples by Level

1

밥을 먹을 때 행복해요.

When eating rice, I am happy.

Consonant stem

2

잘 때 조용해요.

When sleeping, it is quiet.

Consonant stem

3

갈 때 말해주세요.

When you go, please tell me.

Vowel stem

4

올 때 전화하세요.

When you come, call me.

Vowel stem

5

볼 때 재미있어요.

When watching, it is fun.

Vowel stem

6

놀 때 즐거워요.

When playing, I am joyful.

Vowel stem

7

살 때 비쌌어요.

When buying, it was expensive.

Vowel stem

8

울 때 슬퍼요.

When crying, I am sad.

Vowel stem

1

공부할 때 음악을 들어요.

2

비가 올 때 집에 있어요.

3

바쁠 때 도와주세요.

4

어렸을 때 행복했어요.

5

더울 때 아이스크림을 먹어요.

6

추울 때 따뜻한 옷을 입어요.

7

운동할 때 물을 마셔요.

8

책을 읽을 때 조용히 해요.

1

한국에 갈 때 친구를 만날 거예요.

2

일을 할 때 집중해야 해요.

3

영화를 볼 때 팝콘을 먹어요.

4

여행할 때 사진을 많이 찍어요.

5

잠을 잘 때 꿈을 꾸어요.

6

요리할 때 소금을 넣어요.

7

운전할 때 조심해야 해요.

8

청소할 때 창문을 열어요.

1

그 소식을 들을 때 정말 놀랐어요.

2

문제를 해결할 때 시간이 걸려요.

3

사람들과 대화할 때 예의를 지켜요.

4

계획을 세울 때 신중해야 합니다.

5

그녀를 볼 때마다 웃음이 나요.

6

시험을 볼 때 긴장하지 마세요.

7

기다릴 때 책을 읽었습니다.

8

생각할 때 눈을 감아요.

1

역사를 공부할 때 과거의 교훈을 얻습니다.

2

그 결정을 내릴 때 많은 고민을 했습니다.

3

예술을 감상할 때 마음이 편안해집니다.

4

상황을 분석할 때 객관적인 태도가 필요합니다.

5

그것을 기억할 때마다 가슴이 아파요.

6

발표할 때 자신감을 가지는 것이 중요합니다.

7

연구를 할 때 데이터를 확인해야 합니다.

8

변화를 받아들일 때 용기가 필요합니다.

1

그 시절을 회상할 때면 늘 그리움이 남습니다.

2

진리를 탐구할 때 인간은 성장합니다.

3

본질을 파악할 때 비로소 이해가 가능합니다.

4

그 순간을 마주할 때 나는 침묵했습니다.

5

자연을 관찰할 때 경외감을 느낍니다.

6

삶의 의미를 고찰할 때 우리는 방황합니다.

7

그의 철학을 해석할 때 주의가 필요합니다.

8

미래를 설계할 때 현재의 가치를 잊지 마세요.

よく使う組み合わせ

밥 먹을 때
잘 때
어렸을 때
공부할 때
놀 때
일할 때
운동할 때
여행할 때
영화 볼 때
운전할 때

Idioms & Expressions

"때를 놓치다"

to miss the opportunity

때를 놓치지 말고 지금 하세요.

neutral

"때가 되다"

the time has come

이제 떠날 때가 되었어요.

neutral

"때를 기다리다"

to wait for the right moment

성공을 위해 때를 기다려요.

neutral

"때 아닌"

untimely

때 아닌 비가 내리네요.

literary

"때를 묻히다"

to get dirty

옷에 때를 묻히지 마세요.

casual

"때를 밀다"

to scrub off dead skin

목욕탕에서 때를 밀었어요.

casual

Easily Confused

~ㄹ/을 때 vs 동안

Both relate to time

동안 is duration, 때 is a point in time

1시간 동안 (for an hour) vs. 1시에 (at 1 o'clock).

~ㄹ/을 때 vs 경우

Both mean 'when/case'

경우 is more formal/abstract

비가 올 경우 (in case it rains).

~ㄹ/을 때 vs 시

Both refer to time

시 is strictly for formal writing

도착 시 (upon arrival).

~ㄹ/을 때 vs 때문에

Sounds similar

때문에 means 'because of'

비 때문에 (because of rain).

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + Verb-stem + ~ㄹ/을 때 + Main clause

내가 잘 때 전화하지 마.

A2

Noun + 일 때 + Main clause

학생일 때 행복했다.

B1

Verb-stem + ~ㄹ/을 때마다 + Main clause

그 노래를 들을 때마다 울어요.

B2

Verb-stem + ~ㄹ/을 때까지 + Main clause

올 때까지 기다릴게요.

A2

Adjective-stem + ~ㄹ/을 때 + Main clause

바쁠 때 정말 정신이 없어요.

語族

Nouns

때 time/occasion

関連

언제 interrogative for time

How to Use It

frequency

10

Formality Scale

Formal (하십시오) Polite (해요) Casual (해)

よくある間違い

Using ~ㄹ/을 때 with nouns directly → Noun + 일 때
You need '이다' (to be) before adding the grammar.
Forgetting the space → ~ㄹ/을 때
There must be a space between the verb and '때'.
Using past tense inside the clause → Present tense stem + ~ㄹ/을 때
The tense is usually determined by the main clause.
Confusing with ~동안 → Use ~ㄹ/을 때 for a point in time, ~동안 for duration.
They have different temporal focuses.
Using with future tense → Use ~ㄹ/을 때 (prospective)
The grammar already implies a prospective or general time.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a clock hanging on your wall that says '때'.

💡

Native Usage

Listen for how often Koreans say '그때' (that time).

🌍

Cultural Insight

It reflects the Korean focus on situational context.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Vowel/ㄹ = ㄹ 때, Consonant = 을 때.

💡

Say It Right

Make the 'tt' sound sharp and tense.

💡

Don't Forget the Space

Always keep a space before '때'.

💡

Did You Know?

It is one of the most frequently used grammar points.

💡

Study Smart

Practice by describing your morning routine.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ttae' as 'time'—when you have the 'time', you use 'ttae'!

Visual Association

A clock face with the word '때' in the center.

Word Web

시간 (time) 순간 (moment) 동안 (duration)

チャレンジ

Write 5 sentences about your day using this grammar.

語源

Native Korean

Original meaning: Time, occasion, or moment

文化的な背景

None, it is a neutral grammatical term.

Directly maps to the English 'when' used as a conjunction.

Many K-pop songs use '그때' (that time) in lyrics.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 일할 때 집중하세요
  • 회의할 때 조용히 하세요
  • 점심 먹을 때 이야기해요

At school

  • 공부할 때 책을 펴세요
  • 시험 볼 때 긴장하지 마세요
  • 쉴 때 친구와 놀아요

Travel

  • 여행할 때 사진을 찍어요
  • 도착할 때 연락할게요
  • 떠날 때 인사를 해요

Daily life

  • 잘 때 불을 끄세요
  • 일어날 때 물을 마셔요
  • 운동할 때 음악을 들어요

Conversation Starters

"어렸을 때 무엇을 좋아했어요?"

"공부할 때 음악을 들어요?"

"바쁠 때 어떻게 해요?"

"여행할 때 무엇을 꼭 챙겨요?"

"슬플 때 무엇을 해요?"

Journal Prompts

Describe your day using 'when' clauses.

What do you do when you are happy?

Write about a memory from when you were young.

How do you handle stress when you are busy?

よくある質問

8 問

Use ~ㄹ 때 if the stem ends in a vowel or 'ㄹ'. Use ~을 때 if it ends in a consonant.

Yes, use '일 때' (when it is a [noun]).

Yes, it functions almost exactly the same way.

The tense is usually marked in the main clause, not the '때' clause.

You attach '때' directly (e.g., 만들다 -> 만들 때).

Yes, the structure itself implies a prospective time.

It is neutral and used in all levels of formality.

Because '때' is a noun, it requires a space before it.

自分をテスト

fill blank A1

밥을 ___ 행복해요.

正解！ おしい！ 正解: 먹을 때

Correct structure is verb stem + ~을 때.

multiple choice A2

Which sentence is correct?

正解！ おしい！ 正解: 잘 때 조용해요

Simple, natural sentence structure.

true false B1

Is '~ㄹ/을 때' used for duration?

正解！ おしい！ 正解: 間違い

It is used for a point in time; '동안' is for duration.

match pairs B1

Word

意味

All matched!

Matching action to meaning.

sentence order B2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解！ おしい！ 正解:

Proper order: [Verb+때] + [Object] + [Verb].

スコア： /5

Related Content

この単語を他の言語で

什么时候 中国語 いつ 日本語
役に立った？

コメント (0)

ログインしてコメント
まだコメントがありません。最初に考えをシェアしましょう！