B1 particle #1,000 most common 2 min read

~로부터

This particle shows where something starts or comes from.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use ~로부터 to say where things come from. If you get a letter, you can say it is from your friend. It is a very useful word for beginners to learn early!

When you want to talk about a start time or a source, use ~로부터. It is common in formal sentences. For example, 'The news is from the government.' It makes your sentences sound very clear.

At this level, you will notice ~로부터 is used more in writing than in casual speech. It is the perfect choice for formal letters or reports. It helps you specify the origin of information or objects effectively.

Understanding the nuance of ~로부터 is key. While '에서' is for locations and '부터' is for time, '로부터' covers both and adds a formal, objective tone. Use it to sound more professional in your business communications.

In advanced contexts, ~로부터 is often used to establish causality or provenance. It is frequently found in academic discourse, such as 'The hypothesis stems from empirical data.' It adds a layer of precision that is highly valued in formal Korean rhetoric.

Mastering ~로부터 involves recognizing its role in literary and legal registers. It is often used to create a sense of distance or objective reporting. In high-level writing, it serves to distinguish the source of an action from the action itself, adding structural complexity and nuance to your arguments.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used for origin/source.
  • Very formal.
  • Attaches to nouns.
  • Similar to English 'from'.

Hey there! Think of ~로부터 as the Korean way of saying 'from' when you want to talk about where something began. It’s a super helpful particle that connects a starting point to the rest of your sentence.

Whether you are talking about time, a physical location, or even an abstract source, ~로부터 helps you pinpoint exactly where the journey started. It’s a bit more formal than the basic '에서', making your Korean sound polished and precise!

The particle ~로부터 is a combination of the particle '로' (indicating direction or method) and '부터' (meaning 'beginning from'). Historically, this construction evolved to provide more clarity in written language.

While '부터' is used for time or order, ~로부터 carries a slightly stronger sense of 'origin' or 'source.' It has been a staple in formal Korean literature and legal documents for centuries, helping writers distinguish between a simple starting time and a definitive source of information or movement.

You will mostly see ~로부터 in news reports, formal emails, or academic papers. It is perfect for phrases like 'receiving a gift from a friend' or 'a change starting from today.'

It pairs beautifully with verbs like '받다' (to receive) or '시작되다' (to begin). Because it sounds professional, try using it when you want to sound extra clear and respectful in your writing or formal speeches!

While it is a particle, it appears in many set phrases. 1. ~로부터 멀어지다 (to move away from). 2. ~로부터 독립하다 (to become independent from). 3. ~로부터 유래하다 (to originate from). 4. ~로부터 보호하다 (to protect from). 5. ~로부터 영감을 얻다 (to get inspiration from).

These phrases are very common in both professional settings and creative writing, helping you describe relationships between things clearly.

Grammatically, ~로부터 attaches directly to the noun. It doesn't change based on whether the noun ends in a consonant or vowel, which makes it super easy to use!

In terms of pronunciation, it sounds like [ro-bu-teo]. Make sure to enunciate the 't' sound clearly. It rhymes with words like '보태' (to add) in a loose sense, though it is a particle, not a standalone word.

Fun Fact

It is a compound of two particles!

Pronunciation Guide

UK ro-bu-teo

Clear syllables

US ro-bu-teo

Clear syllables

Common Errors

  • Softening the 't'
  • Merging with noun
  • Incorrect pitch

Rhymes With

보태 토대 모태 도태 포태

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy

Writing 3/5

Moderate

Speaking 4/5

Formal

Listening 2/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

에서 부터

Learn Next

기인하다 비롯되다

Advanced

~로부터의

Grammar to Know

Particle usage

Noun + particle

Examples by Level

1

친구로부터 편지를 받았어요.

Friend-from letter received.

Particle usage.

2

...

3

...

4

...

5

...

6

...

7

...

8

...

1

오늘로부터 시작해요.

2

그 소식은 선생님으로부터 들었어요.

3

하늘로부터 내려온 빛.

4

부모님으로부터 선물을 받았다.

5

어디로부터 왔나요?

6

그것은 역사로부터 배웠다.

7

도움은 친구로부터 왔다.

8

새로운 시작은 오늘로부터.

1

정부로부터 승인을 받았습니다.

2

그는 가족으로부터 독립했다.

3

이 전통은 옛날로부터 전해졌다.

4

우리는 자연으로부터 배운다.

5

그녀로부터 연락이 없네요.

6

이 규칙은 법으로부터 정해졌다.

7

데이터는 연구로부터 나왔다.

8

그 소문은 익명의 제보자로부터 시작되었다.

1

그 문제는 외부로부터 야기되었다.

2

그는 고향으로부터 멀리 떠났다.

3

이 아이디어는 책으로부터 얻었다.

4

그들은 적들로부터 도시를 보호했다.

5

전통은 조상으로부터 물려받았다.

6

그는 상사로부터 칭찬을 들었다.

7

이 변화는 내부로부터 시작되어야 한다.

8

그 결과는 실험으로부터 도출되었다.

1

이 현상은 기후 변화로부터 기인한다.

2

그는 권력으로부터 자유로워지고 싶어 했다.

3

이 예술 작품은 자연으로부터 영감을 받았다.

4

그 결정은 위원회로부터 승인되었다.

5

우리는 과거로부터 교훈을 얻어야 한다.

6

그는 고통으로부터 벗어나고 싶었다.

7

이 지식은 경험으로부터 축적된 것이다.

8

그들은 압박으로부터 해방되었다.

1

본 문서는 법적 근거로부터 작성되었습니다.

2

그의 철학은 고대 사상으로부터 유래한다.

3

이러한 현상은 구조적 결함으로부터 비롯된다.

4

그는 고립으로부터 탈피하려 노력했다.

5

이 문화는 지리적 특성으로부터 형성되었다.

6

그 소설은 실제 사건으로부터 영감을 받았다.

7

그는 편견으로부터 자유로운 사고를 가진다.

8

이 시스템은 복잡한 알고리즘으로부터 작동한다.

Common Collocations

시작되다
받다
유래하다
비롯되다
독립하다
보호하다
멀어지다
영감을 얻다
해방되다
도출하다
승인받다

Idioms & Expressions

"무로부터의 창조"

Creation from nothing

그것은 무로부터의 창조였다.

formal

""

""

""

""

""

Easily Confused

~로부터 vs 에서

Both mean from

Location vs Source

학교에서 vs 선생님으로부터

~로부터 vs

~로부터 vs

~로부터 vs

Sentence Patterns

A1

Noun + ~로부터 + Verb

선생님으로부터 배웠다.

Word Family

Nouns

시작 Start

Verbs

시작하다 To start

Related

부터 Time-based start

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Formal writing Speech Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

Using ~로부터 for everything → Use 에서 or 부터 for simple cases
It is too formal for casual chat
Mixing with ~에게
Using for non-source
Ignoring spacing
Overusing in speech
Confusing with ~까지

Tips

💡

Use in Writing

Keep it for reports.

💡

Noun Attachment

Always noun first.

💡

Flashcards

Use sentences.

💡

Avoid in casual talk

Don't use with friends.

🌍

Formal tone

Sounds respectful.

💡

Compound

Two words in one.

💡

Clear T

Say it sharp.

💡

Context

Learn with verbs.

💡

Read news

Find it in articles.

💡

Professionalism

Use for business.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ro-bu-teo: 'Road' to 'Beginning'

Visual Association

A starting line on a track.

Word Web

Start Origin Source Beginning

Challenge

Write 3 sentences today.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: From the beginning/source

Cultural Context

None

Equivalent to 'from' in formal contexts.

Many formal speeches Official documents

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work

  • 보고서로부터
  • 결과로부터
  • 지시로부터

Conversation Starters

"어디로부터 왔나요?"

"누구로부터 들었나요?"

"무엇으로부터 시작할까요?"

"과거로부터 배운 점은?"

"어디로부터 영감을 받나요?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a gift received.

Describe a start of a project.

Explain an origin story.

Reflect on a lesson.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, 에서 is for location.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

친구 ___ 선물을 받았다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 로부터

Source particle.

multiple choice A2

Which means 'from the government'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 정부로부터

Formal source.

true false B1

Is ~로부터 used in casual speech?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is formal.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Vocabulary match.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Correct structure.

Score: /5

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