Explanation at your level:
This is for you! Use ~을/를 때 to say 'when'. If you say 'When I eat', you say '밥을 먹을 때'. It is very easy and useful for your daily life.
At this level, you can use it to describe routines. 'When I go to school, I take the bus.' Just add the verb stem and you are ready to speak!
You can now use it for more abstract concepts. 'When I feel stressed, I listen to music.' It helps you express complex emotional states clearly.
Use this to narrate past events or hypothetical situations. It adds nuance to your storytelling by clearly defining the temporal bounds of your narrative.
In academic or professional settings, this structure helps maintain logical flow. It connects observations to specific conditions, making your arguments sound more precise and structured.
Mastery involves using this in literary contexts or complex conditional sentences. It allows for a sophisticated layering of time and causality, essential for high-level communication.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used to express 'when' or 'at the time of'.
- Attaches to verb stems.
- Use '을' for consonants, '를' for vowels.
- Essential for daily communication.
Hey there! Think of ~을/를 때 as your best friend for talking about time. In English, we use the word 'when' to set the stage for an action, and this Korean phrase does exactly that.
You use it to connect two ideas by saying 'at the time that X happens, Y also happens.' Whether you are talking about eating, sleeping, or studying, this structure helps you specify exactly when those things take place. It is incredibly versatile and one of the first things you will master!
The word 때 (ttae) is a native Korean noun meaning 'time' or 'moment'. Historically, it has been used to mark specific intervals in a person's life or a sequence of events.
By adding the object particle ~을/를, it essentially turns the concept of 'time' into a grammatical marker. This evolution allowed Korean speakers to create fluid, complex sentences. It is fascinating how a simple noun for 'moment' became the backbone of temporal clauses in the modern language.
You use ~을 때 if the verb stem ends in a consonant (like 먹다 -> 먹을 때), and ~를 때 if it ends in a vowel (like 가다 -> 갈 때—wait, note the rule for 'ㄹ'!).
It is used in almost every situation, from casual chats with friends to formal business reports. You will often see it paired with verbs of motion, state, or emotion. It is the go-to way to narrate your day-to-day life.
1. 밥 먹을 때: When eating (very common). 2. 잘 때: When sleeping. 3. 기쁠 때: When happy. 4. 힘들 때: When things are hard. 5. 어릴 때: When I was young.
These expressions are used daily to share feelings and experiences. They help you connect your current state to a specific time in your memory or schedule.
The pronunciation is straightforward: it sounds like 'ttae' with a tense 't' sound. The preceding verb stem determines the particle choice.
Remember that if a stem ends in 'ㄹ', you just add '때' directly because the 'ㄹ' acts as the marker. It is a very consistent rule once you practice it a few times. Listen to native speakers to catch the natural rhythm of the sentence flow.
Fun Fact
It is one of the most frequently used grammatical markers in the language.
Pronunciation Guide
Short, sharp 't' sound.
Crisp, tense 't' sound.
Common Errors
- Softening the 't'
- Ignoring the tense sound
- Misplacing the stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Requires stem knowledge.
Easy to pronounce.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb Conjugation
먹다 -> 먹을
Particle Usage
을/를
Noun Copula
이다 -> 일 때
Examples by Level
밥을 먹을 때 행복해요.
Food-object eat-when happy-am.
Consonant ending.
영화를 볼 때 재미있어요.
Movie-object watch-when fun-is.
Vowel ending.
잘 때 조용해요.
Sleep-when quiet-is.
Verb stem.
공부할 때 집중해요.
Study-when focus-do.
ㄹ-stem.
운동할 때 물을 마셔요.
Exercise-when water-object drink.
Verb + object.
집에 갈 때 전화해요.
Home-to go-when call-do.
Directional.
노래할 때 좋아요.
Sing-when good-is.
Adjective.
책을 읽을 때 조용해요.
Book-object read-when quiet-is.
Consonant.
8 examples
8 examples
8 examples
8 examples
8 examples
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"때가 되다"
The time has come
이제 떠날 때가 되었어요.
neutral"때를 놓치다"
To miss the opportunity
기회를 때를 놓치지 마세요.
neutral"때를 기다리다"
To wait for the right moment
때를 기다리는 것이 중요해요.
neutral"어릴 때"
In one's childhood
어릴 때 꿈은 가수였어요.
neutral"그때 그 시절"
Back in those days
그때 그 시절이 그리워요.
nostalgic"때와 장소"
Time and place
때와 장소를 가리세요.
formalEasily Confused
Both relate to time.
동안 is duration, 때 is a point.
3시간 동안 vs 3시에 때.
Both used for conditions.
경우 is more formal/hypothetical.
그 경우에 vs 먹을 때.
Both mean time.
시 is more formal/academic.
도착 시 vs 도착할 때.
Both refer to time.
무렵 is an approximation.
저녁 무렵 vs 저녁 때.
Sentence Patterns
Verb + (으)ㄹ 때 + Subject + Verb
밥을 먹을 때 저는 TV를 봐요.
Adjective + (으)ㄹ 때 + Subject + Verb
기쁠 때 웃어요.
Noun + 일 때 + Subject + Verb
학생일 때 공부했어요.
Verb + (으)ㄹ 때까지
올 때까지 기다려요.
Verb + (으)ㄹ 때마다
볼 때마다 생각나요.
Word Family
Nouns
Related
How to Use It
10/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Nouns need a copula like '이다' before '때'.
Consonant vs vowel stems.
The structure naturally implies the timing.
It is the core of the phrase.
Usually refers to the duration of the state.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a clock for '때'.
Native usage
Use it to narrate your actions.
Cultural insight
It is essential for storytelling.
Grammar shortcut
Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 때.
Say it right
Tense 't' sound.
Avoid nouns
Don't connect directly to nouns.
Did you know?
It's one of the first grammar points taught.
Study smart
Use flashcards with verbs.
Context
Use in daily routines.
Verb stems
Focus on the final letter.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Tae' as 'Time'.
Visual Association
A clock ticking.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day using '때'.
Word Origin
Native Korean
Original meaning: A specific point in time
Cultural Context
None.
Directly maps to the English 'when' clause.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Daily Life
- 밥 먹을 때
- 잘 때
- 일할 때
Travel
- 여행할 때
- 도착할 때
- 떠날 때
Work
- 회의할 때
- 출근할 때
- 퇴근할 때
School
- 공부할 때
- 시험 볼 때
- 수업할 때
Conversation Starters
"어릴 때 무엇을 좋아했어요?"
"공부할 때 음악을 들어요?"
"힘들 때 어떻게 해요?"
"여행할 때 무엇을 꼭 가져가요?"
"잠을 잘 때 꿈을 많이 꿔요?"
Journal Prompts
Describe what you do when you are happy.
Write about your routine when you wake up.
What do you do when you are bored?
Reflect on a hobby you had when you were young.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, use '를 때' for vowel stems.
Yes, context determines time.
No, it is strictly temporal.
It is neutral.
Use '일 때'.
Yes.
Yes, very.
동안 is for duration; 때 is for a point in time.
Test Yourself
밥을 ___ 때.
Consonant stem requires '을'.
Which means 'When I sleep'?
Simple verb stem + 때.
Can you use '때' with nouns directly?
You need '일 때'.
Word
Meaning
Direct translation.
Standard structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Adding ~을/를 때 to a verb stem is the most natural way to define the timing of an action in Korean.
- Used to express 'when' or 'at the time of'.
- Attaches to verb stems.
- Use '을' for consonants, '를' for vowels.
- Essential for daily communication.
Memory Palace
Visualize a clock for '때'.
Native usage
Use it to narrate your actions.
Cultural insight
It is essential for storytelling.
Grammar shortcut
Verb stem + (으)ㄹ 때.
Example
집에 갈 때 전화해 주세요.
Related Content
More academic words
입체적
B2Having a three-dimensional effect or examining something from multiple perspectives rather than a single flat view. It implies a comprehensive and detailed analysis.
~에 관해
B1About, concerning.
~에 대하여
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
~대해
A2About; concerning; regarding.
~에 관하여
A2Regarding, concerning, about (a topic).
~에 대해(서)
A1Indicates the topic or subject of discussion, meaning 'about' or 'regarding'.
무엇보다
A2More than anything else; above all.
결석생
A2A student who is absent from class.
추상
A2Abstraction; the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
추상화하다
B2To consider something theoretically or separately from its physical reality. It involves extracting general principles from specific examples.
