🕰️ Time Expressions in Korean: 부터 / 까지 / 동안

Learning how to say "from," "to," and "for" in Korean is essential for describing your schedule, travel plans, and daily activities. Let’s dive into three commonly used time expressions in Korean: 부터 (from), 까지 (to/until), and 동안 (for/during). Get ready to speak Korean more naturally and confidently! 💬

📘 1. What Do These Words Mean?

부터 (buteo): from a specific time or date
까지 (kkaji): until a certain point in time
동안 (dongan): for a duration of time

These words are used to define start time, end time, and duration — perfect for schedules and conversations!

🧱 2. Sentence Structures

시간 + 부터 + 시간 + 까지
→ From [time] to [time]

기간 + 동안
→ For [duration]

They usually come before the verb, especially when talking about time.

📝 3. Example Sentences

한국어 (Korean)	발음 (Romanization)	영어 (English)
아침 9시부터 저녁 6시까지 일해요.	achim ahopsi buteo jeonyeok yeoksit kkaji ilhaeyo	I work from 9am to 6pm.
월요일부터 금요일까지 학교에 가요.	woryoil buteo geumyoil kkaji hakgyoe gayo	I go to school from Monday to Friday.
2시간 동안 공부했어요.	du sigan dongan gongbuhaesseoyo	I studied for 2 hours.
휴가 동안 여행했어요.	hyuga dongan yeohaenghaesseoyo	I traveled during my vacation.

💡 4. Did You Know?

💡 부터 is not only for time — it’s also used to emphasize sequence! For example, “나부터 할게요” means “I’ll go first.” It reflects Korean politeness in taking initiative.

💡 동안 also appears in set expressions like “오랜만이에요” (It’s been a long time). Literally, it implies: “It has been a long period since we met.”

💡 In historical dramas or storytelling, you might hear “몇 년 동안...” to describe long hardships or royal reigns. Example: “그 왕은 20년 동안 나라를 다스렸어요.” (That king ruled the country for 20 years.)

🧠 5. Self-Learning Tips

🗓️ Write about your weekly schedule using 부터 and 까지
🕐 Choose one activity and describe how long you did it using 동안
🎧 Watch K-dramas and note how characters use these expressions in context

Quick Quiz:
Translate: “I worked from 10am to 3pm.”
✅ 정답: 오전 10시부터 오후 3시까지 일했어요.

🎓 6. Learn More Korean with Me!

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