언제 means "when" in Korean. It's used to ask about time, dates, and scheduling.
Basic Usage
Simple Questions
Asking when something happens:
- 언제 가요? (When are you going?)
- 언제 와요? (When are you coming?)
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
- 언제예요? (When is it?)
With Particles
Time Particle: 언제 (no particle needed)
Usually used without particles:
- 언제 왔어요? (When did you come?)
- 언제 출발해요? (When are you leaving?)
Can add 에 for emphasis:
- 언제에 가요? (When are you going? - rare, emphasis)
Starting Point: 언제부터
When...from/since:
- 언제부터 시작해요? (When does it start? / From when?)
- 언제부터 한국어를 배웠어요? (Since when have you been learning Korean?)
- 언제부터 아팠어요? (Since when have you been sick?)
- 언제부터 일해요? (From when do you work?)
Ending Point: 언제까지
When...until:
- 언제까지 있을 거예요? (Until when will you be here?)
- 언제까지 기다려요? (Until when will you wait?)
- 언제까지 끝나요? (When will it be finished? / By when?)
- 언제까지 제출해야 해요? (By when do I have to submit it?)
Range: 언제부터 언제까지
From when to when:
- 언제부터 언제까지 일해요? (From when to when do you work?)
- 언제부터 언제까지 방학이에요? (When is the vacation? / From when to when?)
Common Usage Patterns
Asking About Plans
Future events:
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
- 언제 갈 거예요? (When will you go?)
- 언제 시작할 거예요? (When will it start?)
- 언제 올 거예요? (When will you come?)
Asking About Past Events
Things that happened:
- 언제 왔어요? (When did you come?)
- 언제 만났어요? (When did you meet?)
- 언제 들었어요? (When did you hear it?)
- 언제 샀어요? (When did you buy it?)
Asking About Duration
How long/until when:
- 언제까지 있어요? (Until when are you staying?)
- 언제부터 아팠어요? (Since when have you been sick?)
- 언제까지 기다려야 해요? (Until when do I have to wait?)
Asking About Habits
Regular timing:
- 보통 언제 일어나요? (When do you usually wake up?)
- 언제 운동해요? (When do you exercise?)
- 언제 쉬어요? (When do you rest?)
Compound Forms
언제나 (Always)
All the time:
- 언제나 고마워요 (I'm always grateful)
- 언제나 여기 있어요 (I'm always here)
- 언제나 환영해요 (Always welcome)
Note: 언제나 is different from 언제 (when)
언제든지 (Anytime/Whenever)
Any time at all:
- 언제든지 연락하세요 (Contact me anytime)
- 언제든지 좋아요 (Anytime is fine)
- 언제든지 오세요 (Come anytime)
- 언제든지 물어보세요 (Ask anytime)
언젠가 (Someday/Sometime)
At some point in the future:
- 언젠가 만날 거예요 (We'll meet someday)
- 언젠가 가고 싶어요 (I want to go sometime)
- 언젠가 꼭 해 볼게요 (I'll definitely try it someday)
Politeness Levels
Casual (반말)
- 언제 가? (When are you going?)
- 언제 왔어? (When did you come?)
- 언제 만날까? (When shall we meet?)
Polite (해요체)
- 언제 가요? (When are you going?)
- 언제 왔어요? (When did you come?)
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
Formal (합니다체)
- 언제 가십니까? (When are you going?)
- 언제 오셨습니까? (When did you come?)
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
Common Expressions
Daily Questions
- 언제 일어나요? (When do you wake up?)
- 언제 자요? (When do you sleep?)
- 언제 먹어요? (When do you eat?)
- 언제 쉬어요? (When do you rest?)
Making Plans
- 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet?)
- 언제 갈까요? (When shall we go?)
- 언제 시작할까요? (When shall we start?)
- 언제가 좋아요? (When is good for you?)
Scheduling
- 언제까지 끝나요? (When will it be finished?)
- 언제부터 가능해요? (From when is it possible?)
- 언제쯤 올 거예요? (Around when will you come?)
Time Inquiries
- 언제 출발해요? (When are you leaving?)
- 언제 도착해요? (When do you arrive?)
- 언제 돌아와요? (When are you coming back?)
Specific Time References
With 쯤 (Around)
Approximately when:
- 언제쯤 끝나요? (Around when will it finish?)
- 언제쯤 올 거예요? (Around when will you come?)
- 언제쯤 가능해요? (Around when is it possible?)
Specific Dates/Times
Can combine with specific times:
- 내일 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet tomorrow?)
- 이번 주 언제 시간 있어요? (When do you have time this week?)
- 다음 달 언제가 좋아요? (When next month is good?)
Example Sentences
Future Plans
- 언제 한국에 갈 거예요? (When will you go to Korea?)
- 언제 결혼할 거예요? (When will you get married?)
- 언제 이사할 거예요? (When will you move?)
- 언제 졸업할 거예요? (When will you graduate?)
Past Events
- 언제 한국에 왔어요? (When did you come to Korea?)
- 언제 한국어를 시작했어요? (When did you start Korean?)
- 언제 처음 만났어요? (When did you first meet?)
- 언제 들었어요? (When did you hear it?)
Duration Questions
- 언제까지 한국에 있을 거예요? (Until when will you be in Korea?)
- 언제부터 일해요? (From when do you work?)
- 언제부터 언제까지 방학이에요? (When is the vacation?)
Availability
- 언제 시간 있어요? (When do you have time?)
- 언제 가능해요? (When are you available?)
- 언제가 편해요? (When is convenient for you?)
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Making Plans
A: 언제 만날까요?
(When shall we meet?)
B: 토요일 어때요?
(How about Saturday?)
A: 좋아요. 몇 시에 만날까요?
(Good. What time shall we meet?)
Dialogue 2: Past Event
A: 언제 한국에 왔어요?
(When did you come to Korea?)
B: 작년에 왔어요.
(I came last year.)
A: 언제쯤 왔어요?
(Around when did you come?)
B: 3월쯤에 왔어요.
(I came around March.)
Dialogue 3: Deadline
A: 이 보고서 언제까지 제출해야 해요?
(By when do I have to submit this report?)
B: 금요일까지 제출하세요.
(Submit it by Friday.)
Dialogue 4: Duration
A: 언제부터 아팠어요?
(Since when have you been sick?)
B: 어제부터 아팠어요.
(I've been sick since yesterday.)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 언제에 가요?
Adding unnecessary particle
✅ Correct: 언제 가요?
No particle needed usually
❌ Incorrect: 언제나 가요?
Confusing 언제나 (always) with 언제 (when)
✅ Correct: 언제 가요?
언제 = when, 언제나 = always
❌ Incorrect: 부터 언제
Wrong word order
✅ Correct: 언제부터
언제 comes first
Usage Notes
No Particle Usually
언제 typically doesn't need particles:
- ✅ 언제 가요? (standard)
- ✅ 언제에 가요? (acceptable but uncommon)
Exception: 언제부터, 언제까지 (from when, until when)
언제나 vs 언제
Different meanings:
- 언제 = when (question)
- 언제나 = always (statement)
Don't confuse:
- 언제 와요? (When are you coming?)
- 언제나 와요 (You always come)
Flexible Position
Can move in sentence:
- 언제 학교에 가요? (When do you go to school?)
- 학교에 언제 가요? (When do you go to school?)
First position more common
Summary Table
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 언제 | When | 언제 가요? |
| 언제부터 | Since when/From when | 언제부터 아팠어요? |
| 언제까지 | Until when/By when | 언제까지 기다려요? |
| 언제든지 | Anytime/Whenever | 언제든지 오세요 |
| 언제나 | Always | 언제나 고마워요 |
| 언젠가 | Someday/Sometime | 언젠가 가고 싶어요 |
| 언제쯤 | Around when | 언제쯤 올 거예요? |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Usually no particle: 언제 is used alone
- ✅ 언제부터/까지: Common combinations for duration
- ✅ 언제든지: Means "anytime" (not a question)
- ✅ 언제나 ≠ 언제: Always vs. when (different!)
- ✅ Essential question word: Must know for scheduling
- ✅ Flexible position: Can appear at different positions in sentence
언제 is fundamental for asking about time in Korean. Master this question word and its combinations to make plans, ask about schedules, and discuss timing naturally in any situation.