πŸ“˜ Grammar 6: Time Expressions in Korean – Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday

πŸ“˜ Time Expressions in Korean – Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday

How do you say "today", "tomorrow", or "now" in Korean? Time expressions are essential in daily conversations, especially when you want to talk about schedules, plans, or past events.

This post will teach you the most common Korean time expressions with Romanization, example sentences, and practical tips so you can start using them right away!


πŸ• Common Korean Time Words

English Korean Romanization
nowμ§€κΈˆji-geum
today였늘o-neul
tomorrow내일nae-il
yesterdayμ–΄μ œeo-je
this morning였늘 μ•„μΉ¨o-neul a-chim
tonight였늘 밀o-neul bam
this weekend이번 주말i-beon ju-mal
next weekλ‹€μŒ μ£Όda-eum ju
last weekμ§€λ‚œ μ£Όji-nan ju

🧠 How to Use Time Words in Sentences

In Korean, time words usually come at the beginning of the sentence or before the verb.

  • 였늘 κ³΅λΆ€ν•΄μš” – I study today.
  • μ–΄μ œ μ˜ν™”λ₯Ό λ΄€μ–΄μš” – I watched a movie yesterday.
  • μ§€κΈˆ λ°₯을 λ¨Ήμ–΄μš” – I am eating now.

Just like in English, time gives context to what you're saying!


πŸ“˜ Example Sentences with Time Expressions

KoreanEnglishRomanization
μ§€κΈˆ 뭐 ν•΄μš”? What are you doing now? ji-geum mwo hae-yo?
내일 λ§Œλ‚˜μš”! See you tomorrow! nae-il man-na-yo
μ–΄μ œ 학ꡐ에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. I went to school yesterday. eo-je hak-gyo-e gat-sseo-yo
이번 주말에 뭐 ν•  κ±°μ˜ˆμš”? What are you doing this weekend? i-beon ju-mal-e mwo hal geo-ye-yo?

πŸ” Combining Time with Verbs

Time expressions are used with various tenses:

  • Present: μ§€κΈˆ μš΄λ™ν•΄μš” – I’m exercising now
  • Past: μ–΄μ œ ν”Όμž λ¨Ήμ—ˆμ–΄μš” – I ate pizza yesterday
  • Future: 내일 친ꡬλ₯Ό λ§Œλ‚  κ±°μ˜ˆμš” – I will meet my friend tomorrow

πŸ’‘ TIP: Add particle 에 when time is used precisely (ex: 3μ‹œμ—, 아침에), but general time expressions (였늘, 내일) don't need a particle.


πŸ“ Mini Quiz – Choose the Right Expression

  1. What does “μ§€κΈˆ” mean?
    a) Tomorrow
    b) Yesterday
    c) Now
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ c) Now

  2. Translate: “I will go tomorrow.”
    a) μ–΄μ œ κ°€μš”
    b) 내일 갈 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”
    c) μ§€κΈˆ κ°€μš”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ b) 내일 갈 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”

  3. Choose the correct Korean for “See you this weekend.”
    a) μ§€λ‚œ 주에 λ΄μš”
    b) 이번 주말에 λ΄μš”
    c) 내일 λ΄μš”
    Click to Show Answer

    ✅ b) 이번 주말에 λ΄μš”


✅ Conclusion

Time expressions in Korean help you sound natural and clear when you speak. You learned how to say:

  • 였늘 – today
  • 내일 – tomorrow
  • μ–΄μ œ – yesterday
  • μ§€κΈˆ – now
  • 이번 주말 – this weekend

Practice using them in real sentences every day – what you did yesterday, what you’re doing now, and what you’ll do tomorrow!


πŸ“˜ Coming Next

Next post: “How to Use ~κ³  – Connecting Sentences in Korean”
You’ll learn how to link ideas smoothly using the verb connector ~κ³  (and), like "I eat and go" – λ¨Ήκ³  κ°€μš”!


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