KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -부터 -까지
Korean Grammar “-부터 -까지”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 1)
How to attach it
This particle does not change: it attaches to every noun in the same way, whatever the last sound is.
| Korean | Meaning | With the particle | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 점심 | lunch, noon | 점심부터 / 점심까지 | jeomsimbuteo / jeomsimkkaji |
| 밤 | night | 밤부터 / 밤까지 | bambuteo / bamkkaji |
| 봄 | spring (season) | 봄부터 / 봄까지 | bombuteo / bomkkaji |
Explanation
수업은 아홉 시부터 열두 시까지예요.
“-부터” marks the starting point and “-까지” the end point, giving “from … to …” for time. The sentence means “Class is from 9:00 to 12:00.” Learners often reach for “-에서” because it also means “from,” but “-에서” is mainly for places, while “-부터” is the basic choice for time and order.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 수업은 아홉 시부터 열두 시까지예요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 수업은 | ||
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 업 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅂ | [어] eo |
| 은 | ㅇ+ㅡ+ㄴ | [븐] beun |
| 아홉 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 홉 | ㅎ+ㅗ+ㅂ | hop |
| 시부터 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 부 | ㅂ+ㅜ | bu |
| 터 | ㅌ+ㅓ | teo |
| 열두 | ||
| 열 | ㅇ+ㅕ+ㄹ | yeol |
| 두 | ㄷ+ㅜ | du |
| 시까지예요 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 까 | ㄲ+ㅏ | kka |
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 예 | ㅇ+ㅖ | ye |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 업은 → [어븐]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 수업 | noun | class, lesson | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 수업은 아홉 시____ 열두 시까지예요.
Show the answer
Answer: 수업은 아홉 시부터 열두 시까지예요.
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