KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -에 (시간)
Korean Grammar “-에 (시간)”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
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 | 점심에 | jeomsime |
| 밤 | night | 밤에 | bame |
| 봄 | spring (season) | 봄에 | bome |
Explanation
저는 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요.
The particle for a point in time is “에,” meaning “at / on ~.” The sentence means “I get up at 7 a.m.” It differs from “에서” (place of an action) and “를” (object marker). Note that 어제, 오늘, and 내일 take no 에.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 저는 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 저는 | ||
| 저 | ㅈ+ㅓ | jeo |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 아침 | ||
| 아 | ㅇ+ㅏ | a |
| 침 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㅁ | chim |
| 일곱 | ||
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | il |
| 곱 | ㄱ+ㅗ+ㅂ | gop |
| 시에 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 일어나요 | ||
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [러] reo |
| 나 | ㄴ+ㅏ | na |
| 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. 일어 → [이러]
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.
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 저는 아침 일곱 시____ 일어나요.
Show the answer
Answer: 저는 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요.
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