Korean Time Words & Phrases: Essential Vocabulary Guide
Understanding Korean vocabulary time expressions is essential for daily conversations, from making appointments to discussing schedules. This comprehensive guide covers the most important Korean words for time that every learner needs to master.
Essential Time Vocabulary
When you learn Korean time expressions, start with these fundamental words that appear in everyday conversations:
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 시간 | si-gan | time, hour | 시간이 없어요 (I don't have time) |
| 분 | bun | minute | 5분만 기다려 주세요 (Please wait 5 minutes) |
| 초 | cho | second | 10초 남았어요 (10 seconds left) |
| 오전 | o-jeon | AM, morning | 오전 9시에 만나요 (Let's meet at 9 AM) |
| 오후 | o-hu | PM, afternoon | 오후에 전화할게요 (I'll call in the afternoon) |
| 지금 | ji-geum | now | 지금 뭐 해요? (What are you doing now?) |
| 나중에 | na-jung-e | later | 나중에 얘기해요 (Let's talk later) |
| 어제 | eo-je | yesterday | 어제 뭐 했어요? (What did you do yesterday?) |
| 오늘 | o-neul | today | 오늘 날씨가 좋아요 (The weather is nice today) |
| 내일 | nae-il | tomorrow | 내일 봐요! (See you tomorrow!) |
| 아침 | a-chim | morning | 아침에 일찍 일어나요 (I wake up early in the morning) |
| 점심 | jeom-sim | noon, lunch | 점심 먹었어요? (Did you eat lunch?) |
| 저녁 | jeo-nyeok | evening | 저녁에 시간 있어요? (Are you free in the evening?) |
| 밤 | bam | night | 밤에 잠을 못 잤어요 (I couldn't sleep at night) |
| 새벽 | sae-byeok | dawn, early morning | 새벽 4시에 일어났어요 (I woke up at 4 AM) |
| 주 | ju | week | 이번 주에 바빠요 (I'm busy this week) |
| 달/월 | dal/wol | month | 다음 달에 여행 가요 (I'm traveling next month) |
| 년 | nyeon | year | 올해는 2024년이에요 (This year is 2024) |
Common Phrases
These expressions are frequently used when discussing time in Korean conversations:
- 몇 시예요? (myeot si-ye-yo) — What time is it?
- 시간이 얼마나 걸려요? (si-gan-i eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo) — How long does it take?
- 언제 시간 돼요? (eon-je si-gan dwae-yo) — When are you available?
- 시간 있어요? (si-gan iss-eo-yo) — Do you have time?
- 벌써 이 시간이에요? (beol-sseo i si-gan-i-e-yo) — Is it already this late?
- 시간이 빨리 가네요 (si-gan-i bbal-li ga-ne-yo) — Time flies
- 오래 걸려요 (o-rae geol-lyeo-yo) — It takes a long time
- 금방 올게요 (geum-bang ol-ge-yo) — I'll be right back
- 항상/늘 (hang-sang/neul) — Always
- 가끔 (ga-kkeum) — Sometimes
Usage Notes
When learning Korean vocabulary for time, keep these important cultural and grammatical points in mind:
- Two number systems: Korean uses both native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋) for hours and Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) for minutes. For example, 3:30 is 세 시 삼십 분 (se si sam-sip bun).
- The 12-hour system: While 24-hour time exists in formal contexts, everyday conversation typically uses the 12-hour system with 오전 (AM) and 오후 (PM).
- Time markers come first: In Korean sentences, time expressions usually appear at the beginning. For example: 내일 학교에 가요 (Tomorrow I go to school).
- Half hours: Use 반 (ban) for "half." So 2:30 is 두 시 반 (du si ban).
- Approximate time: Add 쯤 (jjeum) to indicate "around" or "about." For example: 3시쯤 means "around 3 o'clock."
- Duration vs. point in time: Use -에 for specific points in time (3시에 — at 3 o'clock) but no particle for duration (3시간 — for 3 hours).
Practice Sentences
Practice these example sentences to reinforce your understanding of Korean time expressions:
- 저는 매일 아침 7시에 일어나요.
Jeo-neun mae-il a-chim il-gop si-e i-reo-na-yo.
I wake up at 7 AM every morning. - 회의가 오후 2시부터 4시까지예요.
Hoe-ui-ga o-hu du si-bu-teo ne si-kka-ji-ye-yo.
The meeting is from 2 PM to 4 PM. - 어제 밤에 영화를 봤어요.
Eo-je bam-e yeong-hwa-reul bwass-eo-yo.
I watched a movie last night. - 일주일에 세 번 운동해요.
Il-ju-il-e se beon un-dong-hae-yo.
I exercise three times a week. - 지금 몇 시예요? — 지금 오후 3시 15분이에요.
Ji-geum myeot si-ye-yo? — Ji-geum o-hu se si sip-o bun-i-e-yo.
What time is it now? — It's 3:15 PM now. - 한국에 얼마나 오래 있을 거예요?
Han-guk-e eol-ma-na o-rae iss-eul geo-ye-yo?
How long will you stay in Korea? - 2년 동안 한국어를 공부했어요.
I-nyeon dong-an han-guk-eo-reul gong-bu-haess-eo-yo.
I studied Korean for 2 years. - 다음 주 월요일에 만나요.
Da-eum ju wol-yo-il-e man-na-yo.
Let's meet next Monday.