For autodidact students of Korean, "when" is 언제 (eonje) as a question word, and -(으)ㄹ 때 (-(eu)l ttae) as a clause conjunction meaning "when [something happens]." 언제 is used in direct and indirect questions: 언제 와요? (When are you coming?), 언제 왔는지 몰라요 (I don't know when they came). -(으)ㄹ 때 attaches to verb stems and means "at the time when / when": 비가 올 때 (when it rains), 힘들 때 (when it's hard).
Key Takeaways: - 언제 (eonje): when — interrogative - -(으)ㄹ 때: when [clause] — conditional time - -았/었을 때: when [past] — at the time when [something happened] - 언제나 (eonjena): always / at any time - 언제든지 (eonjeondeunjji): whenever - 어느새 (eoneu sae): before one knows it / all of a sudden
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32.1 언제 (eonje) when 올 (ol) come-FUT 거예요 (geoyeyo) thing-is-POLITE?
32.2 힘들 (himdeul) hard-FUT 때 (ttae) when 도와줄게요 (dowajulgeyo) will-help-POLITE
32.3 비가 (biga) rain-SUBJ 올 (ol) come-FUT 때 (ttae) when 우산을 (usaneul) umbrella-OBJ 써요 (sseoyo) use-POLITE
32.4 언제 (eonje) when 한국에 (Hanguge) Korea-TO 처음 (cheoeum) first 왔어요 (wasseoyo) came-POLITE?
32.5 어렸을 (eoryeosseul) young-PAST 때 (ttae) when 꿈이 (kkumi) dream-SUBJ 뭐였어요 (mwoyeosseoyo) what-was-POLITE?
32.6 언제나 (eonjena) always 여기 (yeogi) here 있을게요 (issseulgeyo) will-be-POLITE
32.7 밥 (bap) rice 먹을 (meogeul) eat-FUT 때 (ttae) when 연락해요 (yeolLakhaeyo) contact-POLITE
32.8 언제든지 (eonjeonDeunjji) whenever 와도 (wado) come-even-if 돼요 (dwaeyo) okay-POLITE
32.9 졸업할 (joreophal) graduate-FUT 때 (ttae) when 뭐 (mwo) what 하고 (hago) do-CONJ 싶어요 (sipeoyo) want-POLITE?
32.10 화가 (hwaga) angry-SUBJ 날 (nal) come-FUT 때 (ttae) when 심호흡을 (simhoheubeul) deep-breath-OBJ 해요 (haeyo) do-POLITE
32.11 언제 (eonje) when 이런 (ireon) this-kind 일이 (iri) thing-SUBJ 생겼어요 (saenggyeosseoyo) arose-POLITE?
32.12 행복할 (haengbokal) happy-FUT 때 (ttae) when 그 감정을 (geu gamJeongeul) that-feeling-OBJ 잘 (jal) well 기억해두세요 (gieokhaeduseyo) remember-keep-HON
32.13 언제 (eonje) when 알았어요 (aRasseoyo) knew-POLITE?
32.14 필요할 (piRyohal) need-FUT 때 (ttae) when 말해요 (malhaeyo) say-POLITE
32.15 언제부터 (eonJebuteo) since-when 한국어를 (hangugoreul) Korean-OBJ 배웠어요 (baewoosseoyo) learned-POLITE?
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32.1 언제 올 거예요? "When are you coming?" 32.2 힘들 때 도와줄게요. "I'll help when it's hard." 32.3 비가 올 때 우산을 써요. "Use an umbrella when it rains." 32.4 언제 한국에 처음 왔어요? "When did you first come to Korea?" 32.5 어렸을 때 꿈이 뭐였어요? "What was your dream when you were young?" 32.6 언제나 여기 있을게요. "I will always be here." 32.7 밥 먹을 때 연락해요. "Contact me when you eat / at mealtime." 32.8 언제든지 와도 돼요. "You can come whenever." 32.9 졸업할 때 뭐 하고 싶어요? "What do you want to do when you graduate?" 32.10 화가 날 때 심호흡을 해요. "When you get angry, take a deep breath." 32.11 언제 이런 일이 생겼어요? "When did this kind of thing arise?" 32.12 행복할 때 그 감정을 잘 기억해두세요. "When you are happy, keep that feeling well remembered." 32.13 언제 알았어요? "When did you find out?" 32.14 필요할 때 말해요. "Tell me when you need [it]." 32.15 언제부터 한국어를 배웠어요? "Since when have you been learning Korean?"
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32.1 언제 올 거예요? 32.2 힘들 때 도와줄게요. 32.3 비가 올 때 우산을 써요. 32.4 언제 한국에 처음 왔어요? 32.5 어렸을 때 꿈이 뭐였어요? 32.6 언제나 여기 있을게요. 32.7 밥 먹을 때 연락해요. 32.8 언제든지 와도 돼요. 32.9 졸업할 때 뭐 하고 싶어요? 32.10 화가 날 때 심호흡을 해요. 32.11 언제 이런 일이 생겼어요? 32.12 행복할 때 그 감정을 잘 기억해두세요. 32.13 언제 알았어요? 32.14 필요할 때 말해요. 32.15 언제부터 한국어를 배웠어요?
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-(으)ㄹ 때 — present/future when: Verb/Adj stem + -(으)ㄹ 때 = when [something is/will be the case]. After vowel: -ㄹ 때 (힘들 때, 갈 때). After consonant: -을 때 (먹을 때, 읽을 때). Used for habitual, general, and future time clauses.
-았/었을 때 — past when: Verb + 았/었을 때 = at the time when [something happened in the past]. 어렸을 때 (when I was young), 왔을 때 (when I came), 들었을 때 (when I heard). The -았/었 marks that the temporal clause is past-referential.
언제나 vs 항상 vs 늘: All mean "always/at all times" with slight nuance. 언제나: at any time / whenever (emphasises temporal universality). 항상: always, regularly (habit/regularity). 늘: always (literary/poetic, slightly warmer). In practice interchangeable.
기억해두다 — "keep in memory / remember and hold onto": 기억하다 (remember) + 두다 (keep/maintain). The -아/어두다 construction preserves a state for future use: 기억해두다 (keep remembering), 써두다 (write and keep), 사두다 (buy and keep). 행복할 때 그 감정을 기억해두세요 — hold onto that feeling.
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어렸을 때 (when I was young) — one of the most common opening phrases in Korean personal narratives. Korean conversation moves naturally into the past: 어렸을 때 어땠어요? (What was it like when you were young?). Korean culture's strong emphasis on education and childhood aspiration makes 어렸을 때 a frequent temporal anchor in self-narrative.
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정지용 (Jeong Jiyong), 《향수》— Nostalgia, 1927
넓은 벌 동쪽 끝으로 / 옛이야기 지줄대는 실개천이 휘돌아 나가고, / 얼룩백이 황소가 / 해설피 금빛 게으른 울음을 우는 곳 — // 그 곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊히리야.
F-A: Interlinear (key phrase) — 어릴 (eoril) young-FUT 때 (ttae) when 살던 (saldeon) used-to-live 그 (geu) that 곳이 (gosi) place-SUBJ
F-B: Translation (adapted) — "The place where I lived when I was young."
F-C: Original (key phrase) — 어릴 때 살던 고향
F-D: Notes — 어릴 때 (when young): -ㄹ 때 applied to 어리다 (be young) = when young. 살던 (used to live): past retrospective -던. Together: the when-young + the place-of-habitual-living = the grammar of nostalgic memory.
F-E: Commentary — 어릴 때 is the temporal key that opens the door to 향수 (nostalgia). 때 (time/moment) in Korean is not merely temporal — it is the container of feeling. 행복할 때, 힘들 때, 어릴 때 — time as the shape of experience rather than merely its coordinate. Jeong Jiyong's 향수 is built entirely from 때-moments: the specific when of childhood that defines the self.
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Two old friends reminiscing — 언제 and -(으)ㄹ 때 across a shared past.
32.16 지수: 우리 (uri) we 처음 (cheoeum) first 만났을 (mannasseul) met-PAST 때 (ttae) when 기억해 (gieokhae) remember-INF?
32.17 민준: 물론 (mullOn) of-course-INF。대학교 (daehakgyo) university 입학했을 (iphaGhaesseul) entered-PAST 때 (ttae) when 였잖아 (yeotjanha) was-wasn't-it-INF
32.18 지수: 맞아 (maja) right-INF。그때 (geuttae) at-that-time 우리 (uri) we 둘 다 (dul da) both 얼마나 (eolmana) how 긴장했었는지 (ginjanGhaesseonneunji) were-nervous-QUOT
32.19 민준: 언제 (eonje) when 이렇게 (ireoke) like-this 친해졌는지 (chinhaejyeonNeunji) became-close-QUOT 모르겠어 (moreugesseo) don't-know-INF
32.20 지수: 힘들었을 (himdeureosseul) hard-PAST 때 (ttae) when 옆에 (yeope) beside-AT 있어줬잖아 (issseojwotjanha) were-there-weren't-you-INF
32.21 민준: 너도 (neodo) you-also 마찬가지야 (machanGajiya) same-is-INF。내가 (naega) I-SUBJ 힘들 (himdeul) hard-FUT 때마다 (ttaemada) every-time 항상 (hangsang) always 전화 (jeonhwa) phone 해줬잖아 (haejwotjanha) called-didn't-you-INF
32.22 지수: 언제 (eonje) when 제일 (jeil) most 힘들었어 (himdeureosseo) was-hard-INF?
32.23 민준: 졸업하고 (joreopHago) after-graduating 취업 (chwijeop) employment 준비할 (junbihal) prepare-FUT 때 (ttae) when。그때 (geuttae) at-that-time 아무것도 (amugotdo) nothing 안 (an) not 될 (doel) work-FUT 것 (geot) thing 같았어 (gatasseo) seemed-INF
32.24 지수: 맞아 (maja) right-INF。그때 (geuttae) at-that-time 너 (neo) you 많이 (manhi) much 힘들어했었지 (himdeuROhaesseotji) was-struggling-right-INF
32.25 민준: 근데 (geunde) but 그때 (geuttae) at-that-time 를 (reul) OBJ 지나고 보니 (jinago boni) after-passing-and-seeing 언제 (eonje) when 그랬냐 (graettnya) was-it-like-that-INF 싶어 (sipeo) seems-INF
32.26 지수: 언제나 (eonjena) always 그렇지 (geureochi) like-that-right-INF。힘들 (himdeul) hard-FUT 때 (ttae) when 는 (neun) TOPIC 영원히 (yeongwonhi) forever 힘들 (himdeul) hard-FUT 것 (geot) thing 같지만 (gatjiman) seems-but
32.27 민준: 지나고 나면 (jinago namyeon) after-passing 아무것도 (amugotdo) nothing 아니더라 (anideoRa) isn't-it-turns-out-INF
32.28 지수: 언제 (eonje) when 이런 (ireon) this-kind 이야기를 (iyagireul) talk-OBJ 다시 (dasi) again 할 수 (hal su) will-be-able 있을지 (issseulji) whether-have-INF 모르겠지만 (moreugGetjiman) don't-know-but
32.29 민준: 언제든 (eonjedeun) whenever 연락해 (yeonlakae) contact-INF。나 (na) I 언제나 (eonjena) always 여기 (yeogi) here 있어 (isseo) am-INF
32.30 지수: 나도 (nado) I-also。언제나 (eonjena) always
32.16 「우리 처음 만났을 때 기억해?」 "'Do you remember when we first met?'" 32.17 「물론. 대학교 입학했을 때였잖아.」 "'Of course. It was when we entered university, wasn't it.'" 32.18 「맞아. 그때 우리 둘 다 얼마나 긴장했었는지.」 "'Right. How nervous we both were then.'" 32.19 「언제 이렇게 친해졌는지 모르겠어.」 "'I don't know when we became this close.'" 32.20 「힘들었을 때 옆에 있어줬잖아.」 "'You were by my side when it was hard.'" 32.21 「너도 마찬가지야. 내가 힘들 때마다 항상 전화 해줬잖아.」 "'Same with you. Every time I was struggling you always called.'" 32.22 「언제 제일 힘들었어?」 "'When was it hardest?'" 32.23 「졸업하고 취업 준비할 때. 그때 아무것도 안 될 것 같았어.」 "'When preparing for employment after graduating. Then it seemed nothing would work.'" 32.24 「맞아. 그때 너 많이 힘들어했었지.」 "'Right. You were really struggling then.'" 32.25 「근데 그때를 지나고 보니 언제 그랬냐 싶어.」 "'But now that I've passed through that time, I wonder when it was even like that.'" 32.26 「언제나 그렇지. 힘들 때는 영원히 힘들 것 같지만.」 "'It's always like that. When it's hard it seems like it'll be hard forever, but.'" 32.27 「지나고 나면 아무것도 아니더라.」 "'After you pass through it turns out to be nothing.'" 32.28 「언제 이런 이야기를 다시 할 수 있을지 모르겠지만.」 "'I don't know when we'll be able to talk like this again, but.'" 32.29 「언제든 연락해. 나 언제나 여기 있어.」 "'Contact me whenever. I'm always here.'" 32.30 「나도. 언제나.」 "'Me too. Always.'"
32.16 「우리 처음 만났을 때 기억해?」 32.17 「물론. 대학교 입학했을 때였잖아.」 32.18 「맞아. 그때 우리 둘 다 얼마나 긴장했었는지.」 32.19 「언제 이렇게 친해졌는지 모르겠어.」 32.20 「힘들었을 때 옆에 있어줬잖아.」 32.21 「너도 마찬가지야. 내가 힘들 때마다 항상 전화 해줬잖아.」 32.22 「언제 제일 힘들었어?」 32.23 「졸업하고 취업 준비할 때. 그때 아무것도 안 될 것 같았어.」 32.24 「맞아. 그때 너 많이 힘들어했었지.」 32.25 「근데 그때를 지나고 보니 언제 그랬냐 싶어.」 32.26 「언제나 그렇지. 힘들 때는 영원히 힘들 것 같지만.」 32.27 「지나고 나면 아무것도 아니더라.」 32.28 「언제 이런 이야기를 다시 할 수 있을지 모르겠지만.」 32.29 「언제든 연락해. 나 언제나 여기 있어.」 32.30 「나도. 언제나.」
-때마다 (ttaemada) — "every time when": 때 (time/when) + 마다 (every/each) = every time [something happens]. 힘들 때마다 (every time it's hard), 볼 때마다 (every time I see [you/it]). The combination of -(으)ㄹ 때 with 마다 creates a universal temporal quantifier.
-더라 (deoRa) — retrospective realisation: 아무것도 아니더라 (it turns out to be nothing). -더라 marks something the speaker discovered or realised from direct experience — a retrospective revelation. 생각보다 쉽더라 (it turned out easier than I thought). Common in Korean when sharing what life taught you.
그랬냐 싶다 — "I wonder if it was really like that": 그랬다 (it was like that) + -냐 (question suffix, plain) + 싶다 (feel/seem). 언제 그랬냐 싶어 = "I wonder when it was even like that / Was it really that way?" — the grammar of retrospective disbelief that something was ever so hard.
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언제 (eonje) — IPA: /ʌn.dʑe/ — Two syllables: /ʌn/ (open-mid back + nasal) + /dʑe/ (voiced palatal affricate + front mid). The ㅈ is voiced between the nasal and the vowel. 때 (ttae) — IPA: /t͈ɛ/ — One syllable: fortis /t͈/ + front low vowel /ɛ/. The ㄸ is the tensed (tense) stop — not aspirated like ㅌ, not lax like ㄷ, but tense/glottalised.
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