Korean Time Particles: Using -e, -eyo, and -putheo for Times, Days, and Dates
Learn how Korean marks 'at 7 p.m.', 'on Monday', and 'in July' with the particles -e and -eyo, and how to say 'from' a time with -putheo.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Korean does not use separate words like English 'in', 'on', and 'at' before time expressions. Instead, it attaches the particle -에 (e) to a time noun, and in polite speech this often becomes -에요 (eyo). The same particle covers clock times, days, months, and years, so the meaning comes from the noun, not from a changing preposition. This lesson teaches the core pattern, when to use it, and the common beginner error of adding -에 to words like 오늘 (oneul, today) or 지금 (jigeum, now), where it is normally omitted.
By the end, you can…
- attach -에 or -에요 to a clock time, day, month, or date to say when something happens.
- ask and answer simple 'when' questions using 언제 (eonje) and a time noun with -에.
- avoid adding -에 to 오늘, 내일, 지금, and similar time words that do not take it.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 아침 일곱 시에 일어나요.
I get up at seven in the morning.
jeo-neun a-chim il-gop si-e i-reo-na-yo
Clock time plus -에. Use -에 after 시 (si, o'clock).
월요일에 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean on Monday.
wol-yo-il-e han-guk-eo-reul gong-bu-hae-yo
Day of the week plus -에. 월요일 (woryoil) means Monday.
칠월에 여행을 가요.
I go traveling in July.
chil-wol-e yeo-haeng-eul ga-yo
Month plus -에. 칠월 (chirwol) means July.
생일이 시월 십오일에 있어요.
My birthday is on October 15.
saeng-il-i si-wol sip-o-il-e i-sseo-yo
Date plus -에. The date comes before the particle.
몇 시에 만나요?
What time shall we meet?
myeot si-e man-na-yo
Question word 몇 시 (myeot si, what time) plus -에.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is TIME NOUN + -에 + VERB. The particle -에 (e) marks the time when something happens: 세 시에 (se si-e) 'at three o'clock', 금요일에 (geum-yo-il-e) 'on Friday', 구월에 (gu-wol-e) 'in September'. In polite conversation, -에 is often pronounced and written as -에요 (eyo) after a time noun: 세 시에요 (se si-eyo) 'it is at three'. The time noun itself carries the 'at, on, in' meaning, so you do not need a separate word. Word order stays subject - time - verb: 저는 아침 여섯 시에 운동해요 (jeo-neun a-chim yeo-seot si-e un-dong-hae-yo) 'I exercise at six in the morning'.
When to use it
Use -에 with specific clock times, days, months, years, and dates: 오후 일곱 시에 (ohu il-gop si-e) 'at 7 p.m.', 수요일에 (suyoil-e) 'on Wednesday', 유월에 (yuwol-e) 'in June', 이천이십오 년에 (icheon-isip-o nyeon-e) 'in 2025'. Do not add -에 to 오늘 (oneul, today), 내일 (naeil, tomorrow), 어제 (eoje, yesterday), 지금 (jigeum, now), or 언제 (eonje, when). Say 오늘 공부해요 (oneul gong-bu-hae-yo) 'I study today', not 오늘에. For 'from' a time, use -부터 (-butheo): 아홉 시부터 (ahop si-butheo) 'from nine o'clock'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
몇 시에 저녁을 먹어요?
What time do you eat dinner?myeot si-e jeo-nyeok-eul meo-geo-yo보통 일곱 시에 먹어요.
I usually eat at seven.bo-tong il-gop si-e meo-geo-yo그럼 금요일에 만나요?
Then shall we meet on Friday?geu-reom geum-yo-il-e man-na-yo네, 칠월 십팔일이 좋아요.
Yes, July 18 works for me.ne, chil-wol sip-pal-il-i jo-a-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean often omits pronouns when the subject is clear, so 저는 (jeoneun, as for me) can be dropped. The particle -에 is standard in both polite and casual speech, but in very casual conversation speakers may drop it entirely: 일곱 시에 가요 and 일곱 시 가요 are both heard. In writing and careful speech, keeping -에 is safer and clearer.
One thing to watch for
Adding -에 to 오늘, 내일, or 지금, as in 오늘에 공부해요 or 지금에 가요.
Try this instead: These time words normally take no particle. Say 오늘 공부해요 (oneul gong-bu-hae-yo) 'I study today' and 지금 가요 (jigeum ga-yo) 'I go now'. Keep -에 for specific clock times, days, months, years, and dates such as 세 시에, 월요일에, and 칠월에.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I meet my friend on Saturday' using 토요일 (toyoil, Saturday)?
Show a sample answer
저는 토요일에 친구를 만나요.
토요일 is a day of the week, so it takes -에. 저는 can be omitted if the subject is clear.
2Which is correct: 지금에 or 지금?
Show a sample answer
지금
지금 (now) is a time word that does not take -에. Use 지금 가요 (jigeum ga-yo) 'I go now'.
3How do you say 'at 8 p.m.'?
Show a sample answer
오후 여덟 시에
Clock times take -에 after 시. 오후 (ohu) means p.m. or afternoon.
Attach -에 (often -에요 in polite speech) to clock times, days, months, years, and dates, but leave 오늘, 내일, 어제, 지금, and 언제 without it.
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