-(으)ㄹ 때 in Korean: “when”
-(으)ㄹ 때
-(eu)l ttae
when
Beginner · Linking ideas
-(으)ㄹ 때 (-(eu)l ttae) means "when" and marks the time something happens, like "when I'm bored" or "when I was young". It works with both verbs and adjectives.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stem ending in a vowel | + ㄹ 때 | 가다 → 갈 때, 바쁘다 → 바쁠 때 |
| Stem ending in a consonant | + 을 때 | 먹다 → 먹을 때, 덥다 → 더울 때 |
| Stem ending in ㄹ | + 때 | 놀다 → 놀 때, 길다 → 길 때 |
| Past (after it happened) | + 았/었을 때 | 가다 → 갔을 때, 만나다 → 만났을 때 |
| Some nouns | + 때 | 방학 → 방학 때, 시험 → 시험 때 |
How to use it
A-(으)ㄹ 때 B means B happens at the time of A. The -(으)ㄹ shape does not mean future here; it just marks the time.
-았/었을 때 is for a finished event: 한국에 갔을 때 (when I went to Korea, once I was there). 한국에 갈 때 can mean while going or around the time of going.
After certain nouns you can use 때 directly: 방학 때, 시험 때, 어릴 때. Not every time word takes it, though. Days and clock times use 에: 월요일에, not 월요일 때.
Examples
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Getting to know someone
Talking about childhood
At the dinner table
Remembering together
Don’t mix it up with
-(으)면: Means "if" or "whenever" and sets a condition. -(으)ㄹ 때 marks the time something happens.
-는 동안: Stresses a whole stretch of time (while). -(으)ㄹ 때 points to the moment or period more generally.
Common mistakes
Adding 때 to every time word: 월요일 때 or 세 시 때 is wrong. Use 월요일에, 세 시에.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 갈 때 and 갔을 때?
갈 때 is the time of going, often on the way. 갔을 때 is after arriving or once the going had happened: 한국에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요 (when I went to Korea, I met a friend there).
How do you say "when I was young" in Korean?
어릴 때 or 어렸을 때. Both are very common.