부터
From, Starting with
Use -부터 after a noun to mean 'from' or 'starting from'. It marks the beginning of a time period, a location, or a sequence.
How It Works
-부터 is a fundamental Korean particle used to indicate a starting point. It's equivalent to 'from' or 'starting from' in English and can be applied in various contexts.
1. Starting Point in Time
This is the most common usage. You attach -부터 to a time-related noun to show when something begins.
- 9시부터 (from 9 o'clock)
- 월요일부터 (from Monday)
- 어제부터 (from yesterday)
2. Starting Point in Space/Location
It can also mark a physical starting point.
- 여기부터 (from here)
- 서울부터 (from Seoul)
3. Starting Point in a Sequence or Order
You can use it to indicate which item or task to begin with.
- 이것부터 하세요. (Please do this first.)
- 1과부터 공부해요. (Let's study starting from Lesson 1.)
Common Pairing: -부터 ~ -까지
A very common structure is using -부터 with the particle -까지 (to, until) to define a range.
- From A to B: A부터 B까지
- Example: 월요일부터 금요일까지 일해요. (I work from Monday to Friday.)
Examples (4)
- 수업은 9시부터 시작해요.
The class starts from 9 o'clock.
Word by Word: Class (topic) 9 o'clock from starts.
- 여기부터 저기까지 걸어갈 거예요.
I'm going to walk from here to there.
Word by Word: Here from there to will walk.
This example shows the very common pairing of -부터 with -까지 to express a range, in this case, a physical distance.
- 이것부터 하세요.
Please do this first (starting with this).
Word by Word: This from please do.
- 어제부터 머리가 아팠어요.
My head has hurt since yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday from head (subject) was sick.
Common Mistakes
Using -에서 instead of -부터 for starting points in time.
Not Quite아침에서 운동했어요.Better아침부터 운동했어요.-에서 is used for the location where an action happens (e.g., '도서관에서 공부해요' - I study at the library) or the origin of movement ('미국에서 왔어요' - I came from America). For starting points in time, you must use -부터.
Related Patterns
- 까지To, Until, By
-까지 means 'to' or 'until' and is the natural counterpart to -부터. They are frequently used together to define a range, as in 'A부터 B까지' (from A to B).
- 에서From
Both can mean 'from', which causes confusion. Use -부터 for the starting point of a time, range, or sequence. Use -에서 for the starting point of physical movement (e.g., coming from a place) or the location of an action.
- 에To, At
에 marks a specific point in time or a location/destination (e.g., '9시에 만나요' - Let's meet at 9 o'clock). In contrast, -부터 marks the beginning of a duration or range starting from that point.
- 부터 / 에서Starting Point
Learn when to use 부터 (time/abstract starting point) vs 에서 (place).