때

When, During

Level 2Sounds Like ttae

Use '때' to talk about 'when' something happens. It follows nouns or verb/adjective clauses.

How It Works

'때' is a fundamental noun used to specify the time an action or state occurs. It translates to 'when' or 'at the time of'. It can be used after nouns and verb/adjective clauses.

1. With Nouns:
Simply place '때' directly after a noun to mean 'at the time of [noun]'.

  • 학생 + 때 → 학생 때 (when I was a student)
  • 점심 + 때 → 점심때 (at lunchtime)
  • 휴가 + 때 → 휴가 때 (during vacation)

2. With Verbs & Adjectives:
To use '때' with a verb or adjective, you must first change it into a noun-modifying form to describe the noun '때'. The tense is important.

A) During, or at the Same Moment (-ㄹ/을 때)
This form is used when the main action happens during the '때' clause or at that same moment. It covers future events, general truths, habitual actions, and ongoing states, and it works in past stories too.

  • Verb/Adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: + -ㄹ 때 (e.g., 가다 → 갈 때, 살다 → 살 때)
  • Verb/Adjective stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): + -을 때 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹을 때, 좋다 → 좋을 때)

Example: 한국에 갈 때 연락할게요. (I'll contact you when I go to Korea.)
Example: 어제 집에 올 때 비가 왔어요. (It rained while I was coming home yesterday.)

B) After It Was Done (-았/었을 때)
This form is used when the action in the '때' clause is fully completed before the action in the main clause begins.

  • Attach -았/었- to the verb/adjective stem, then add -을 때.
  • e.g., 가다 → 갔을 때, 먹다 → 먹었을 때

Example: 한국에 갔을 때 김치를 많이 먹었어요. (When I went to Korea, I ate a lot of kimchi.)

Compare: 한국에 갈 때 친구를 만났어요. (I met a friend on my way to Korea.) 한국에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요. (I met a friend after I got to Korea.)

Examples (5)

  1. 학생 때 공부를 열심히 했어요.

    I studied hard when I was a student.

    Word by Word: Student time study hard did.

    '때' is placed directly after the noun '학생' (student).

  2. 시간이 있을 때 전화해 주세요.

    Please call me when you have time.

    Word by Word: Time exists when please call.

    있다 ends in a consonant, so it becomes 있을 때. This refers to a general or future situation.

  3. 어렸을 때 키가 작았어요.

    I was short when I was young.

    Word by Word: Was young when height was small.

    어리다 (to be young) is conjugated into the past tense form 어렸을 때 to talk about a completed period in the past.

  4. 날씨가 좋을 때 산책하는 것을 좋아해요.

    I like to go for a walk when the weather is good.

    Word by Word: Weather is good when taking a walk thing like.

    The adjective 좋다 (to be good) becomes 좋을 때 to describe a general condition.

  5. 한국에 도착했을 때 바로 부모님께 전화했어요.

    When I arrived in Korea, I called my parents right away.

    Word by Word: To Korea arrived when right away to parents called.

    The action of arriving (도착하다) was completed, so the past tense form 도착했을 때 is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting 때 right after a verb stem.

    Not Quite한국에 가 때 연락할게요.
    Better한국에 갈 때 연락할게요.

    때 is a noun, so a verb or adjective must first take a noun-modifying ending, such as -ㄹ/을 or -았/었을. Say 갈 때, not 가 때.

  • Using '때' for specific clock times instead of '에'.

    Not Quite저는 아침 8시 때 일어나요.
    Better저는 아침 8시에 일어나요.

    For specific times on a clock, days of the week, or dates, you must use the time particle 에. '때' is used for more general periods or in relation to another action (e.g., 'when I wake up').

Learn This First

To use 때 in grammar constructions like -(으)ㄹ 때, you need to understand verb/adjective modifiers.

Related Patterns

Words in This Pattern

때
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