Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #19
At seven, on Monday, in September—Korean often marks a specific time with 에. The same small particle helps place an event on a schedule.
What Does N에 (Time) Mean?
Put 에 after many time expressions to show when an action or event happens. It often corresponds to “at,” “on,” or “in,” but Korean usage is learned by the kind of time expression, not by translating each English preposition.
The Rule
Use 에 with clock times, days of the week, dates, months, years, and recurring schedule points: 일곱 시에, 월요일에, 9월에, 2026년에, 주말에. Words such as 오늘, 내일, 어제, 지금, and 매일 normally do not take 에.
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 아침 | morning |
| 점심 | noon/lunch |
| 저녁 | evening/dinner |
| 월요일 | Monday |
| 주말 | weekend |
| 다음 주 | next week |
| 몇 시 | what time |
| 수업 | class |
Korean Grammar Examples
수업이 아홉 시에 시작해요.
Class starts at nine.
월요일에 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean on Monday.
주말에 친구를 만나요.
I meet a friend on the weekend.
9월에 한국에 가요.
I go to Korea in September.
내일 도서관에 가요.
I am going to the library tomorrow.
A Short Dialogue
A: 한국어 수업이 언제 있어요? — When is Korean class?
B: 화요일하고 목요일에 있어요. — It is on Tuesday and Thursday.
A: 몇 시에 시작해요? — What time does it start?
B: 열 시에 시작해요. — It starts at ten.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not add 에 after 오늘, 내일, 어제, 지금, or 매일 in ordinary beginner sentences: say 오늘 공부해요, not 오늘에 공부해요. Compare the two uses of 에: 세 시에 marks time, while 학교에 marks a destination. One sentence can contain both: 세 시에 학교에 가요.
Quick Quiz 🎯
Add 에 only where it is natural: ① 월요일__ 수업이 있어요. ② 오늘__ 운동해요. ③ 일곱 시__ 일어나요. ④ 내일__ 친구를 만나요.
Answers and Explanation
① 월요일에 ② 오늘 운동해요 ③ 일곱 시에 ④ 내일 친구를 만나요. Specific days and clock times take 에 here; 오늘 and 내일 do not.
Try It in Your Own Life
Say or write two original sentences with N에 (Time). Use a person, place, food, class, or daily routine that is real for you. Then change one detail and say the new sentence aloud. This small change helps you practice the grammar as a speaking tool rather than memorizing only one example.
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