Korean Grammar Point
~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji] (From ~ to)

~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji] (From ~ to)

Short explanation:

Used to express a range or a period; 'from ~ to'.

Formation:

Noun/Verb+부터 + Noun/Verb+까지

Examples:

나는 아침 8시부터 저녁 6시까지 일해요.
Naneun achim 8sibuteo jeonyeok 6sikkaji ilhaeyo.
I work from 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening.
친구집부터 학교까지 걸어갔어요.
Chingu jibbuteo hakgyokkaji georeogasseoyo.
I walked from my friend's house to school.
1부터 10까지 세어보세요.
1buteo 10kkaji se-eoboseyo.
Count from 1 to 10.
이번 주말부터 다음 주말까지 여행을 가려고 해요.
I-beon jumalbuteo da-eum jumalkkaji yeohaeng-eul garyeogo haeyo.
I plan to travel from this weekend to the next weekend.

Long explanation:

'~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji]' is a grammatical construct used in Korean to describe a range or span, conceptually equivalent to 'from ~ to' in English. It's used when the speaker wants to specify a start and end point, whether it's in terms of time, location, sequence, or other dimensions.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji] (From ~ to)

Korean Grammar Point: ~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji] (From ~ to)

~부터 ~까지 [buteo ~ kkaji] (From ~ to)

1. Introduction

In Korean, expressing a range—from a starting point to an ending point—is commonly done using the grammar pattern ~부터 ~까지. This pattern is essential for indicating spans of time, distances between places, or ranges in quantities. Understanding how to use ~부터 ~까지 will greatly enhance your ability to convey durations, distances, and sequences in Korean.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

  • ~부터: from or starting from
  • ~까지: to or until Together, they express the idea of "from ~ to ~".

Usage

The ~부터 ~까지 pattern is used to denote:

  • Time Ranges: Expressing periods from one time to another.
  • Location Ranges: Indicating distances from one place to another.
  • Quantity Ranges: Specifying numbers or amounts from one point to another.

Structure

The basic structure is:

[Starting Point] + 부터 + [Ending Point] + 까지
  • [Starting Point] and [Ending Point] are nouns.
  • Attach 부터 directly after the starting noun.
  • Attach 까지 directly after the ending noun.

Formation Diagram

Position Component Example
Starting Point Noun + 부터 서울부터
Ending Point Noun + 까지 부산까지
Full Expression 서울부터 부산까지

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparing Similar Grammar Patterns

~에서 ~까지

  • Meaning: "from ~ to ~"
  • Usage: Primarily used for physical locations involving movement.
  • Difference: While ~부터 ~까지 can denote time, place, or quantity, ~에서 ~까지 is mostly used for locations and implies an action or movement between places.

Comparison Table

Grammar Pattern Usage Example
~부터 ~까지 From ~ to ~ (time/place/quantity) 아침부터 밤까지 공부해요.
(I study from morning to night.)
~에서 ~까지 From ~ to ~ (movement/location) 학교에서 집까지 걸어요.
(I walk from school to home.)

4. Examples in Context

Time Range Examples

  1. 월요일부터 금요일까지 일해요.
    I work from Monday to Friday.
  2. 1시부터 3시까지 수업이 있어요.
    There is a class from 1 PM to 3 PM.
  3. 어제부터 오늘까지 비가 왔어요.
    It rained from yesterday to today.

Location Range Examples

  1. 서울부터 부산까지 기차로 여행했어요.
    I traveled from Seoul to Busan by train.
  2. 집부터 회사까지 지하철로 갑니다.
    I go from home to the office by subway.
  3. 여기부터 저기까지 걸어갈 거예요.
    I will walk from here to there.

Quantity Range Examples

  1. 1번부터 10번까지 문제를 푸세요.
    Solve questions from number 1 to 10.
  2. 어린이부터 어른까지 모두 참석했어요.
    Everyone from children to adults attended.
  3. 가격은 5,000원부터 10,000원까지예요.
    Prices range from 5,000 won to 10,000 won.

Formal Context Example

  • 오늘부터 새로운 규칙이 시행됩니다.
    A new rule will be implemented starting from today.

Informal Context Example

  • 지금부터 같이 영화 볼래요?
    Do you want to watch a movie together from now?

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

  • Punctuality and Scheduling: In Korean culture, being precise about time and schedules is important. Using ~부터 ~까지 correctly shows respect for others' time.
  • Inclusivity: When mentioning ranges of people or things, it emphasizes inclusivity from one end to the other.

Levels of Politeness

  • The grammar itself is neutral. Politeness is conveyed through verb endings or additional honorifics in the sentence.

Idiomatic Expressions

처음부터 끝까지

  • Meaning: From the beginning to the end.
  • Usage: Used to indicate completeness or thoroughness. Example:
    • 그 책을 처음부터 끝까지 읽었어요.
      I read that book from beginning to end.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

  1. Adding Particles After 부터 and 까지
    • Incorrect: 서울에서부터 부산까지를 여행했어요.
    • Correct: 서울부터 부산까지 여행했어요.
    • Explanation: Do not use additional particles with 부터 and 까지.
  2. Using 에서 Instead of 부터 for Time
    • Incorrect: 아침에서 밤까지 공부해요.
    • Correct: 아침부터 밤까지 공부해요.
    • Explanation: Use 부터 for time ranges.
  3. Mixing Order of 부터 and 까지
    • Incorrect: 부산까지 서울부터 여행했어요.
    • Correct: 서울부터 부산까지 여행했어요.
    • Explanation: Always place 부터 after the starting point and 까지 after the ending point.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Remember "B" in 부터 for "Beginning" and "K" in 까지 for "Klosing" (a play on "closing") to recall their functions.
  • Practice with Timelines: Draw timelines or maps to visualize the range being described.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~부터 ~까지 is used to express ranges from a starting point to an ending point in time, location, or quantity.
  • Attach 부터 to the starting noun and 까지 to the ending noun without additional particles.
  • Be careful not to confuse 부터 with 에서; use 부터 for time ranges and starting points in general.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Fill in the blanks with 부터 or 까지: _____ 2월 _____ 4월 한국에 있을 거예요. Answer: 2월부터 4월까지 한국에 있을 거예요.
    I will be in Korea from February to April.
  2. Identify and correct the error: 어제에서 오늘까지 비가 내렸어요. Correction: 어제부터 오늘까지 비가 내렸어요.
  3. Translate into Korean: I exercise from morning to night. Answer: 아침부터 밤까지 운동해요.

By mastering ~부터 ~까지, you can effectively communicate various ranges in Korean, making your conversations more precise and natural. Keep practicing by creating your own sentences using this pattern!

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Public Alpha version Open Source (GitHub). This site is currently undergoing active development. You may (will) encounter bugs, inconsistencies, or limited functionality. Lots of sentences might not sound natural. We are progressively addressing these issues with native speakers.


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