Korean Grammar Basic #11 – How to Use “(으)ㄹ 때” (When)

Lee Serene
Oct 24, 2025
3 min read

1️⃣ Introduction

In English, we say:

“When I eat breakfast, I drink coffee.”“When I was young, I lived in Seoul.”

In Korean, we use (을) 때 to describe when something happens or happened.It’s one of the most common grammar forms for talking about time, habits, or past experiences.

2️⃣ Grammar Explanation

🔹 (을) 때 (eul ttae) — “When / At the time (of doing something)”

Form

Verb / Adjective / Noun + (으)ㄹ 때

Usage

Use (을) 때 to talk about:

General situations — When I do A, I do B.
Past experiences — When I was young…
Future events — When you come tomorrow…

Type	Ending	Rule	Example	Meaning
Verb / adj. stem ending with a consonant (except ㄹ)	+ 을 때	먹 → 먹을 때	When (someone) eats
Verb / adj. stem ending with a vowel or ㄹ	+ ㄹ 때	가 → 갈 때 / 살 → 살 때	When (someone) goes / lives
Noun + (이)다	+ 일 때	학생일 때	When (someone) is a student

Example Sentences

1️⃣ 밥을 먹을 때 물을 마셔요.(ba-beul meo-geul ttae mu-reul ma-syeo-yo)

→ When I eat, I drink water.

2️⃣ 피곤할 때 커피를 마셔요.(pi-gon-hal ttae keo-pi-reul ma-syeo-yo)

→ When I’m tired, I drink coffee.

3️⃣ 어렸을 때 서울에 살았어요.(eo-ryeo-sseul ttae seo-u-re sa-ra-sseo-yo)

→ When I was young, I lived in Seoul.

4️⃣ 시간이 없을 때는 택시를 타요.(si-ga-ni eop-seul ttae-neun taek-si-reul ta-yo)

→ When I don’t have time, I take a taxi.

5️⃣ 한국에 올 때 연락하세요.(han-gu-ge ol ttae yeol-la-ka-se-yo)

→ When you come to Korea, please contact me.

3️⃣ Comparison: (을) 때 vs (으)면

Both (을) 때 and (으)면 can mean “when,”
but (을) 때 focuses on time, and (으)면 focuses on condition or result.
Use (을) 때 for “when something happens in time.”
Use (으)면 for “if something happens, then…” (a condition).

Grammar	Meaning	Focus	Example	Translation
(을) 때	When (time/situation)	Time or situation	밥을 먹을 때 물을 마셔요.	When I eat, I drink water.
(으)면	If / When (condition)	Result or consequence	밥을 먹으면 배불러요.	If I eat, I feel full.

Examples:

1️⃣한국에 갈 때 친구를 만나요.

→ When I go to Korea, I meet my friend.)

2️⃣ 한국에 가면 친구를 만나요.

→ If I go to Korea, I meet my friend.

4️⃣ Mini Practice

Fill in the blanks

(Choose the correct form of (을) 때)

1️⃣ 밥을 먹____ TV를 봐요.

(When I eat, I watch TV.)

2️⃣ 친구를 만날____ 커피를 마셔요.

(When I meet a friend, I drink coffee.)

3️⃣ 어렸____ 피아노를 배웠어요.

(When I was young, I learned piano.)

4️⃣ 한국에 오____ 연락하세요.

(When you come to Korea, contact me.)

5️⃣ 피곤하____ 커피를 마셔요.

(When I’m tired, I drink coffee.)

Answers

1️⃣ 먹을 때 → 밥을 먹을 때 TV를 봐요.

→ “먹다” ends with a consonant → use 을 때.

2️⃣ 만날 때 → 친구를 만날 때 커피를 마셔요.

→ “만나다” ends with a vowel → use ㄹ 때.

3️⃣ 을 때 → 어렸을 때 피아노를 배웠어요.

→ “어리다” (to be young) → past form 어렸을 때.

4️⃣ 올 때 → 한국에 올 때 연락하세요.

→ “오다” ends with a vowel → use ㄹ 때.

5️⃣ 할 때 → 피곤할 때 커피를 마셔요.

→ “피곤하다” → stem ends in ㄴ consonant sound → use 할 때.

Vocabulary Check

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
밥	(bab)	rice / meal
먹다	(meok-da)	to eat
친구	(chin-gu)	friend
피아노	(pi-a-no)	piano
연락하다	(yeol-la-kha-da)	to contact
피곤하다	(pi-gon-ha-da)	to be tired

Summary

Grammar	Function	Example	Meaning
(을) 때	When (an action happens / time-based)	밥을 먹을 때 물을 마셔요.	When I eat, I drink water.
(일) 때	When (a state or identity applies)	학생일 때 열심히 공부했어요.	When I was a student, I studied hard.
(으)면	If / When (conditional)	밥을 먹으면 배불러요.	If I eat, I feel full.

(을) 때 → used with verbs/adjectives for time-based actions.
(일) 때 → used with nouns + 이다 to express state or identity in time.
(으)면 → used for conditions or results (if something happens, then…).

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