부터 ~ 까지 (from ~ to) - From... To...

In Korean, we call these "post-positions." Why? Because they come after the noun. In English, we say "From Monday." In Korean, we say "Monday from" (월요일부터). It feels backward at first. But you will get used to it quickly.

1. 1Take a noun. Any noun representing time, place, or order.
2. 2Add 부터 to indicate the starting point.
3. 3Add 까지 to indicate the ending point.
4. 4Do not add spaces. 학교부터 (Right). 학교 부터 (Wrong).

It is truly that simple. You don't need to worry about whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant. 부터 and 까지 are friendly. They don't change their shape for anyone. They are the reliable coworkers of the grammar world. They show up, do their job, and don't cause drama.

1. 1Setting up a range is a three-step process. Think of it like building a bridge.
2. 2Identify your starting point. Is it 9:00 AM? Is it the front door? Is it the first page of a book? Take that noun and attach 부터.
3. 39시 + 부터 = 9시부터 (From 9 o'clock)
4. 4집 + 부터 = 집부터 (Starting from home)
5. 5Identify your end point. Is it 6:00 PM? Is it the office? Is it the last page? Take that noun and attach 까지.
6. 66시 + 까지 = 6시까지 (To 6 o'clock)
7. 7회사 + 까지 = 회사까지 (To the office)
8. 8Put them together. You can use them in the same sentence to show a full range.
9. 99시부터 6시까지 일해요. (I work from 9 to 6.)
10. 10Pro-tip: You can use them individually too! If you just want to say "Until tomorrow," just use 내일까지. If you want to say "Starting from now," use 지금부터. They are independent souls.

This pattern is incredibly versatile. You will use it in almost every conversation. Here are the big three scenarios:

• Time Ranges: This is the most common use. Use it for hours, days, months, or even eras. "From Monday to Wednesday" is 월요일부터 수요일까지. "From my childhood" is 어렸을 때부터.
• Physical Distance: Use it to describe the span between two places. "From here to there" is 여기부터 저기까지. However, keep an eye on 에서 (we will talk about that later).
• Order and Priority: This is where it gets cool. You can use it for sequence. "Start eating from the salad" is 샐러드부터 드세요. It tells people where to begin a task or a process.

Imagine you're at a Korean BBQ. You're starving. The waiter says, "Eat the beef first." He might use 부터 to show the starting point of your delicious journey. It’s a grammar point that literally feeds you!

Even though they are versatile, they aren't for everything.

• Don't use them for possession. You can't say "From my book" to mean it belongs to you.
• Don't use 부터 for the 'origin' of a gift. If you got a gift *from* a friend, use 에게서 or 한테서. 부터 is for starting points in a sequence or time, not for the source of an object.
• Avoid using 까지 for 'even'. While 까지 can sometimes mean "even," at the B1 level, keep it strictly to "until" or "to" to avoid confusing yourself. Use 조차 or 마저 for the more complex "even" meanings.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green means go for time and distance. Red means stop for people and possession.

We all make them. Yes, even native speakers get lazy. But you want to be precise.

• The Space Trap: As mentioned, do not leave a space. It’s 서울부터, not 서울 부터. Putting a space there is like trying to high-five someone and missing. Awkward.
• Confusion with 에서: Many learners use 에서 and 부터 interchangeably for locations. While you *can* use 부터 for locations to emphasize the starting point of a range, 에서 is the standard for "from [Place]."
• Mixing the order: Always put the starting point first. Korean follows a logical flow. If you say 6시까지 9시부터, you'll sound like a time traveler whose machine is broken.
• Overusing 부터 with people: If you want to say "I learned from my teacher," 선생님부터 is wrong. It would mean "Starting with the teacher (in a list of people)." Use 선생님께 or 선생님한테 for learning from people.

The biggest rival here is 에서 ... 까지.

• 에서 ... 까지: Mostly used for physical locations. "From the station to the school" is usually 역에서 학교까지.
• 부터 ... 까지: Mostly used for time. "From 1 PM to 2 PM" is 1시부터 2시까지.

Wait, can you use 부터 for places? Yes! But it changes the flavor. 서울에서 부산까지 is a simple statement of distance. 서울부터 부산까지 feels more like you are emphasizing the *starting point* of a journey or a sequence. If you are cleaning a room and say 여기부터 저기까지 청소해 (Clean from here to there), you are setting the starting line. 에서 is the "where," 부터 is the "when" or "the start of the sequence."