부터 particle (from, starting from)

In English, we put "from" before the word. In Korean, we put 부터 after the noun. It is a post-positional particle. This means it sticks to the back of a noun. It acts like a tag or a label. It identifies that noun as the starting point. It does not matter if the noun ends in a vowel. It does not matter if it ends in a consonant. The form never changes! This is great news for your brain. You don't have to memorize tricky conjugation rules here. It is one of the most stable parts of the language. Think of it like a grammar sticker. You just peel it and stick it to your noun. It is much easier than choosing a Netflix movie on Friday night.

1. 1Using 부터 is a three-step process.
2. 2Pick the noun you want to use as a start.
3. 3Check that it is a noun (time or sequence).
4. 4Attach 부터 directly to the end of the noun.
5. 5There is no space between the noun and 부터.
6. 6오늘 (today) + 부터 = 오늘부터 (from today)
7. 71시 (1 o'clock) + 부터 = 1시부터 (from 1 o'clock)
8. 8어제 (yesterday) + 부터 = 어제부터 (since yesterday)
9. 9It really is that simple. You don't need to worry about batchim (final consonants). 부터 is very friendly to all nouns. It is like a universal remote for starting points. Just plug it in and it works immediately.

Use 부터 when you want to emphasize a beginning. The most common use is for time. Imagine you are starting a new job. You would say 내일부터 (starting from tomorrow). Or maybe you are waiting for a sale. You say 월요일부터 (starting from Monday).

You also use it for the order of actions. Imagine you are at a Korean BBQ restaurant. You have meat, soup, and rice. You want to eat the meat first. You say 고기부터 (starting with the meat). It tells everyone your priority.

Real-world scenarios make this clear. At a job interview, you might say 지금부터 (from now). When ordering food, you might say 이것부터 (starting with this). It helps you organize your life and your sentences. It gives your speech a clear structure. Even native speakers use it to keep their thoughts in order. It is like a grammar traffic light turning green.

Do not use 부터 for physical locations usually. If you are traveling from Seoul to Busan, use 에서. 서울에서 is the standard for "from a place." 부터 is mostly for time and sequence.

Also, do not use it for people as a source of information. If you hear a rumor from a friend, use 에게서. 부터 is not for receiving things from people.

Avoid using it when the starting point is not the focus. If you just want to say "I am at home," don't use it. It is only for when something is *starting*. Using it incorrectly is like wearing sunglasses inside. People will understand you, but it feels a bit out of place. Keep it for time and order to stay safe.

One big mistake is adding a space. 오늘 부터 is wrong. 오늘부터 is correct. Particles always hug their nouns tightly.

Another mistake is confusing it with 에서. Many learners say 집부터 학교까지 for distance. It should be 집에서 학교까지. Use 에서 for physical space. Use 부터 for time or sequence.

Sometimes people forget that 부터 can mean "first." If you say 나부터, it means "Me first." It does not mean "From me" in a physical sense.

Don't worry if you mix these up at first. Even advanced learners sometimes trip over 에서 and 부터. Think of it like a small speed bump. Just slow down and check if you are talking about a clock or a map. Clocks love 부터. Maps love 에서.

Let's compare 부터 with 에서. Both can mean "from." However, 에서 is the king of locations. 서울에서 (from Seoul) or 방에서 (from the room). 부터 is the king of time. 아침부터 (from morning) or 주말부터 (from the weekend).

What about 부터 vs 처음? 처음 is a noun meaning "the beginning." 부터 is a particle that marks the beginning. You can even combine them: 처음부터 (from the beginning).

There is also 까지. This is the natural partner of 부터. While 부터 is the start, 까지 is the finish line. 9시부터 5시까지 (From 9 to 5). They are like the bread of a grammar sandwich. They hold everything together perfectly. Using them together makes your Korean sound very natural and organized.