어제 (eo-je, eoje) · 모레 (mo-re, more)
어제 refers to the day before today (past), while 모레 refers to the day after tomorrow (future), marking completely opposite time directions.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Refers to the day before today, i.e., the immediate past day.
When to use
Describing past events, Writing diary entries, Mentioning past dates
The nuance
Use 어제 to indicate the day immediately before today from the present perspective. It cannot be used for future times or including today.
Refers to two days after today, i.e., the day after tomorrow, indicating a future time.
When to use
Making future appointments, Planning schedules, Talking about future dates
The nuance
Use 모레 to indicate the day immediately after tomorrow from the present perspective. It cannot be used for past times.
어제 친구를 만났어요.
eo-je chin-gu-reul man-nass-eo-yo., eo je chin gu reul man nass eo yo.
The event happened the day before today, so 어제 is correctly used.
모레 친구를 만났어요.
mo-re chin-gu-reul man-nass-eo-yo., mo re chin gu reul man nass eo yo.
The verb is past tense but 모레 refers to future, so it is incorrect. Use 어제 instead.
모레 회의가 있어요.
mo-re hoe-ui-ga iss-eo-yo., mo re hoe ui ga iss eo yo.
Refers to a future appointment, so 모레 is correctly used.
어제 회의가 있어요.
eo-je hoe-ui-ga iss-eo-yo., eo je hoe ui ga iss eo yo.
있어요 is present tense but 어제 is past, so the sentence is awkward. Use '어제 회의가 있었어요' instead.
일기장에 어제 있었던 일을 썼다.
il-gi-jang-e eo-je iss-eoss-deon il-eul sseoss-da., il gi jang e eo je iss eoss deon il eul sseoss da.
Writing about past events fits 어제 perfectly.
일기장에 모레 있을 일을 썼다.
il-gi-jang-e mo-re iss-eul il-eul sseoss-da., il gi jang e mo re iss eul il eul sseoss da.
Writing about future events is correct with 모레.
어제 내일 만날 거예요.
eo-je nae-il man-nal geo-ye-yo., eo je nae il man nal geo ye yo.
어제 (past) and 내일 (future) cannot be used together logically.
모레 어제 만난 사람을 다시 만날 거예요.
mo-re eo-je man-nan sa-ram-eul da-si man-nal geo-ye-yo., mo re eo je man nan sa ram eul da si man nal geo ye yo.
Mixing 모레 (future) and 어제 (past) in one sentence causes confusion.
Which sentence uses '모레' correctly?
Which sentence cannot correctly use '어제'?
Which word is correct to talk about a future date?
What does it mean?
