오늘 (o-neul, oneul) · 내일 (nae-il, naeil)
오늘 and 내일 both indicate time, but 오늘 refers to the current day, while 내일 refers to the next day.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
A time expression referring to the current day
When to use
current date mention, events happening today, plans for today, deadline today
The nuance
오늘 refers to the date of the moment of speaking and can include past or future events within the same day, but always the current calendar day.
A time expression referring to the day after today, the next calendar day
When to use
next day mention, plans for tomorrow, appointments tomorrow, deadline tomorrow
The nuance
내일 means the day after today and is used for any situation occurring on the next calendar day after today ends.
오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.
o-neul-eun nal-ssi-ga joh-a-yo., o neul eun nal ssi ga joh a yo.
오늘 correctly refers to the current day, so usage is appropriate.
내일은 날씨가 좋아요.
nae-il-eun nal-ssi-ga joh-a-yo., nae il eun nal ssi ga joh a yo.
내일 properly refers to the next day, so the sentence is correct.
나는 오늘 내일 만날 거예요.
na-neun o-neul nae-il man-nal geo-ye-yo., na neun o neul nae il man nal geo ye yo.
Using 오늘 and 내일 together for the same meeting is contradictory; the meeting date must be one or the other.
내일 오늘 할 일을 끝내야 해요.
nae-il o-neul hal il-eul kkeut-nae-ya hae-yo., nae il o neul hal il eul kkeut nae ya hae yo.
Since 내일 and 오늘 refer to different days, 'tomorrow today's work' is an illogical phrase.
오늘 저녁에 친구를 만날 거예요.
o-neul jeo-nyeok-e chin-gu-reul man-nal geo-ye-yo., o neul jeo nyeok e chin gu reul man nal geo ye yo.
오늘 저녁 correctly means this evening of the current day, so it's natural.
내일 아침에 회의가 있습니다.
nae-il a-chim-e hoe-ui-ga iss-seup-ni-da., nae il a chim e hoe ui ga iss seup ni da.
내일 아침 properly refers to tomorrow morning, so the sentence is correct.
오늘 내일은 바쁠 거예요.
o-neul nae-il-eun ba-ppeul geo-ye-yo., o neul nae il eun ba ppeul geo ye yo.
Listing 오늘 내일 consecutively is not a clear time expression, so it's inappropriate.
내일 오늘보다 더 바쁠 거예요.
nae-il o-neul-bo-da deo ba-ppeul geo-ye-yo., nae il o neul bo da deo ba ppeul geo ye yo.
This sentence compares tomorrow and today naturally with clear meaning.
What day does 내일 refer to?
Which word is incorrect in this sentence? "I will watch a movie ___ evening."
Is the sentence "오늘 내일 만나요" correct?
What does it mean?
