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How to use 을/ㄹ 때까지요 in Korean

Pattern: -(으)ㄹ 때까지요

-(으)ㄹ 때까지요 (-(eu)ㄹttae-kka-ji-yo, (eu)ㄹttaekkajiyo)

-(으)ㄹ 때까지요 emphasizes the endpoint of an action or state in Korean.

Korean grammar -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 usage explanation

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(으)ㄹ 때까지요(-(eu)ㄹttae-kka-ji-yo, (eu)ㄹttaekkajiyo)

Indicates that an action or state continues until a specific point in time.

When to use

waiting, confirming appointment time, checking duration of action

The nuance

Attach -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 to a verb stem to emphasize 'until (someone) does something.' It is mainly used to ask or inform how long an action will continue. For example: 기다릴 때까지요 (until I wait), 먹을 때까지요 (until I eat). It is not used with past or present tense but with future or volitional forms.

Real-world examples

  • 제가 올 때까지요 기다릴게요.

    je-ga ol ttae-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ril-ge-yo., je ga ol ttae kka ji yo gi da ril ge yo.

    ‘올 때까지요’ properly emphasizes ‘until you come.’

  • 밥을 먹을 때까지요 기다려 주세요.

    bap-eul meok-eul ttae-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo., bap eul meok eul ttae kka ji yo gi da ryeo ju se yo.

    ‘먹을 때까지요’ naturally emphasizes the endpoint of eating.

  • 어제까지요 기다렸어요.

    eo-je-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ryeoss-eo-yo., eo je kka ji yo gi da ryeoss eo yo.

    -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 is not used in past tense; it requires future or volitional forms.

  • 지금 할 때까지요 기다려요.

    ji-geum hal ttae-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ryeo-yo., ji geum hal ttae kka ji yo gi da ryeo yo.

    -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 cannot be used with present tense; use ‘할 때까지’ instead.

  • 회의가 끝날 때까지요 기다려 주세요.

    hoe-ui-ga kkeut-nal ttae-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo., hoe ui ga kkeut nal ttae kka ji yo gi da ryeo ju se yo.

    ‘끝날 때까지요’ correctly emphasizes waiting until a future point.

  • 영화가 시작할 때까지요 기다릴게요.

    yeong-hwa-ga si-jak-hal ttae-kka-ji-yo gi-da-ril-ge-yo., yeong hwa ga si jak hal ttae kka ji yo gi da ril ge yo.

    ‘시작할 때까지요’ is appropriate for future time emphasis.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence is correct?

    다음 중 올바른 문장은?(da-eumjungol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungolbareunmunjangeun?)

  2. Which tense is -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 used with?

    -(으)ㄹ 때까지요는 어떤 시제에 사용하나요?(-(eu)ㄹttae-kka-ji-yo-neuneo-tteonsi-je-esa-yong-ha-na-yo?, (eu)ㄹttaekkajiyoneuneotteonsijeesayonghanayo?)

  3. What does -(으)ㄹ 때까지요 mean in ‘회의가 끝날 때까지요 기다려 주세요.’?

    ‘회의가 끝날 때까지요 기다려 주세요.’ 문장에서 -(으)ㄹ 때까지요의 의미는?(‘hoe-ui-gakkeut-nalttae-kka-ji-yogi-da-ryeoju-se-yo.’mun-jang-e-seo-(eu)ㄹttae-kka-ji-yo-uiui-mi-neun?, ‘hoeuigakkeutnalttaekkajiyogidaryeojuseyo.’munjangeseo(eu)ㄹttaekkajiyouiuimineun?)

More usage guides

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