Using –buteo in Korean to Say “From” (Starting Point Grammar)

vWhen you want to say “from” in Korean to mark a starting point in time or in a sequence, the particle you need is -buteo (부터). This small but powerful particle is attached directly to nouns to indicate the beginning of a duration, a range, or an order of events.

For example, “from morning” is 아침부터 (achim-buteo), and “from here” is 여기부터 (yeogi-buteo). While simple to use, understanding its nuances is a key part of speaking Korean naturally.

This article is designed to give you a clear and complete understanding of -buteo (부터). We will begin by exploring its most common function: marking the start of a period of time. Then, we will look at how it is used to indicate a starting location in a sequence or range.

Most importantly, we will compare it directly with its counterpart -kkaji (까지), meaning “to” or “until,” to show you how to form complete ranges. Finally, a practice worksheet is included to help you get comfortable using this grammar in your own sentences.

The Main Function: Marking a Starting Point in Time

This section is all about the most frequent and important use of -buteo (부터): indicating when something starts. It’s your go-to particle for talking about schedules, opening hours, and the beginning of any time period.

The particle -buteo (부터) attaches directly to a time-related noun. Unlike some other particles, the rule is simple: there is no change whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant. You just add it to the end.

Formula: [Time Noun] + 부터

• 아침 (achim) – morning → 아침부터 (achim-buteo) – from the morning
• 3시 (se si) – 3 o’clock → 3시부터 (se si-buteo) – from 3 o’clock
• 어제 (eoje) – yesterday → 어제부터 (eoje-buteo) – from yesterday

Let’s See It in Action (8 Examples)

1. Talking about store hours:“이 가게는 아침 9시부터 문을 열어요.” (I gage-neun achim ahop si-buteo mun-eul yeoreoyo.)
   “This store opens from 9 AM.”
2. Describing when you started feeling sick:“어제부터 머리가 아팠어요.” (Eoje-buteo meori-ga apasseoyo.)
   “My head has been hurting since yesterday.”
3. Explaining your work schedule:“저는 오전 10시부터 오후 6시까지 일해요.” (Jeoneun ojeon yeol si-buteo ohu yeoseot si-kkaji ilhaeyo.)
   “I work from 10 AM to 6 PM.”
4. Talking about a new habit:“다음 주부터 운동을 시작할 거예요.” (Daeum ju-buteo undong-eul sijakhal geoyeyo.)
   “I’m going to start exercising from next week.”
5. Describing a long-term state:“저는 어렸을 때부터 그림 그리는 것을 좋아했어요.” (Jeoneun eoryeosseul ttae-buteo geurim geurineun geos-eul joahaesseoyo.)
   “I have liked drawing since I was young.”
6. Giving information about an event:“콘서트는 저녁 7시 30분부터 시작됩니다.” (Konseoteu-neun jeonyeok ilgop si samsip bun-buteo sijakdoemnida.)
   “The concert starts from 7:30 PM.”
7. Asking a “since when” question:“언제부터 한국어를 공부했어요?” (Eonje-buteo hangugeo-reul gongbuhaesseoyo?)
   “Since when have you been studying Korean?”
8. Expressing a continuous action:“아침부터 계속 비가 오고 있어요.” (Achim-buteo gyesok bi-ga ogo isseoyo.)
   “It has been raining continuously since the morning.”

Use Case 2: Marking a Starting Point in Location or Order

While -buteo (부터) is most common with time, it can also be used to mark the starting point of a location in a range, or the first item in a sequence or order. This usage often implies “starting from here” or “beginning with this.”

Formula: [Starting Noun] + 부터

• 여기 (yeogi) – here → 여기부터 (yeogi-buteo) – from here / starting from here
• 1페이지 (il peiji) – page 1 → 1페이지부터 (il peiji-buteo) – from page 1
• 이것 (igeot) – this thing → 이것부터 (igeos-buteo) – starting with this thing

This usage is slightly different from -eseo (에서), which also means “from a place.” We will compare them later.

Let’s See It in Action (8 Examples)

1. Giving instructions for reading:“오늘은 10페이지부터 읽겠습니다.” (Oneur-eun sip peiji-buteo ilgetseumnida.)
   “Today, we will read starting from page 10.”
2. When starting a task:“자, 이제 여기부터 청소합시다.” (Ja, ije yeogi-buteo cheongsohapsida.)
   “Okay, now let’s clean starting from here.”
3. Prioritizing what to do:“할 일이 너무 많아요. 이것부터 먼저 해야겠어요.” (Hal ir-i neomu manayo. Igeos-buteo meonjeo haeyagesseoyo.)
   “I have too much to do. I should do this thing first.”
4. When explaining a sequence in an instruction manual:“1단계부터 차근차근 따라 하세요.” (Il dangye-buteo chageun-chageun ttara haseyo.)
   “Please follow along step-by-step, starting from Step 1.”
5. Deciding what to eat at a buffet:“나는 샐러드부터 먹을래.” (Naneun saelleodeu-buteo meogeullae.)
   “I’m going to eat starting with the salad.”
6. When a tour guide is starting a tour:“저희는 이 문부터 시작해서 궁궐을 둘러볼 겁니다.” (Jeohuineun i mun-buteo sijakaeseo gunggwol-eul dulleobol geomnida.)
   “We will start from this gate and look around the palace.”
7. Asking about the range of an exam:“시험 범위가 어디부터 어디까지예요?” (Siheom beomwi-ga eodi-buteo eodi-kkajiyeyo?)
   “From where to where is the test range?”
8. When lining up:“저 사람부터 줄을 서세요.” (Jeo saram-buteo jur-eul seoseyo.)
   “Please line up starting from that person.”

The Perfect Pair: Using -buteo (부터) with -kkaji (까지)

The particle -buteo (부터) is very frequently paired with another particle, -kkaji (까지), which means “to,” “until,” or “up to.” Together, they form a complete set that clearly defines a range from a starting point to an ending point.

Formula: [Start Noun] + 부터 + [End Noun] + 까지

This structure is incredibly useful for talking about time, distance, and ranges of all kinds.

Let’s See Them Together in Action (8 Examples)

1. Describing your work hours:“저는 아침 9시부터 저녁 6시까지 일해요.” (Jeoneun achim ahop si-buteo jeonyeok yeoseot si-kkaji ilhaeyo.)
   “I work from 9 AM to 6 PM.”
2. Talking about a store’s opening times:“이 도서관은 월요일부터 금요일까지 열어요.” (I doseogwan-eun woryoil-buteo geumyoil-kkaji yeoreoyo.)
   “This library is open from Monday to Friday.”
3. Giving the range for a homework assignment:“숙제는 20페이지부터 30페이지까지입니다.” (Sukje-neun isip peiji-buteo samsip peiji-kkaji-imnida.)
   “The homework is from page 20 to page 30.”
4. Describing a physical journey:“서울부터 부산까지 기차로 3시간 걸려요.” (Seoul-buteo Busan-kkaji gicha-ro se sigan geollyeoyo.)
   “It takes 3 hours by train from Seoul to Busan.”
5. Talking about your age range:“저는 열 살부터 스무 살까지 서울에 살았어요.” (Jeoneun yeol sal-buteo seumu sal-kkaji Seoul-e sarasseoyo.)
   “I lived in Seoul from age 10 to age 20.”
6. Explaining a process from start to finish:“처음부터 끝까지 다시 설명해 주세요.” (Cheoeum-buteo kkeut-kkaji dasi seolmyeonghae juseyo.)
   “Please explain it again from beginning to end.”
7. Asking about a store’s lunch break:“점심시간은 몇 시부터 몇 시까지예요?” (Jeomsimsigan-eun myeot si-buteo myeot si-kkaji-yeyo?)
   “From what time to what time is the lunch break?”
8. Describing a range of items:“머리부터 발끝까지 다 젖었어요.” (Meori-buteo balkkeut-kkaji da jeojeosseoyo.)
   “I am wet from head to toe.”

-buteo (부터) vs. -eseo (에서): What’s the Difference for Location?

This is a common point of confusion for learners. Both particles can mean “from a place,” but they are used in different contexts.

• -buteo (부터): Marks the starting point of a range or journey. It is almost always paired with an end point, which is often marked by -kkaji (까지). It emphasizes the beginning of a path.”집부터 학교까지 걸어왔어요.” (Jib-buteo hakgyo-kkaji georeowasseoyo.)
  “I walked from home to school.” (Emphasizes the start and end of the journey).
• -eseo (에서): Marks the point of origin or departure. It indicates the place where an action begins or where someone comes from.”집에서 왔어요.” (Jib-eseo wasseoyo.)
  “I came from home.” (States the origin).
  “학교에서 출발했어요.” (Hakgyo-eseo chulbalhaesseoyo.)
  “I departed from school.”

A Simple Guideline

• If you are setting up a range (From X to Y), use -buteo… -kkaji.
• If you are simply stating where you came from, use -eseo.

Let’s See More Comparisons (8 Examples)

1. Coming from a place (Origin):“저는 미국에서 왔어요.” (Jeoneun Migug-eseo wasseoyo.) – “I came from America.”
   (You would not say 미국부터 왔어요.)
2. The start of a journey (Range):“미국부터 한국까지 비행기로 12시간 걸려요.” (Miguk-buteo Hanguk-kkaji bihaenggi-ro yeoldu sigan geollyeoyo.) – “It takes 12 hours by plane from America to Korea.”
3. Where a letter came from (Origin):“이 편지는 부산에서 왔어요.” (I pyeonji-neun Busan-eseo wasseoyo.) – “This letter came from Busan.”
4. The starting line of a race (Starting Point):“여기부터 출발선입니다.” (Yeogi-buteo chulbalseon-imnida.) – “Starting from here is the starting line.”
5. Departing from a location (Origin):“기차는 3시에 서울역에서 출발합니다.” (Gicha-neun se si-e Seoul-yeog-eseo chulbalhamnida.) – “The train departs from Seoul Station at 3 o’clock.”
6. The first stop on a list (Sequence):“우리 여행은 서울부터 시작할 거예요.” (Uri yeohaeng-eun Seoul-buteo sijakhal geoyeyo.) – “Our trip will start from Seoul.”
7. Asking for origin:“어디에서 오셨어요?” (Eodi-eseo osyeosseoyo?) – “Where did you come from?”
8. Asking for the start of a range:“어디부터 시작할까요?” (Eodi-buteo sijakalkkayo?) – “Where shall we start from?”

Let’s Practice! Your -buteo Particle Worksheet

Now it’s time to put your skills into practice. This worksheet will help you get comfortable using -buteo and its related grammar.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Particle

Choose the most appropriate particle (-buteo or -eseo) for each sentence.

1. 저는 어제 (부터/에서) 아팠어요. (I’ve been sick since yesterday.)
2. 이 버스는 서울 (부터/에서) 출발해요. (This bus departs from Seoul.)
3. 회의는 2시 (부터/에서) 4시까지입니다. (The meeting is from 2 to 4.)
4. 저는 캐나다 (부터/에서) 왔어요. (I am from Canada.)
5. 우리 여행은 부산 (부터/에서) 시작할 거예요. (Our trip will start from Busan.)

(Answers: 1. 부터, 2. 에서, 3. 부터, 4. 에서, 5. 부터)

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using -buteo and -kkaji.

1. 은행은 오전 9시________ 오후 4시________ 문을 열어요. (The bank is open from 9 AM to 4 PM.)
2. 저는 월요일________ 금요일________ 일해요. (I work from Monday to Friday.)
3. 여기________ 저기________ 걸어갈 거예요. (I am going to walk from here to there.)
4. 처음________ 끝________ 설명해주세요. (Please explain from beginning to end.)

(Answers: 1. 부터, 까지, 2. 부터, 까지, 3. 부터, 까지, 4. 부터, 까지)

Exercise 3: Building Sentences

Combine the words to form a full, grammatically correct sentence.

1. 나 / 어제 / 바빴다 (I / yesterday / to be busy) [Hint: from yesterday]________________________.
2. 수업 / 1시 / 3시 / 이다 (Class / 1 o’clock / 3 o’clock / to be) [Hint: from… to…]________________________.
3. 우리 / 이것 / 시작하다 (We / this thing / to start) [Hint: starting with…]________________________.

(Example Answers):

1. 저는 어제부터 바빴어요. (Jeoneun eoje-buteo bappasseoyo.)
2. 수업은 1시부터 3시까지입니다. (Sueob-eun han si-buteo se si-kkaji-imnida.)
3. 우리 이것부터 시작합시다. (Uri igeos-buteo sijakapsida.)

Wrapping Up Our Starting Point

Today, we’ve taken a thorough look at the Korean particle -buteo (부터). You’ve learned that its main job is to mark the starting point of time and sequence, and that it forms a perfect partnership with -kkaji (까지) to create ranges.

You’ve also seen how it differs from -eseo (에서) when talking about locations. By understanding these functions, you can now describe schedules, journeys, and priorities with much greater precision.

The best way to get comfortable with particles is to use them actively. Try to notice them when you’re listening to Korean, and don’t be afraid to use them when you speak.

What was the most helpful part of this guide for you? Let’s share experiences and practice together. Try making your own “from X to Y” sentence in the comments below