Learn Korean: 처음 + Particles

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 처음 + Particles. The word 처음 means first and particles can be attached to it to add certain nuances. Let’s tackle each of them. 처음에는 is used to express how something was like at first or in the beginning. For example, We weren’t close at first (but now we are). In Korean, it is 처음에는 우리가 친하지 않았어(요). We can shorten 처음에는 into 처음엔. 처음으로 is used to express what we experience for the first time. For example, I felt love for the first time. In Korean, it is 처음으로 사랑을 느꼈어(요). 처음부터 is used to express that something happens from the very beginning. For example, I love you from beginning to now. In Korean, it is 처음부터 지금까지 사랑한다.