Learn Korean: Noun + 때

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Noun + 때. More often than not, we see 때 attached to verbs to express the conjunction when as in 갈 때 (when someone goes) and 볼 때 (when someone sees something). We can also used it with nouns to express the same thing, but not limited to when. Here are some examples. 대학교 때 means refers to the time when someone was in college as in 대학교 때 만났어요 (We met in college/when we were in college). 추석 때 means during Chuseok (a Korean holiday) as in 추석 때만 먹어요 (We only eat it on Chuseok). 생일 때 means on one’s birthday as in 생일 때 친구랑 놀아요 (I hang out with friends on my birthday). 크리스마스 때 means on Christmas as in 크리스마스 때 뭐 해요? (What will you do on Christmas?) And 휴가 때 refers to one’s vacation as in 휴가 때 어디 깔가? (Where shall we go on our vacation?). In general, 때 is attached to nouns that refers to occasions, events, or period of one’s life.

얘기 때 너무 귀엽던데.

He was cute when he was a child.

사춘기 때 많이 바뀌었어요.

He changed a lot during puberty stage.

올림픽 때 사람 엄청 많이 왔어요.

A lot of people came during the Olympics.