Learn Korean: 처음에는 + Verb

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 처음에는 + Verb. The word 처음 means first time. In here, the particles 에 + 는 are attached to talk about how someone or something was like at first or at the beginning. The marker 는 emphasizes the contrast; how it used to be versus now. We can talk about anything such as relationships and experiences. Here are some examples.

처음에는 우리가 친하지 않았어.

We weren’t close at first.

처음에는 어려웠지만 익숙해졌어.

At first, it was hard but I got used to it.

처음에는 이상했지만 지금은 안 그래.

At first, it felt strange but not anymore.

처음에는 누나랑 많이 싸웠어.

I used to fight a lot with my sister.

처음에는 선생님이 너무하다고 생각했어.

I used to think that our teacher was too much.