Different uses of ‘때’ (during or when)

‘때’ expresses the time when an action or state occurs or its duration.

1. N 때

몇 살 때 = when you are/were (age)

20살 때 = when I was/am 20 years old

수업 때 = at the time of/during class

고등학교 때 = at the time of/during high school

방학 때 = at the time of/during school vacation

점심 때 = at the time of/during lunch

A: 몇 살 때 첫 데이트를 했어요? When (how old were you) did you go on your first date?

B: 20살 때 했어요. I did when I was 20 years old.

A: 수업 때 노트북을 가져가요? Do we bring our laptop for our class?

B: 네, 가져가요. Yes, we do.

A: 고등학교 때 친구들이랑 자주 연락해요? Do you often talk to your high school friends?

B: 아니요, 자주 안 해요. No, I don’t.

A: 방학 때 뭐 할 거예요? What are you going to do during the school vacation?

B: 여행할 거예요. I will travel.

Tip) 때 is not used with 오전, 오후, 아침 or the days of the week.

Tip) What's the difference between 크리스마스에 vs 크리스마스 때?

• for some nouns, such as 저녁, 점심, and 방학, the meaning is the same whether they are written in the form of 'N 때' or 'N에'. However, for some nouns, especially those representing holidays, like 크리스마스, 추석, and 설날, the form 'N에" refers to the specific days of the holiday while the form 'N 때' refers to the approximate time period before, during, and after the holiday.

크리스마스 때 뭐 할 거예요? What are you going to do at Christmas? (the period around Christmas)

크리스마스에 뭐 할 거예요? What are you doing to do on Christmas Day (Dec 25)

2. (V/A)-ㄹ/을 때

가다 -> 가 -ㄹ 때 = 갈 때 When going

먹다 -> 먹 -을 때 = 먹을 때 When eating

좋다 -> 좋 -을 때 = 좋을 때 when it’s good

따뜻하다 -> 따듯하 -ㄹ때 = 따뜻할 때 when it’s warm

운동하다 -> 운동하 -ㄹ때 = 운동할 때 when exercising

- 고향에 갈 때 기차를 탈 거예요. I will take a train when I go to my hometown.

- 벌써 저녁 먹을 때가 됐어요. It’s already dinner time.

- 날씨가 좋을 때 소풍을 가요. Let’s go picnicking when it’s sunny.

- 따뜻할 때 드세요. Please eat when it’s hot.

- 운동할 때 부상을 조심하세요. Please be careful of injuries when you exercise.

Tip) (V/A)-ㄹ을 때 vs (V/A)-(으)면

-ㄹ/을 때 “When” expresses the duration when an action or state is still occurring

-(으)면 “Once; If” expresses the hypothetical time once/if an action or state has occurred

저는 한국에 갈 때 한복을 입어 볼 거예요. I will try Hanbok when I’m going to Korea.

저는 한국에 가면 한복을 입어 볼 거예요. I will try Hanbok once I get to Korea. (You can try Hanbok once you get to Korea rather than when you’re still on your way to Korea)

저는 고향에 갈 때 기차를 탈 거예요. I will take a train when I’m going to my hometown.

저는 고향에 가면 기차를 탈 거예요. I will take a train if/once I get to my hometown.

도착할 때 알려주세요. Please let me know when you’re arriving.

도착하면 알려주세요. Please let me know once you arrive.