-(으)ㄹ 때
when, at the time of
Names the moment something happens. Built on the future modifier plus 때, a noun meaning “time” — and the tense sits inside, not on the ending.
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When to use it
Attachment is the standard rule, and a ㄹ stem adds nothing: 만들다 gives 만들 때. It covers ongoing or repeated situations: 밥을 먹을 때 이야기하지 마세요.
For a single completed event, the past goes inside: 한국에 갔을 때 김치를 먹었어요 (when I went to Korea). Compare 갈 때, which would mean on the way there. This inside-the-ending placement is the same pattern as -(으)ㄹ까요? and -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Nouns take 때 directly, with no particle: 방학 때, 어릴 때, 시험 때. But time adverbs that already point at a moment — 어제, 지금, 내일 — never take it.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -ㄹ 때 | 가다 → 갈 때 |
| Ends in a consonant | -을 때 | 먹다 → 먹을 때 |
| Ends in ㄹ | nothing added | 만들다 → 만들 때 |
| Completed event | -았/었을 때 | 갔을 때 |
| With a noun | noun + 때 | 방학 때 |
| Never with | 어제, 지금, 내일 | 어제 때 does not exist |
In use
밥을 먹을 때 이야기하지 마세요.
Don’t talk while eating.
한국에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요.
When I went to Korea, I met a friend.
시간이 있을 때 연락 주세요.
Get in touch when you have time.
어릴 때 부산에 살았어요.
I lived in Busan when I was young.
김치를 만들 때 손이 많이 가요.
Making kimchi takes a lot of work.
방학 때 여행을 가려고 해요.
I’m planning to travel during the holidays.
Compared with
-(으)면
-(으)ㄹ 때 names a time that occurs; -(으)면 sets a condition that may not. For a single past event, only -(으)ㄹ 때 works.
한국에 갔을 때 (when I went) / 한국에 가면 (if I go)
-(으)면서
-(으)면서 says one person does both things at once; -(으)ㄹ 때 simply locates the moment and allows different subjects.
밥을 먹으면서 봐요. (I eat and watch) / 제가 밥을 먹을 때 전화가 왔어요. (a call came while I ate)
-는 동안
-는 동안 stresses the whole stretch of time; -(으)ㄹ 때 points at the moment. English “while” covers both.
잘 때 (at the time of sleeping) / 자는 동안 (throughout the sleep)
Watch out
김치를 만들을 때 힘들어요.
김치를 만들 때 힘들어요.
A stem ending in ㄹ already supplies it, as with 만들 거예요 and 만들 수 있다.
작년에 한국에 갈 때 친구를 만났어요.
작년에 한국에 갔을 때 친구를 만났어요.
갈 때 means on the way there. For a completed visit, the past goes inside the ending.
어제 때 비가 왔어요.
어제 비가 왔어요.
어제, 지금, 내일 already name a time and take no 때. Nouns like 방학 and 시험 do take it.
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