Side by side
부터 vs 에서: Which 'From' Do I Use?
English uses one word for both. Korean splits it by time and place.
English gets away with a single word: "from 3 o'clock", "from Seoul". Korean uses two different particles, and picking the wrong one is one of the most common beginner slips.
The split is refreshingly simple once you see it. 부터 starts a time. 에서 starts a place.
In one line
부터 marks where something starts in time or sequence. 에서 marks where something starts in space.
| Particle | Core meaning | Used with | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 부터 (buteo) | From (time / order) | Clock times, dates, sequences, 'first' | 9시부터 일해요 ahop sibuteo ilhaeyo I work from 9 o'clock |
| 에서 (eseo) | From (place / origin) | Cities, countries, buildings, physical origins | 서울에서 왔어요 seoureseo wasseoyo I came from Seoul |
When to Use 부터
1. Starting Time
The core use. Attach 부터 to any point in time to say things begin there. It pairs naturally with 까지 ('until') to give a full range.
9시부터 6시까지 일해요.
ahop sibuteo yeoseot sikkaji ilhaeyo.
I work from 9 to 6.
2. Starting Point in a Sequence
Use 부터 for order rather than clock time: which thing comes first. This is where it stops feeling like 'time' and starts feeling like 'first of all'.
이것부터 하세요.
igeotbuteo haseyo.
Start with this one.
3. From the Beginning
부터 attaches to abstract starting points too, like 처음 (the beginning) or 아침 (morning). English often says 'since' or 'ever since' here.
처음부터 알았어요.
cheoeumbuteo arasseoyo.
I knew from the start.
When to Use 에서
Use 에서 when the 'from' is a physical place: where you came from, where something originated, where a journey began. Note that this is the same 에서 that marks where an action happens; the 'from' meaning shows up specifically with verbs of coming, leaving, and sending.
한국에서 왔어요.
hangugeseo wasseoyo.
I came from Korea.
집에서 학교까지 멀어요.
jibeseo hakgyokkaji meoreoyo.
It's far from home to school.
학교에서 연락이 왔어요.
hakgyoeseo yeollagi wasseoyo.
I heard from the school.
The core difference
A starting time
“From 9 o'clock...”
A starting place
“From Seoul...”
Common mistakes
9시에서 일해요
ahop sieseo ilhaeyo
9시부터 일해요
ahop sibuteo ilhaeyo
A clock time, date or day uses 부터 for 'from'. 에서 only appears with times in ranges like 2시에서 3시 사이에.
서울부터 왔어요
seoulbuteo wasseoyo
서울에서 왔어요
seoureseo wasseoyo
A city is a place, so the origin takes 에서. 서울부터 would suggest Seoul is first in a list of stops.
월요일에서 시작해요
woryoireseo sijakaeyo
월요일부터 시작해요
woryoilbuteo sijakaeyo
Days of the week are time expressions. Use 부터.
집부터 학교까지 (less natural)
jipbuteo hakgyokkaji
집에서 학교까지
jibeseo hakgyokkaji
For distance between two places, 에서~까지 is the usual pair. 부터~까지 with places is possible but sounds less neutral; it's mainly for time ranges.
서울부터 부산까지 여행해요
seoulbuteo busankkaji yeohaenghaeyo
Correct, but it changes the meaning
This is grammatical: it frames Seoul as the first stop in an itinerary rather than the physical origin. 서울에서 부산까지 is the neutral 'from Seoul to Busan'.
How to Choose in 5 Seconds
Ask these in order and stop at the first yes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 부터~까지 and 에서~까지?
부터~까지 covers a span of time (9시부터 6시까지: from 9 to 6). 에서~까지 covers a span of space (집에서 회사까지: from home to the office). 까지 works as 'until/to' for both.
Can 부터 be used with places at all?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. 여기부터 시작해요 means 'let's start from here' in the sense of order or sequence, not physical origin. For 'I came from here', you still need 에서.
Is 에서 ever used for time?
No. Any 'from [time]' uses 부터. The only place 에서 meets a time is a range like 2시에서 3시 사이에 (between 2 and 3).
Why does 에서 have two completely different meanings?
에서 marks a location that something proceeds out of: either an action unfolding there (집에서 공부해요) or movement originating there (집에서 왔어요). The verb tells you which reading applies.
Look them up in the dictionary
Both particles in the Basic Korean Dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language, with English.