Dictionary — Entry No. 0349
언제
eonje · adverb
언제
eonje
[UHN-jeh]
adverbbeginner
Meaning
The Korean word for ‘when,’ used as both a direct question word and in indirect questions. It is one of the core question words in Korean alongside 어디 (where), 누구 (who), and 뭐 (what), and appears constantly in everyday speech and song lyrics.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
언제 appears at every emotional peak in K-drama — characters ask ‘언제 다시 만나?’ (When will we meet again?) during tearful farewells across series like Twenty-Five Twenty-One. BTS’s ‘Spring Day’ channels the same ache, its lyrics built around the longing of asking when a distant loved one will return.
Example Sentences
언제 왔어?
Eonje wasseo?
When did you get here? (casual speech between close friends or peers)
언제 다시 볼 수 있어?
Eonje dasi bol su isseo?
When can I see you again? (emotionally loaded phrasing common in drama farewells)
언제나 네 편이야.
Eonnjena ne pyeoniya.
I’m always on your side. (언제나 = always/at any time — a natural extension of 언제)
⚠️ Don’t use eonje when…
Don’t mix up 언제 (when) with 어디 (where) — both are question words beginners easily swap. Also note that 언제나 means ‘always’ (at all times), not simply ‘when,’ so using it in a yes/no question context would sound unnatural.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Twenty-Five Twenty-One — Na Hee-do asks ‘언제 다시 볼 수 있어?’ as a recurring emotional refrain woven through the series’ time-jump structure.
- K-Pop: BTS — Spring Day (봄날)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.