부터 vs 까지: Korean From and Until Particles

부터 marks the start. 까지 marks the end. Put them together and you get one of the most useful Korean range patterns:

X부터 Y까지 = from X to Y

• 9시부터 5시까지 일해요. → I work from 9 to 5.
• 월요일부터 금요일까지 공부해요. → I study from Monday to Friday.

Use the free 부터/까지 grammar reference for interactive examples.

부터: from, starting at, since

Use 부터 for the point where something begins.

• 오늘부터 운동해요. → I exercise starting today.
• 지금부터 시작해요. → We start from now.
• 3시부터 바빠요. → I am busy from 3 o’clock.

The key idea is not the English word “from.” It is starting point.

까지: to, until, up to

Use 까지 for the endpoint.

• 6시까지 일해요. → I work until 6.
• 여기까지 오세요. → Come up to here.
• 내일까지 보내 주세요. → Please send it by/until tomorrow.

Depending on context, 까지 can describe time, distance, or the edge of a range.

Use them together

This is the pattern you will use most:

• 서울부터 부산까지 → from Seoul to Busan
• 1과부터 5과까지 → from lesson 1 to lesson 5
• 아침부터 밤까지 → from morning until night

It works almost like brackets around a range.

부터 vs 에서 for “from”

English uses “from” for several different relationships.

• 서울에서 왔어요. → I came from Seoul. Origin of movement.
• 서울부터 부산까지 갔어요. → I went from Seoul to Busan. Seoul is the start of a range/route.

For beginner Korean, use 에서 when you are simply saying where movement originates. Use 부터 when you are emphasizing a start point that pairs naturally with an endpoint or sequence.

Review 에 vs 에서 for the location system.

Time expressions

부터/까지 is especially common in schedules:

• 수업은 10시부터 12시까지예요. → Class is from 10 to 12.
• 다음 주부터 일해요. → I start working next week.
• 금요일까지 해야 해요. → I have to do it by Friday.

That last sentence combines 까지 with obligation, a useful bridge into -아/어야 해요.

Common mistakes

Reversing the order

Natural range: start + 부터, end + 까지.

Adding 에 automatically

You usually do not need 에 before 부터/까지 in basic time ranges:

• 9시부터 5시까지 ✓

Translating 까지 only as “until”

까지 can also mean “to,” “up to,” or “as far as.” Focus on endpoint rather than one English translation.

Mini practice

1. From today until Friday → 오늘부터 금요일까지
2. From Seoul to Busan → 서울부터 부산까지
3. Work until 7 → 7시까지 일해요.
4. Start studying now → 지금부터 공부해요.

Related guides

• Time expressions
• 에 vs 에서
• 으로/로
• Particle checker
• 부터/까지 reference

Once you think in start → end, 부터 and 까지 become much easier than memorizing separate dictionary translations.