에게/한테/께 vs 에서~까지 / 부터~까지

Don’t mix up Korean 에게/한테 (to a person) with 까지 (until / as far as). Side-by-side examples included.

Quick takeaway

에게/한테 marks the person receiving an action. 까지 marks an endpoint in time or space — “until” / “as far as.”

Beginner

에게/한테/께

To (a person/animal)

Attached to a noun referring to a person or animal to indicate that they are the recipient or target of an action.

When to use it

Giving/saying/sending something to a person.

Examples

  • 선생님께 이메일을 보냈어요.

    I sent an email to the teacher.

  • 친구한테 생일 선물을 주었습니다.

    I gave a birthday present to my friend.

  • 강아지에게 밥을 줬어요.

    I fed the puppy. (I gave food to the puppy)

Full lesson
Beginner

에서~까지 / 부터~까지

From ~ To ~

Used to express the starting point and ending point of a place or time. '에서...까지' designates a spatial range (from place to place), while '부터...까지' designates a temporal range (from time to time).

When to use it

Endpoints: until Friday, as far as Seoul, up to page 10.

Examples

  • 서울에서 부산까지 KTX로 2시간 반 걸려요.

    It takes two and a half hours from Seoul to Busan by KTX.

  • 월요일부터 금요일까지 학교에 갑니다.

    I go to school from Monday to Friday.

  • 아침 9시부터 오후 5시까지 일해요.

    I work from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Full lesson