부터
buteo
from / starting from (time or sequence)
에서
eseo
from (physical starting point or origin)
부터 vs 에서: Two Ways to Say "From" in Korean
부터 (buteo) marks the starting point of time or an ordered sequence ("starting from"), while 에서 (eseo) marks the physical location you are departing from.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 부터 (buteo) | 에서 (eseo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Time, order, sequence (오늘부터, 1번부터) | Physical location or place of origin (서울에서, 여기에서) |
| Paired With | 까지 (until/to): 아침부터 저녁까지 (from morning to evening) | 까지 (to): 서울에서 부산까지 (from Seoul to Busan) |
| Movement Implied? | Not necessarily — can be purely temporal | Yes — implies physical departure or origin |
| Common Pattern | 시간 부터 (from a time) + action verb | 장소 에서 왔어요 (came from a place) |
| Example | 내일부터 운동할 거야 (I'll exercise starting tomorrow) | 캐나다에서 왔어요 (I came from Canada) |
Examples in Context
Announcing when a new policy takes effect — using 부터
다음 주부터 새로운 규칙이 적용됩니다.
The new rules will apply starting next week.
Saying a meeting starts at 9 — using 부터
회의는 9시부터 시작돼요.
The meeting starts from 9 o'clock.
Introducing yourself and your hometown — using 에서
저는 부산에서 왔어요.
I came from Busan.
Describing a train route — using 에서
기차는 서울에서 출발해요.
The train departs from Seoul.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 부터 for physical origin — 서울부터 왔어요 is unnatural; use 서울에서 왔어요
- ✗Using 에서 for time starting points — 9시에서 시작해요 is wrong; use 9시부터 시작해요
- ✗Forgetting that both can appear in one sentence — 서울에서 부산까지 기차로 3시간 걸려요 (from Seoul to Busan by train takes 3 hours) uses 에서 for place and no 부터
- ✗Mixing up 에서부터 — this compound form is correct and emphasizes both physical location and the start of a sequence, e.g., 집에서부터 학교까지 (from the house all the way to school)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 서울에서부터?
Yes. 에서부터 combines both particles to emphasize the physical and sequential starting point simultaneously: 서울에서부터 부산까지 달렸어요 (I ran all the way from Seoul to Busan). It is slightly more emphatic than either particle alone.
Which do I use for "from page 1"?
Use 부터: 1페이지부터 읽어요 (I read from page 1). Order and sequence always take 부터.
Is 에서 used when asking where someone is from?
Yes. 어디에서 왔어요? (Where are you from?) uses 에서, because you are asking about a physical place of origin.
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