까지
kkaji
until / up to (endpoint or limit)
동안
dongan
for / during (a period of time)
까지 vs 동안: Endpoints vs Durations in Korean Time
까지 (kkaji) marks the endpoint or deadline of time or space ("until" or "up to"), while 동안 (dongan) expresses how long something lasts ("for" or "during" a period).
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 까지 (kkaji) | 동안 (dongan) | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Marks | The endpoint, deadline, or upper limit (time or space) | The span or duration of time something continues |
| Answers the Question | "Until when?" or "How far?" | "For how long?" |
| Follows | A specific time or place noun (5시까지, 서울까지) | A duration noun (3년 동안, 방학 동안, 일 년 동안) |
| Can Mark Space? | Yes — 여기까지 (up to here), 부산까지 (all the way to Busan) | No — 동안 is strictly for time periods |
| Paired With | Often paired with 부터 (from … until): 9시부터 6시까지 | Often paired with specific activity verbs: 공부하는 동안 |
Examples in Context
Telling a coworker a deadline — using 까지
이 보고서는 금요일까지 제출해야 해요.
You have to submit this report by Friday.
Saying you waited until midnight — using 까지
자정까지 기다렸어요.
I waited until midnight.
Describing how long you studied — using 동안
3시간 동안 공부했어요.
I studied for three hours.
Talking about what happened during vacation — using 동안
방학 동안 한국어를 열심히 배웠어요.
I studied Korean hard during the vacation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 까지 when you mean "for three hours" — 3시간까지 sounds like "up to the 3-hour mark"; use 3시간 동안
- ✗Using 동안 with a specific clock time — 5시 동안 is unnatural; use 5시까지 for "until 5 o'clock"
- ✗Forgetting that 까지 can mark space as well as time — 여기까지, 부산까지 are common spatial uses
- ✗Omitting 동안 when it is needed for clarity — 3년 공부했어요 is understood but 3년 동안 공부했어요 is more precise
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 수업 동안 (during class) and 수업까지 (until class)?
수업 동안 means "during class" (the span of time class is in session). 수업까지 is less natural as a standalone phrase but 수업이 끝날 때까지 (until class ends) is correct. Use 동안 for durations and 까지 for endpoints.
How do 부터 and 까지 work together?
They form a "from … to …" pair: 월요일부터 금요일까지 (from Monday to Friday). 부터 marks the start, 까지 marks the end.
Is there a difference between 동안 and 사이에?
동안 emphasizes continuous duration (for the whole period), while 사이에 (between/while) often implies something happening in the gap between two points or events.
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