TOPIK I · LEVEL 1
N부터 (순서·시작)
부터 on its own marks where something starts: the thing done first ('X first, starting with X') or the starting point of a series, such as a number, page, day or person.
조사ParticlesHan: 부터 takes the place of 을/를 and is written attached to the noun.
Examples
그럼 저부터 자기소개를 하겠습니다.Then I'll introduce myself first.
배고프니까 숙제는 나중에 하고 밥부터 먹자.I'm hungry, so let's eat first and do the homework later.
1번부터 순서대로 대답해 보세요.Please answer in order, starting with number 1.
Don’t mix up
N부터 (순서·시작)vs먼저먼저 is an adverb, 'first, before others'; 부터 attaches to the thing that comes first. 먼저 밥을 먹자 and 밥부터 먹자 are close, but only 부터 can mark the first item of a list: 1번부터 읽으세요.
N부터 (순서·시작)vs-부터 -까지-부터 -까지 gives a full range with an end point: 1번부터 5번까지 푸세요. 부터 alone gives only the start: 1번부터 푸세요 (start at number 1).N부터 (순서·시작)vsN에서에서 alone marks where you come from: 학교에서 왔어요. 에서부터 adds 'all the way from': 학교에서부터 뛰어왔어요 (ran all the way from school).
How to build it
N+부터 (no space; replaces 이/가 and 을/를)
place+에서부터
여기·거기+서부터
밥 → 밥부터 먹자; 1번 → 1번부터; 저 → 저부터; 집 → 집에서부터; 여기 → 여기서부터
- 'X first': put 부터 on the thing you do before the others: 밥부터 먹자 (let's eat first, other things later), 쉬운 문제부터 푸세요. It hints that more things follow.
- Starting point of a series, not only of time: 1번부터, 10쪽부터, 앞줄부터, 오늘부터, 다음 사람부터. No 까지 is needed.
- 부터 replaces 이/가 and 을/를 (밥부터, not 밥을부터) but can take 가, 는 or 도 after it: 생각부터가 달라요 (even the way of thinking is different), 내일부터는 일찍 일어날 거예요.
- For a starting place use 에서부터 (or 서부터 after 여기/거기/어디): 집에서부터 걸어왔어요, 여기서부터 제가 운전할게요. It stresses the point where the movement began.
Classic mistake
Wrong: 배고프니까 밥을 부터 먹자.
Right: 배고프니까 밥부터 먹자.
부터 takes the place of 을/를 and is written attached to the noun.
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All TOPIK grammar- -(으)로-(으)로 marks the direction you head toward, the means or tool you use, or what something is made of.
- -(이)나(이)나 links two nouns as alternatives ("A or B"), and after a number it shows an approximate amount in questions or a surprisingly large amount in statements.
- -도-도 attaches to a noun to say that this thing is 'also' included, adding it to something already mentioned.
- -만Attach 만 to a noun to say 'only this one and nothing else'.
- -에에 marks the place where something is, the place you go to, or the time when something happens.
- -의-의 links two nouns to show possession or belonging: A의 B = A's B.
- -은/는-은/는 marks what the sentence is about (the topic), often something already known, or something you are contrasting with another thing.
- -을/를을/를 sits right after a noun to show it is the thing the action is done to, the direct object.
- -이/가이/가 attaches to a noun to show it is the subject, the one who does something or is described, and often presents it as new or focused information.