어제
eoje[ʌ̹d͡ʑe̞]
The English word yesterday is translated into Korean as 어제 (eoje) or 작일. If unsure, use 어제.
Meaning: day before today (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 어제 | eoje | [ʌ̹d͡ʑe̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 작일 | jagil | [t͡ɕa̠ɡiɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both 어제 and 작일 can function as nouns meaning the day before today, or as adverbs meaning on the day before today.
Which one should you use?
어제 is the standard, everyday word for yesterday. In contrast, 작일 is a formal term often used in business contexts or official documents.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'as for yesterday' or to contrast yesterday with another day, you can add the topic marker 는 to the word to form 어제는. Additionally, in many sentences, the marker ㅆ is used alongside these words to indicate the past tense.
How do you pronounce it?
eoje
Did you know?
- In certain historical dramas or archaic texts, you might see 어제 used to refer to an imperial decree, making it much more prestigious than its common meaning of 'yesterday'.
- Korean has a specific word 엊그제 which blends 'the day before yesterday' and 'yesterday' to mean 'just a few days ago'.
- In everyday spoken Korean, using 작일 instead of 어제 can make a speaker sound unnaturally stiff, almost like an automated banking system or a legal contract.
Examples in context
- 어제 나는 집에 있었어.I was at home yesterday.This sentence uses 어제 to describe being at home.Tatoeba #3684989 by rainbow4us, translation #2611763 by CK
- 난 어제 지하철을 탔어.I took the subway yesterday.This sentence uses 어제 to describe taking the subway.Tatoeba #8369715 by Eunhee, translation #3120541 by CM
- 나는 어제 그곳에 갔다.I went there yesterday.This sentence uses 어제 to describe going to a place.Tatoeba #11105723 by intertime, translation #257721 by CK
- 어제 날씨가 좋았어요.The weather was good yesterday.
- 어제 영화 봤어!I watched a movie yesterday.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their schedules in a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji어제 뭐 했어?eoje mwo haesseo?What did you do yesterday?
- 민준 Min-jun어제 친구를 만났어.eoje chin-gu-reul mannasseo.I met a friend yesterday.
- 민지 Min-ji재미있었겠다!jaemi-isseot-getda!That sounds fun!
- 민준 Min-jun응, 정말 즐거웠어.eung, jeongmal jeul-geowosseo.Yes, it was really enjoyable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yesterday” translations and entries 어제, 작일, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
