Word
공항에 도착하면 먼저 탑승권을 확인해요.gonghange dochakhamyeon meonjeo tapseunggwoneul hwaginhaeyo.
Meaning
When you arrive at the airport, first check your boarding pass.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of gonghange dochakhamyeon meonjeo tapseunggwoneul hwaginhaeyo.
~에~e
destination particle
~을~eul
object particle
~면~myeon
when
확인하다hwaginhada
to check
Questions & Answers about gonghange dochakhamyeon meonjeo tapseunggwoneul hwaginhaeyo.
What does the suffix -면 in 공항에 도착하면 mean?
The ending -면 attaches to a verb stem to form a conditional clause meaning “if” or “when.” In 도착하면, 도착하다 (to arrive) + -면 = “when/if (you) arrive.” It sets up the condition for the main action that follows.
How is 공항에 도착하면 different from 공항에 도착했을 때?
Both can mean “when you arrive at the airport,” but:
- 도착하면 (with -면) suggests a general or habitual condition (“whenever/if you arrive”).
- 도착했을 때 uses the past-tense time noun 때 (“when (you) have arrived”) to describe a specific time point.
In instructions or habits, -면 is more natural; ~했을 때 is often used in storytelling or to mark a precise moment.
Why is it 공항에 도착하다 and not 공항에서 도착하다?
The verb 도착하다 takes 에 to mark the destination or point of arrival. 공항에 도착하다 literally means “arrive at the airport.”
Particles:
- 에 = “to/at” (destination, arrival point)
- 에서 = “at/from” (location of action or origin)
Why is there no subject (like “I” or “you”) in this sentence?