learn korean

Korean Vocabulary - Family Terms
Family - 가족 [ ga-jok ]
English Korean Pronunciation
Cousin 사촌 [ sa-chon ]
Daughter 딸 [ ddal ]
Father 아버지 [ a-beo-ji ]
Grandfather 할아버지 [ ha-ra-beo-ji ]
Grandmother 할머니 [ hal-meo-ni ]
Husband 남편 [ nam-pyeon ]
Maternal aunt 이모 [ i-mo ]
Maternal uncle 외삼촌 [ woe-sam-chon ]
Mother 어머니 [ eo-meo-ni ]
My wife 아내 [ a-nae ]
Older brother (of a man) 형 [ hyeong ]
Older brother (of a woman) 오빠 [ o-bba ]
Older sister (of a man) 누나 [ nu-na ]
Older sister (of a woman) 언니 [ eon-ni ]
Paternal aunt 고모 [ go-mo ]
Paternal uncle 삼촌 [ sam-chon ]
Relatives 친척 [ chin-cheok ]
Someone’s wife 부인 [ bu-in ]
Son 아들 [ a-deul ]
Younger brother 남동생 [ nam-dong-saeng ]
Younger sister 여동생 [ yeo-dong-saeng ]
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Useful Korean Phrases and Expressions
At the Restaurant - Korean Vocabulary - Food and Drinks
English Korean Pronunciation
Please give me a menu. 메뉴 좀 갖다주세요. Menyu jom gatdajuseyo.
I’d like one order of… …일 인분 부탁 합니다. …il inbun butak hamnida.
Don’t make it hot (spicy) 맵지 않게 해주세요. Maepji anke haejuseyo.
Please bring me some water. 물 좀 주세요. Mul jom juseyo.
Please bring me the check. 여기 계산서 좀 가져오세요. Yeogi gyesanseo jom gajyeooseyo.
Please give me a receipt. 영수증을 주세요. Yeongsujeungeul juseyo.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Useful Korean Phrases and Expressions
Driving Directions
English Korean Pronunciation
Please go to … …에 가주세요. …e gajuseyo.
I’m in a hurry. 급해요. Keupaeyo.
There’s no hurry. 급하게 가지 않아도 되요. Keupage gaji anado doeyo.
Please drive more … 좀 더… 운전해 주세요. Jom deo… unjeonhae juseyo.
slowly / quickly 천천히 / 빨리 cheoncheoni / bballi
Go straight ahead. 똑바로 가주세요. Ddokbaro gajuseyo.
Turn … …으로 돌아가 주세요. … euro dolaga juseyo.
left / right 왼쪽 / 오른쪽 woenjjok / oreunjjok
Stop here, please. 여기서 내려 주세요. Yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo.
How much is the fare? 요금이 얼마예요? Yogeumi eolmayeyo?
Emagasia wish you all the best in learning Useful Korean Phrases and Expressions.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Korean Vocabulary for Countries covers all the countries name in Korean. In order to Learn Korean language, it is vital for you to know and memories the Korean vocabulary. Without knowing the Korean vocabulary, it’s very hard for you to form a Korean sentence. Do you know that when introducing yourself, you may need to introduce your name perhaps in Korean (view Korean names), your occupation, your nationality. Today we will learn the vocabulary for countries in Emagasia.
There are many advantages if you can memories the name of those countries as it has a lot of usage in Korean language such as nationality, race or languages.
Korean Vocabulary - Countries
Countries - 나라 [ na-ra ]
English Korean Pronunciation
Algeria 알제리 [ al-je-ri ]
America 미국 [ mi-guk ]
Argentina 아르헨티나 [ a-reu-hen-ti-na ]
Australia 오스트레일리아/호주 [ o-seu-teu-re-il-ria/ho-ju ]
Austria 오스트리아 [ o-seu-teu-ri-a ]
Bangladesh 방글라데시 [ bang-geul-ra-de-si ]
Belgium 벨기에 [ bel-gi-e ]
Bolivia 볼리비아 [ bol-ri-bi-a ]
Brazil 브라질 [ beu-ra-jil ]
Brunei 브루나이 [ beu-ru-na-i]
Burma/Myanmar 버마/미얀마 [ beo-ma/mi-yan-ma ]
Cambodia 캄보디아 [ kam-bo-di-a ]
Cameroon 카메룬 [ ka-me-run ]
Canada 캐나다 [ kae-na-da ]
Chicago 시카고 [ si-ka-go ]
Chile 칠레 [ chil-re ]
China 종국 [ jung-guk ]
Colombia 콜롬비아 [ kol-rom-bi-a ]
Cuba 쿠바 [ ku-ba]
Czech Republic 체코 [ che-ko ]
Denmark 덴마크 [ den-ma-keu ]
Ecuador 에콰도르 [ e-kwa-do-reu ]
Egypt 이집트 [ i-jip-teu ]
England 영국 [ yeong-guk ]
Fiji 피지 [ pi-ji ]
Finland 핀란드 [ pin-ran-deu ]
France 프랑스 [ peu-rang-seu ]
Germany 독일 [ dok-il ]
Ghana 가나 [ ka-na ]
Greece 그리스 [ geu-ri-seu ]
Hong Kong 홍콩 [ hong-kong ]
Hungary 헝가리 [ heong-ga-ri ]
Iceland 아이슬란드 [ a-i-seul-ran-deu ]
India 인도 [ in-do ]
Indonesia 인도네시아 [ in-do-ne-si-a ]
Iran 이란 [ i-ran ]
Iraq 이라크 [ i-ra-keu ]
Ireland 아일랜드 [ a-il-raen-deu ]
Israel 이스라엘 [ i-seu-ra-el ]
Italy 이탈리아/이태리 [ i-tal-ri-a/i-tae-ri ]
Jamaica 자메이카 [ ja-me-i-ka ]
Japan 일본 [ il-bon ]
Jordon 요르단 [ yo-reu-dan ]
Kenya 케냐 [ ke-nya ]
Korea 한국 [ han-guk ]
Kuwait 쿠웨이트 [ ku-we-i-teu ]
Laos 라오스 [ ra-o-seu ]
Lebanon 레바논 [ re-ba-non ]
Libya 리비아 [ ri-bi-a ]
Luxembourg 룩셈부르크 [ ruk-sem-bu-reu-keu ]
Macau 마카오 [ ma-ka-o ]
Maldives 몰디브 [ mol-di-beu ]
Malta 몰타 [ mol-ta ]
Malaysia 말레이시아 [ mal-re-i-si-a ]
Mexico 맥시코 [ mae-si-ko ]
Morocco 모로코 [ mo-ro-ko ]
Nepal 네팔 [ ne-pal ]
Netherlands 네덜란드 [ ne-deol-ran-deu ]
New Zealand 뉴질랜드 [ nyu-jil-raen-deu ]
Nigeria 나이지리아 [ na-i-ji-ri-a ]
North Korea 북한 [ buk-han ]
Norway 노르웨이 [ no-reu-we-i ]
Pakistan 파키스탄 [ pa-ki-seu-tan ]
Peru 페루 [ pe-ru ]
Philippines 필리핀 [ pil-ri-pin ]
Poland 폴란드 [ pol-ran-deu ]
Portugal 포르투갈 [ po-reu-tu-gal ]
Russia 러시아 [ reo-si-a ]
Saudi Arabia 사우디아라비아 [ sa-u-di-a-ra-bi-a ]
Senegal 세네갈 [ se-ne-gal ]
Singapore 싱가폴 [ sing-ga-pol ]
Switzerland 스위스 [ seu-wi-seu ]
Thailand 태국 [ tae-guk ]
Turkey 터키 [ teo-ki ]
Vietnam 베트남 [ be-teu-nam ]
When you want to describe someone’s nationality, just add the word 사람 (people) behind the country name. For example, Korea 한국 + 사람 = 한국 사람 (Korean). By adding the word 인 behind the country name, it means race, such as 한국 인 (Korean), 인도 인 (Indian), 말레이 인 (Malay) or 말레이시아 인도인 (Malaysian Indians). Names of languages, are formed by placing 어/말 after the name of country. For general language, add 어, 말 is for describing spoken language. Examples - 한국어/한국말 (Korean), 일본어/일본말 (Japanese), 중국어/중국말 (Chinese), 외국어/외국말 (Foreign language). However for English, is just 영어 without referring a country. But for United States English, United Kingdom English or Australia English, may write as 미국 영어, 영국 영어, 호주 영어 to differentiate them.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
earn Korean Language Lesson 33 - Korean Conjunction - But

Continue from Lesson 32 - Korean Question Word - How. Today we come to learn Korean Conjunction - But. In this learn Korean language lesson, we will learn conjunction - But - 지만 [ ji-man ]. It has the same meaning as English question word - how. In Korean, it is use to shows a contrast between the two sentences. 지만 is a coordinating conjunction used to connect two sentences together in a way that shows a contrast between the two. 지만 is added to the stem of the verb or adjective in the first sentence. Let’s start!
Korean Conjunction - But
We have learned Korean Conjunction - And in learn Korean language Lesson 23 and Lesson 31. To indicates a contrast between what is said before and after, use 지만. It is a coordinating conjunction used to connect two sentences together in a way that shows a contrast between the two. 지만 is added to the stem of the Korean Verbs or Korean Adjectives in the first sentence. Simply add it to the end of the verb or adjective stem regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. For example, when the food was expensive but not very tasty, add this Korean conjunction to the end of the adjective stem to make contrast between expensive and tasteless. When you want to watch a movie but have no time, use it to show contrast between your desire and unavailability. See examples below.
• 이 식당은 비싸지만 맛이 없어요. [ i-sik-dang-eun-bi-ssa-ji-man-ma-si-eop-seo-yo ] - This restaurant is expensive but not very tasty.
• 그 영화를 보고 싶지만 시간이 없어요. [ geu-yeong-hwa-reul-bo-go-sip-ji-man-si-gan-i-eop-seo-yo ] - I want to watch that movie but I have no time.
• 토요일에는 하지만 일요일에는 하지 않아요. [ to-yo-il-e-neun-ha-ji-man-il-yo-il-e-neun-ha-ji-an-a-yo ] - It opens Saturday but closes on Sunday.
• 한국 친구가 있지만 자주 만날 수 없어요. [ han-guk-chin-gu-ga-it-ji-man-ja-ju-man-nal-su-eop-seo-yo ] - I have a Korean friend but we can’t meet often.
When two sentences are connected using 지만, the repeated part in the second sentence is usually omitted.
• 저는 학교에 가지만 친구는 학교에 안 가요. [ jeo-neun-hak-gyo-e-ga-ji-man-chin-gu-neun-hak-gyo-e-an-ga-yo ] - I go to school, but my friend doesn’t go to school.
• 저는 학교에 가지만 친구는 안 가요. [ jeo-neun-hak-gyo-e-ga-ji-man-chin-gu-neun-an-ga-yo ] - I go to school, but my friend doesn’t.
To make contrasts involving the past, 았/었지만 is used adding 았/었 to 지만 to indicate the Korean Past Tense. Simply replace 어요 in 았/었어요 with 지만.
• 어젯밤에 그 일을 했지만 안 가져 왔어요. [ i-jet-bam-e-geu-il-eul-haet-ji-man-an-ga-jyeo-wa-sseo-yo ] - I did the work last night but did not bring it with me.
• 아까 점심을 먹었지만 배가 고파요. [ a-gga-jeom-sim-eul-meo-geot-ji-man-bae-ga-go-pa-yo ] - I ate lunch a while ago but I am still hungry.
Learn Korean Language Flashback
Here are the learn Korean language flashback of previous lessons. Do you remember that we have learned Korean Irregular Verbs, the “Gangster Group” in Korean Hangeul system? There are a total of five Korean Irregular Verbs: ㄷ, ㅂ, ㄹ, 으 and 르. Let’s revise the ㅂ irregular verbs here. For more details, please revise that lesson. In Korean there are two types of verbs: Korean Action Verbs (to run, to sleep, to do, to work, to think, to study, etc.) and Descriptive Verbs which is the adjectives (to be happy, to be sad, to be cheap, to be expensive, to be good, to be bad, etc.). These two types of verbs are same when it comes to irregular. When an adjective stem ending in ㅂ is followed by the vowel 아, 어 or 으, the ㅂ changes to 우.
• 덥다 [ deop-da ] → 덥 + 어요 = 더워요 [ deo-wo-yo ] - to be hot
• 맵다 [ maep-da ] → 맵 + 어요 = 매워요 [ mae-wo-yo ] - to be hot (spicy)
• 춥다 [ chup-da ] → 춥 + 어요 = 추워요 [ chu-wo-yo ] - to be cold
• 쉽다 [ swip-da ] → 쉽 + 어요 = 쉬워요 [ swi-wo-yo ] - to be easy
• 어렵다 [ eo-ryeop-da ] → 어렵 + 어요 = 어려워요 [ eo-ryeo-wo-yo ] - to be difficult
For examples:
• 날씨가 더워요. [ nal-ssi-ga-deo-wo-yo ] - It is hot.
• 한국 신문이 어려워요. [ han-guk-sin-mun-i-eo-ryeo-wo-yo ] - It is difficult to read a Korean newspaper.
-지만 -아/어요 -았/었어요 -아/어서
덥다 덥지만 더워요 더웠어요 더워서
맵다 맵지만 매워요 매웠어요 매워서
춥다 춥지만 추워요 추웠어요 추워서
쉽다 쉽지만 쉬워요 쉬웠어요 쉬워서
어렵다 어렵지만 어려워요 어려웠어요 어려워서
감사합니다 - Thank you!

Korean Words

The following table contains important words about days and time in Korean as well as in English.
English Korean Words Hangul Script

Sunday eeryoheel 일요일
Monday wuhryoheel 월요일
Tuesday hwa-yoheel 화요일
Wednesday sue-yoheel 수요일
Thursday mo gyoeel 목요일
Friday gumyoeel 금요일
Saturday toh yoeel 토요일
Yesterday uhdjeh 어제
Today ohnul 오늘
Tomorrow neheel 내일
Day naht 낮
Night paam 밤
Week chooh 주
Month wuhl 월
Year nyuhn 년
Second cho 초
Minute boohn 분
Hour sih 시
Morning ah-chim 아침
Evening chuh-nyuhk 저녁
English Korean Expressions Hangul Script

Above / Over wee / wee 위 / 위
After / Past who / chi-nahn 후 / 지난
Back / Behind dwee / dwee 뒤 / 뒤
Before / In front of / Forward chuhn / ____ ui ahp / ahp 전 / __의 앞 / 앞
Between sahee 사이
Coordinates jwa pyo 좌표
Degrees doh 도
Down ah-reh 아래
East tong 동
Far muhli 멀리
Longitude kyung-doh 경도
Left when-chok 왼쪽
Latitude wee-doh 위도
My position is ___. cheh weechinun _______ imneedaa 제 위치는 ____ 입니다.
Near gaa kahp geh 가깝게
North book 북
Northeast book dong chok 북동쪽
Northwest book suh chok 북서쪽
Right ohroon chok 오른쪽
South nahm 남
Southeast nahm dong chok 남동쪽
Southwest nahm suh chok 남서쪽
Straight ahead. ahpooroh chikdjin 앞으로 직진.
Under ah reh 아래
Up wee 위
West suh 서
I hope the content of this page was useful to you, and that you learned some Korean Words, to strengthen your vocabulary and expressions skills. Try to memorize them to be able to use them in your daily conversation. Make sure to check our Learn Korean page, which contains several lessons that might help you in your learning process.

Learn Korean Language Lesson 2 - Korean Basic Conversation

Today, we will start learn some Korean basic conversation ( 기본회화 ) such as normal greetings, thank you, sorry in Korean. The Korean language has various expressions according to specific situations and age and status of the people one is addressing to. In simple, there are two ways when you start a conversation, whether formally or informally.
Basically, the formal way will be use in formal situation and relationships. On the other hand, informal way will be use in informal situations and relationships. The difference between formal and informal is the Korean Sentence Ending Form. There are two sentence ending form – Formal polite and informal polite, both are essential in Korean language, we will learn this in the next lesson. Now, let’s see some Korean basic conversation.
Korean Basic Conversation
Korean English Pronunciation
네/예 yes [ ne/ye ]
아니오 no [ a-ni-o ]
안녕하세요?
안녕하십니까? (F) good morning
good afternoon
good evening [ an-nyeong-ha-se-yo ]
[ an-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-gga ]
안녕히 가세요
안녕히 가십시오 (F) good bye (to person leaving) [ ann-yeong-hi-ka-se-yo ]
[ ann-yeong-hi-ka-ship-si-yo ]
안녕히 계세요
안녕히 계십시오 (F) good bye (to person staying) [ ann-yeong-hi-kye-se-yo ]
[ ann-yeong-hi-kye-ship-si-yo ]
여보세요 hello? (on the phone) [ yeo-bo-se-yo ]
어서 오세요 welcome / hello [ eo-seo-o-se-yo ]
고마워요
고맙습니다 (F)
감사합니다 (F) thank you [ go-ma-wo-yo ]
[ go-map-seum-ni-da ]
[ kam-sa-ham-ni-da ]
천만에요 you’re welcome [ cheon-ma-ne-yo ]
미안해
미안합니다 (F)
죄송합니다 (F) sorry [ mi-an-nae ]
[ mi-an-ham-ni-da ]
[ jwe-song-ham-ni-da ]
괜찮아요
괜찮습니다 (F) it’s all right, it’s ok, don’t worry [ gwaen-cha-na-yo ]
[ gwaen-chan-sseum-ni-da ]
실례합니다 excuse me [ sil-rye-ham-ni-da ]
*Phrases use the informal level of politeness except those denoted with (F).
Yes/no questions can be answered affirmatively with 네/예, 예 gives a polite impression but 네 is more frequently used, and negatively with 아니요.
안녕하세요 is the most common greeting used when meeting someone. No matter the time of day, greet someone with 안녕하세요 when you meet him/her. There is no equivalent to good morning, good afternoon or good evening. It can be used either greet someone you meet for the first time or someone older than you (parents, grandparents) or greet someone you see everyday. So you can always use 안녕하세요 greeting a stranger, or greeting someone you know but need to speak polite to (teachers, older neighbors, co-workers).
If you want to speak more formally or when meeting someone of higher status, or with whom you have a working relationship (boss, customer), use 안녕하십니까. On the other hand, informally, 안녕 is use when greeting a friend of the same age (especially a friend from youth (childhood friends, school friends). Although this phrase is a greeting, you should pronounce it like a question, with your tone rising at the end. If you are meeting someone for the first time, bow your head a bit as you make your greeting.
안녕히 가세요 which also means good bye is say by the host who is bidding his/her guests good bye. You may say 안녕히 가세요 to the person who is leaving. On the other hand, 안녕히 계세요 means good bye, say by the guest who is leaving. You may need to say 안녕히 계세요 to a person who is staying.
어서 오세요 means welcome/hello. You say this to greet a guest or your friend whoever when they come to your house. 고맙습니다/감사합니다 both means thank you. Use 고마워/고마워요 in informal situations and relationships.
괜찮습니다 /괜찮아요 means it’s all right, it’s ok or don’t worry. Informally, 괜찮아. Do you know why is it Koreans say 괜찮아요 so much? The expression 괜찮아요 occurs in many kinds of situations, with many different meanings. Not only a polite substitute for when one’s mood is bad, 괜찮아요 is also used to accept thanks and apologies. The many varied uses of 괜찮아요 can cause confusion for someone just learning to speak Korean.
Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 3 - Korean Sentence Ending Form.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Learn Korean Language Lesson 3 - Korean Sentence Ending Form

We knew that there are two ways when you start a conversation in Learn Korean Language Lesson 2 - Korean Basic Conversation, whether formally or informally and the difference between both of them is the Korean Sentence Ending Form, the only difficulty in learning Korean is the question that always appears in your mind that when do i need to use formal language?
However, first step you must learn is that what’s the differences between formal and informal Korean language. If you don’t understand this lesson, don’t worry, learn Korean lessons in Emagasia will start from using the informal polite form because it is easier to understand and as we proceed, we will learn more into Korean formal polite form. So, let’s learn the Korean Sentence Ending Form and understand the differences between Formal Polite Form and Informal Polite Form in the table below.
Korean Sentence Ending Form
Declarative (for statement)
Formal Polite Informal Polite
Verb stem + -ㅂ니다/-습니다 Verb stem + -아요/어요/해요
가다 = 갑니다, 먹다 = 먹습니다 가다 = 가요, 먹다 = 먹어요
감사합니다. 반갑습니다. 고마워요. 반가워요.
Interrogative (for question)
Formal Polite Informal Polite
-ㅂ니까?/-습니까? -아요/어요/해요?
가다 = 갑니까? 먹다 = 먹습니까? 가다 = 가요? 막다 = 먹어요?
*-십니까?/으십니까? *-세요?/-으세요?
가다 = 가십니까? 앉다 = 앉으십니까? 가다 = 가세요? 앉다 = 앉으세요?
안녕하십니까? 안녕하세요?
Imperative (for command)
Formal polite Informal Polite
-ㅂ시오/으시오 -아요/어요/해요
*-십시오/-으십시오 *-세요/-으세요
가다 = 가십시오, 입다 = 입으십시오 가다 = 가세요. 오다 = 오세요.
안녕히 가십시오. 어서 오십시오. 안녕히가세요. 어서오세요.
Propositive (for proposal)
Formal polite Informal Polite
-ㅂ시다/읍시다 -아요/어요/해요
가다 = 갑시다, 먹다 = 먹읍시다 가다 = 가요, 먹다 = 먹어요
어서 갑시다. 빨리 먹읍시다. 잘 가요. 또 와요. 어서 먹어요.
* with honorific –시-
가다 = 가 + 시 +ㅂ니까? = 가십니까?
일하 + 시 + 어요? = 일하세요?
Learn Korean Language Lesson 4 - Korean Topic Marker

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 3 - Korean Sentence Ending Form. In Learn Korean Language Lesson 4, you will learn the Korean topic marker and how to used it in forming Korean sentences. So, what is Korean Topic Marker? Obviously, Korean topic marker designates the topic of a sentence. Do you remember that when form a Korean sentences, Korean verb comes last in Comparison of Korean and English? Hence, not like English, the order of the Korean sentence is usually: subject, object, verb.
Korean Topic Marker
Korean Topic Marker 은/는 follows a noun, indicating that it is the topic under discussion. The topic is often not necessarily the same as the subject. Rather, the topic marker appears when one wants to stress a new topic. Like when introducing yourself in Korean, this topic functions like this gesture, emphasizing each person in turn. Topic marker 은 directly follows words that end in a consonant (with batchim), while 는 is used after words ending in a vowel (without batchim). For example, 저 is a Korean character ending with a vowel (without batchim). Therefore, it is a noun ending with a vowel. In this case, 는 will be place behind 저 and become 저는. On the other hand, when a nouns ending with a consonant (with batchim), 은 will be place behind it. Do you remember what is batchim? Refer Korean Consonants 3. See examples below:
Ending with a vowel
• 저는 박정수예요. [ jeo-neun-bak-jeong-su-ye-yo ] - I am Park Jung Soo.
• 저는 학생이에요. [ jeo-neun-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - I am a student.
• 애니씨는 인도네시아 사람이에요. [ ae-ni-ssi-neun-in-do-ne-si-a-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - Annie is Indonesian.
Ending with a consonants
• 카르멘은 간호사예요. [ ka-reu-men-eun-gan-ho-sa-ye-yo ] - Carmen is a nurse.
• 선생님은 미국 사람이에요. [ seon-saeng-nim-eun-mi-guk-sa-rami-e-yo ] - The teacher is American.
• 이분은 호주 사람이에요. [ i-bun-eun-ho-ju-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - This gentleman/lady is Australian.
Sometimes, in Korean, the subject is often omitted when it is obvious to the other person.
• 저는 박정수예요 = 박정수예요. - I am Park Jung Soo.
• 엘리스씨는 의사예요? = 의사예요? - Is Alice doctor? Or Alice, are you doctor?
• 선생님은 미국 사람이에요? = 미국 사람이에요? - Is teacher American? Or teacher, are you American?
분 has the same meaning with 사람 both mean person in Korean, but Korean people use 분 when they are mentioning a person that is older or a respective person, is more formal than 사람 even though both of them have the same meaning. 씨 can be added behind a Korean name as a term of address.
5Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 4 - Korean Topic Marker, in Learn Korean Language Lesson 5, we will learn Korean sentence endings expressing identification - 이에요/예요. In Comparison of Korean and English, we knew that Korean verb comes last, the order of the Korean sentence is subject, object, verb. 이에요/예요 comes from the verb 이다. Formally, -입니다 (we will learn this in the future). Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification 이에요/예요 are attached to nouns.
Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification
이에요/예요 has the same usage as English word – Is. It helps describe some equivalence between two things. The rules are the same as Korean topic marker. 이에요 directly follows words that end in a consonant (with batchim), and 예요 is used after words ending in a vowel (without batchim). Do you remember what is batchim? Refer Korean Consonants 3. The subject is often omitted when it is obvious to the other person. However, when changing the topic, do not leave the subject out of the first sentence. See examples below:
Ending with a vowel
• (저는) 크리스티예요 [ keu-ri-seu-ti-ye-yo ] - I am Christy.
• (저는) 빌리예요 [ bil-ri-ye-yo ] - I am Billy.
• (저는) 간호사예요 [ gan-ho-sa-ye-yo ] - I am a nurse.
Ending with a consonants
• (저는) 이성민이에요 [ i-seong-min-i-e-yo ] - I am Lee Sung Min
• (저는) 경찰이에요 [ kyeong-chal-i-ye-yo ] - I am a police.
• (저는) 일본 사람이에요 [ il-bon-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - I am Japanese.
Do you remember that sentence structure of Korean order of questions and its answer are the same in Comparison of Korean and English? The only difference between questions and answer is questions are always end with a rising tone and declarative sentences end with a slightly falling tone. Hence, when using 이에요/예요, just raising intonation at the end without any change in word order makes the sentence into a question. If you have any doubts on the pronunciation, go through Korean Language Reading Practice 2 - Yes or No.
• 의사예요? [ ui-sa-ye-yo ] - Are you a doctor?
• 한국 사람이에요? [ han-guk-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - Are you Korean?
• 경찰 이에요? [ gyeong-chal-i-e-yo ] - Are you a police?
Do Korean Language Exercises 1 and practice your Korean reading skills in Korean Language Reading Practice 1 - Introducing Yourself. Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 6 - Korean Question Word - What.
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Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 5 - Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification, in this Learn Korean Language Lesson 6 we will learn Korean question word - 뭐 [ mwo ]. It has the same usage as English question word - what. 뭐 is use to form Korean interrogative sentence (question). Use it like English word - what to ask questions such as what is this? what is that? what is your name? 무엇 [ mu-eot ] is same as 뭐 but used in formal writing. 무엇 can be used with 이에요/입니까 to form questions.
Korean Question Word - What
뭐 is always used together with 예요 to ask questions as 뭐 is a Korean character ending with a vowel (without batchim). We have learn Korean sentence endings expressing identification - 이에요/예요 in Learn Korean Lesson 5 and we knew that 이에요/예요 has the same usage as English word – is, hence, when asking what is this, what is that, 뭐 will be used together with 예요. Do you remember what is batchim? (Refer Korean Consonants 3).
In Comparison of Korean and English, we knew that Korean verb comes last, the order of the Korean sentence is subject, object, verb. Therefore, 뭐예요 goes at the end of the sentences. There are many English speakers will try to emphasize 뭐 as they would stress the word what in English. But in Korean, you tone should rise a bit at the end.
Colloquial Conversation
• 이게 뭐예요? [ i-ge-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is this?
• 저게 뭐예요? [ jo-ge-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is that?
• 그게 뭐예요? [ geu-ge-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is that?
• 이름이 뭐예요? [ i-reum-i-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is your name?
• 직업이 뭐예요? [ ji-geo-bi-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is your occupation?
Formal writing
• 이것이 무엇입니까? [ i-geo-si-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] - What is this?
• 저것이 무엇입니까? [ jeo-geo-si-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] - What is that?
• 그것이 무엇입니까? [ geu-geo-si-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] - What is that?
• 이름이 무엇입니까? [ i-reum-i-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] - What is your name?
• 직업이 무엇입니까? [ ji-geo-bi-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] - What is your occupation?
You may need to know more Korean vocabulary in order to answer Korean question word 뭐, such as Korean Vocabulary - Occupations and Korean Vocabulary - Things. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 7 - Korean Question Word - Which.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
earn Korean Language Lesson 7 - Korean Question Word - Which

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 6 - Korean Question Word - What, in Learn Korean Lesson 7 we will learn another Korean question word - 어느 [ eo-neu ]. It has the same usage as English question word - which. 어느 is use to form Korean interrogative sentence (question) too. Use it like English word - which to ask questions such as which country are you from? which university? which company you work at? etc, etc. Korean question word 어느 doesn’t same as 뭐.
Korean Question Word - Which
뭐 is always used together with 예요 to ask questions and is place at the end of the sentences. 어느 followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요. 어느 allows you to ask someone to specify which among a category or group of objects. 어느 can be used with nouns such as 나라 (country), 회사 (company), 학교 (school) to form questions like stated above.
• 어느 나라 사람이에요? [ eo-neu-na-ra-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - Which country are you from?
• 어느 학교 학생이에요? [ eo-neu-hak-gyo-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - Which school are you from?
• 어느 회사 에서 일해요? [ eo-neu-hoe-sa-e-seo-il-hae-yo ] - Which company you work at?
• 어느 대학교 에서 공부해요? [ eo-neu-dae-hak-gyo-e-seo-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - Which university you study at?
학교 means school in Korean refer to primary and secondary school. For university, 대 is added in front of 학교, 대학교 means university. Curious about Educational System of Korea? The answer for Korean question word 어느 above can be normal sentences as below:
• 저는 한국 사람이에요. [ jo-neun-han-guk-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - I am Korean.
• 저는 일본어학교 학생이에요. [ jo-neun-il-bon-eo-hak-gyo-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - I am Japanese school student.
• 저는 자동차회사 에서 일해요. [ jo-neun-ja-dong-cha-hoe-sa-e-seo-il-hae-yo ] - I work at a car company.
• 저는 한국대학교 에서 공부해요. [ jo-neun-han-guk-dae-hak-gyo-e-seo-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - I study at Korea university.
일해요 and 공부해요 are Korean verbs, 일해요 means work, 공부해요 means study, 에서 means at. We will learn this in the future, do Korean Language Exercises 2 and practice your Korean reading skills in Korean Reading Practice 3 - What is your name? Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 8 - Korean Question Word - What Kind Of.
arn Korean Language Lesson 8 - Korean Question Word - What Kind Of

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 7 - Korean Question Word - Which, today we will learn the third Korean Question Word - what kind of - 무슨 [ mu-seun ]. Use it like English question word- what kind of to form Korean interrogative sentence (question) such as what kind of sports, what kind of foods, what kind of season etc, etc. Korean question word 무슨 (what kind of) same as 어느 but doesn’t same as 뭐. 무슨 followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요.
Korean Question Word - What Kind Of
무슨 allows you to ask about details or characteristic about something. 무슨 can be used with nouns such as 운동 (sports), 영화 (movies), 요일 (name of the week or day), 음식 (food), 계절 (season) to form questions like stated above.
• 무슨 영화예요? [ mu-seun-yeong-hwa-ye-yo ] - What kind of movie?
• 무슨 운동이에요? [ mu-seun-un-dong-i-e-yo ] - What kind of sport?
• 무슨 요일이에요? [ mu-seun-yo-il-i-e-yo ] - What kind of day of the week?
• 무슨 음식이에요? [ mu-seun-eum-sik-i-e-yo ] - What kind of food?
• 무슨 계절이에요? [ mu-seun-kye-jeol-i-e-yo ] - What kind of season?
무슨 can also be use with 날 [ nal ] to ask about occasions (time). We will learn 날 in the future. Below are some examples of Korean Question Word - 무슨 - what kind of?
• 무슨 책을 읽어요? [ mu-seun-chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - What kind of book are you reading?
• 무슨 음악을 좋아해요? [ mu-seun-eum-ak-eul-joh-a-hae-yo ] - What kind of music do you like?
• 무슨 차를 마셔요? [ mu-seun-cha-reul-ma-syeo-yo ] - What kind of tea are you drinking?
• 오늘은 무슨 요일이에요? [ o-neul-eun-mu-seun-yo-il-i-e-yo ] - What(kind of) day is it today?
• 매년 2월 14일이 무슨 날이에요? [ mae-nyeon-i-wol-sip-sa-il-i-mu-seun-nal-i-e-yo ] - What (kind of) day is February 14th every year?
책 - book, 읽어요 - read, 음악 - music, 좋아해요 - like, 차 - tea, 마셔요 - drink, 오늘 - today, and 매년 - every year. There are many more Korean interrogative sentence can be formed by 무슨, but for now, we learn the easiest first, we will go into more depth as we move on. Practice your Korean reading skills in Korean Reading Practice 4 - What kind of work do you do? Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 9 - Korean Question Word - Who/Whose.
Learn Korean Language Lesson 9 - Korean Question Word - Who/Whose

Continue from Lesson 8 - Korean Question Word - What Kind Of. Today we come to Learn Korean Language Lesson 9 - Korean Question Word - who/whose - 누구 [ nu-gu ]. 누구 is both the English equivalent of who and whose) to form Korean interrogative sentence (question) such as who is it? who’s there? whose it it? whose pencil is this? etc, etc. Korean Question Word - 누구 same as 무슨 same as 어느 followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요.
Korean Question Word - Who/Whose
Use 누구 like English question word- who/whose. Korean Question Word - 누구 (who/whose) same as 무슨 (what kind of) same as 어느 (which) followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요. For the time being, just remember that only 뭐 goes at the end of the sentences. 누구 can be used with noun plus 이에요/예요 (Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification). Nouns such as 첵 (book), 연필 (pencil), 핸드폰 (cellphone), 가방 (bag), and many more (view Korean Vocabulary - Things) to form questions like stated above.
• 누구세요? [ nu-gu-se-yo ] - Who’s there? or Who is it?
• 누구 거예요? [ nu-gu-geo-ye-yo ] - Whose is it?
• 누구 연필이에요? [ nu-gu-yeon-pil-i-e-yo ] - Whose pencil is it?
• 누구 가방이에요? [ nu-gu-ga-bang-i-e-yo ] - Whose bag is it?
누구 can be use with informal polite Korean Sentence Ending Form 세요 to ask question - 누구세요? means who’s there? or who is it?. 누구 거예요? is the same as asking 누구 책이에요? In here, 거 substitutes for 책. 거 is used in colloquial conversation, while 것 is used more in writing. Generally, 것 means a thing, an object, a matter or an affair.
Differences between Korean question words 무슨 (what kind of) and 어느 (which) and 누구 (whose) - 무슨 ask about ask about something details or characteristic, 어느 is asking someone to make a choice among multiple things. whereas 누구 is asking about belonging to which person or people.
• 무슨 책이에요? [ mu-seun-chaek-i-e-yo ] - What kind of book is it?
• 어느 책이에요? [ eo-neu-chaek-i-e-yo ] - Which book is it?
• 누구 책이에요? [ nu-gu-chaek-i-e-yo ] - Whose book is it?
There are many more Korean interrogative sentence can be formed by 누구, but for now, we learn the easiest first, we will go into more depth as we move on. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 10 - Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
earn Korean Language Lesson 10 - Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 9 - Korean Question Word - Who/Whose, today we will learn Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - this/that/that - 이/그/저 [ i/geu/jo ]. We use 이 (this) like English word - this. But, don’t use 그/저 (that) like English word - that. In Korean, there are two way to say that, whether 그/저. Even though both 그/저 means that in English but the usage is different. Do you know how to use 이/그/저? When locating objects in space, Korean speakers make a three-way distinction.
Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That
In short, Koreans look at the location of an object to decide whether to use 이/그/저 (this/that/that). Korean people use 이 for an object close by - if it is located relative to the speaker and listener, and whether the speaker or listener can see the object, 이 will be use. However, 그 is use when something is near the listener but not near the speaker. 저 is use when the object is far away from both speaker and listener.
• Object near the speaker - 이 (this)
• Object near the listener - 그 (that)
• Object away from both speaker and listener - (저) that over there
이/그/저 can be use with noun 것 (thing) when pointing to things. 이것 is used for something near the speaker, 그것 is used for something near the listener, and 저것 is used for something far from both the speaker and the listener. 이거/그거/저거 are shortened forms of 이것, 그것, 저것 and commonly used in casual speech.
• 이거는 우유예요. [ i-geo-neun-u-yu-ye-yo ] - This is milk.
• 그거는 가방이에요. [ geu-geo-neun-ga-bang-i-e-yo ] - That is a bag.
• 저거는 뭐예요? [ jo-geo-neun-mwo-ye-yo ] - What is that?
이게/그게/저게 are also shortened forms of 이것, 그것, 저것, but it is the shortened forms of 이것, 그것, 저것 and the subject marker. 이/그/저 plus the noun 것 (thing) and the subject marker 이 become 이것이/그것이/저것이, which are then shortened to 이게/그게/저게. 이건/그건/저건 share the same meaning but with a sight emphasis on the object indicated.
• 이게 뭐예요? [ i-ge-mwo-ye-yo ] (informal) = 이것이 무엇입니까? [ i-geo-si-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] (formal)
• 이건 뭐예요? [ i-geon-mwo-ye-yo ] (informal) = 이것은 무엇입니까? [ i-geo-seun-mu-eot-im-ni-gga ] (formal)
We have learned 무엇 in Learn Korean Language Lesson 6 - Korean Question Word - What. 이게/그게/저게 can be used together with Korean question word 뭐 to ask question. See this in Korean Language Reading Practice 5 - What is this? and go through Korean Language Exercises 3. Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 11 - Korean Subject Marker.

Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That
감사합니다 - Thank you!
earn Korean Language Lesson 11 - Korean Subject Marker

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 10 - Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That, today we will learn Korean Subject Marker - 이/가 [ i/ga ]. The most commonly used noun particles are those used to mark the subject of the sentence and those used to mark the topic of a sentence (Korean Topic Marker). When form a Korean sentences, Korean verb comes last in Comparison of Korean and English? Hence, not like English, the order of the Korean sentence is usually: subject, object, verb.
Korean subject marker
In Korean, the subject of a sentence is designated by a subject marker 이/가. Both subject markers and topic markers are used to indicate the person or thing that is main actor or element in the sentence. The difference between subject and topics in Korean represents a distinction not directly found in English, as such, knowing understanding the difference between subject markers and topic markers is difficult for beginning Korean language learners. There are some basic principles that govern the use of each.
• A subject marker is often attached to a noun that the speaker wishes to introduce into the conversation for the first time. It has no direct interpretation into English.
• A topic marker is generally attached to a noun that has already been established in the conversion. The noun X-는 can be interpreted “as for X,…”.
In a conversation that involves identifying people or things, the opening question often includes a noun with a subject marker. The corresponding response would mark the same entity with a topic marker. It’s already been established as part of the discourse. We have learned Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - 이/그/저 (this/that/that) in Learn Korean Language Lesson 10.
• 이 것이 무엇이에요? [ i-geo-si-mu-eot-i-e-yo ] - What is this (thing)?
• 그 것은 책이에요. [ geu-geo-seun-chaek-i-e-yo ] - That thing is a book. (As for that thing, (it) is a book.)
In most of the sentences that you will encounter at this point, there will be either a subject or a topic. It’s much less common to find both types of particles in a single sentence. There is one important exception. A sentence that include the verb 아니다 - to not be.
• 이것은 책이 아니에요. [ i-geo-seun-chaek-i-a-ni-e-yo ] - This thing is not a book. (As for this thing, (it) is not a book.)
• 이것은 냉장고가 아니에요. [ i-geo-seun-naeng-jang-go-ga-a-ni-e-yo ] - This is not a refrigerator. (As for this thing, (it) is not a refrigerator.)
Knowing exactly when to use one as opposed to the other takes time and experience. In the meantime, acquaint yourself with the grammatical patterns and open yourself to absorbing new intuitions about these two particles function.
Subject marker Topic marker
Ending with a vowel 가 는
Ending with a consonants 이 은
Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 12 - Korean Linking Verb.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
arn Korean Language Lesson 12 - Korean Linking Verb

Continue from Lesson 11 - Korean Subject Marker. Today, we will Korean Linking Verb - 이에요/예요 [ i-e-yo/ye-yo ]. We have learned this in Learn Korean Language Lesson 5 - Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification which are attached to nouns and the sentence structure of Korean order of questions and its answer are the same. Please focus on the opposite of 이에요/예요 in this lesson. In Learn Korean Language Lesson 5, the verb 이다, is a linking verb that requires a noun be attached to it.
Korean Linking Verb
Use 이에요/예요 like English word – Is. It helps describe some equivalence between two things. 이에요 directly follows words that end in a consonant (with batchim) such as 책이에요 - It is a book, 신문이에요 - It is a newspaper, and 예요 is used after words ending in a vowel (without batchim) such as 의자예요 - It is a chair, 지도예요 - It is a map. It is best interpreted as - is (a) ___.
• 이것은 책이에요. [ i-geo-seun-chaek-i-e-yo ] - This is a book.
• 그거는 지도예요. [ geu-geo-neun-ji-do-ye-yo ] - That is a map.
• 저사람은 최선생님이에요. [ jo-sa-ram-eun-choe-seon-saeng-nim-i-e-yo ] - That person over there is Teacher Choi.
• 그것이 무엇이에요? [ geu-geo-si-mu-eot-i-e-yo ] - What is that?
• 이것이 중국 신문이에요? [ i-geo-si-jung-guk-sin-mun-i-e-yo ] - Is this a Chinese newspaper?
아니에요 is the negative counterpart of -이에요/예요. Unlike 이에요/예요, the verb 아니에요 does not involve a directly attached noun. Rather, the pattern for using 아니에요 is - Topic (은/는), Subject (이/가), Verb. There are two particles (Topic Marker and Subject Marker) in a single sentence.
• 이것은 책이 아니에요. [ i-geo-seun-chaek-i-a-ni-e-yo ] - This is not a book.
• 그사람은 학생이 아니에요. [ geu-sa-ram-eun-hak-saeng-i-a-ni-e-yo ] - That person is not a student.
• 이것은 신문이 아니에요. [ i-geo-seun-sin-mun-i-a-ni-e-yo ] - This is not a newspaper.
• 저는 선생님이 아니에요. [ jo-neun-seon-saeng-nim-i-a-ni-e-yo ] - I am not a teacher.
• 이거는 냉장고가 아니에요. [ i-geo-neun-naeng-jang-go-ga-a-ni-e-yo ] - This is not a refrigerator.
You must always remember that 아니에요 does not involve a directly attached noun. The formula will always be -이/가 아니에요. If possible, please revise Learn Korean Language Lesson 10 - Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That for the differences between 이것, 이거, 이게 and 이건. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 13 - Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
arn Korean Language Lesson 13 - Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 12 - Korean Linking Verb. Today, we will Learn Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings form. We knew that there are two ways when you start a conversation in Learn Korean Language Lesson 2 - Korean Basic Conversation, whether formally or informally and the difference between both of them is the Sentence Ending Form, the only difficulty in learning Korean is the question about when to use formal language? Let’s learn it in more details.
Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings
We have seen the Korean Sentence Ending Form and understand the differences between Korean Sentence Ending Formal Polite Form and Informal Polite Form in Learn Korean Language Lesson 3 - Korean Sentence Ending Form. -아요/어요 [ a-yo/eo-yo ] are casual but polite sentence endings which are commonly used in everyday life such as shopping, buying tickets, and asking directions etc, etc. It is use to form all present tense verbs (verbs in the present tense). When a verb stem ends with the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ, -아요 is added. See examples below.
• 가다 [ ga-da ] + -아요 = 가요 [ ga-yo ] - to go
• 사다 [ sa-da ] + -아요 = 사요 [ sa-yo ] - to buy
• 자다 [ ja-da ] + -아요 = 자요 [ ja-yo ] - to sleep
• 오다 [ o -da ] + -아요 = 와요 [ wa-yo ] - to come
• 보다 [ bo-da ] + -아요 = 봐요 [ bwa-yo ] - to see
• 살다 [ sal-da ] + -아요 = 살아요[ sa-ra-yo ] - to live
• 만나다 [ man-na-da ] + -아요 = 만나요 [ man-na-yo ] - to meet
When a verb stem ends with a vowel other than ㅏ or ㅗ, -어요 is added. But verb stems ending with a vowel ㅣ, ㅣ + -어요 results in -여요. For example, 마시다 becomes 마셔요 and 가르치다 becomes 가르쳐요.
• 주다 [ ju-da ] + -어요 = 줘요 [ jwo-yo ] - to give
• 먹다 [ meok-da ] + -어요 = 먹어요 [ meo-geo-yo ] - to eat
• 읽다 [ il-da ] + -어요 = 읽어요 [ il-geo-yo ] - to read
• 배우다 [ bae-u-da ] + -어요 = 배워요 [ bae-wo-yo ] - to learn
• 마시다 [ ma-si-da ] + -어요 = 마셔요 [ ma-syeo-yo ] - to drink
• 가르치다 [ ga-reu-chi-da ] + -어요 = 가르쳐요 [ ga-reu-chyeo-yo ] - to teach
When a verb stem ends with -하다 [ ha-da ] becomes -해요 [ hae-yo ]. -하다 is verbs “‘to do”. Many nouns can be made into present tense by adding the verb -해요. See examples below.
• 일하다 [ il-ha-da ] + -해요 = 일해요 [ il-hae-yo ] - to work
• 공부하다 [ gong-bu-ha-da ] + -해요 = 공부해요 [ gong-bu-hae-yo ] - to study
• 운동하다 [ un-dong-ha-da ] + -해요 = 운동해요 [ un-dong-hae-yo ] - to exercise
• 전화하다 [ jeon-hwa-ha-da ] + -해요 = 전화해요 [ jeon-hwa-hae-yo ] - to make a phone call
• 요리하다 [ yo-ri-ha-da ] + -해요 = 요리해요 [ yo-ri-hae-yo ] - to cook
• 운전하다 [ un-jeon-ha-da ] + -해요 = 운전해요 [ un-jeon-hae-yo ] - to drive
• 수영하다 [ su-yeong-ha-da ] + -해요 = 수영해요 [ su-yeong-hae-yo ] - to swim
Raising your intonation makes the Korean sentence into a question like we have learned in Comparison of Korean and English. View Korean verbs list. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 14 - Korean Object Marker.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Learn Korean Language Lesson 14 - Korean Object Marker

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 13 - Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings, today we will learn Korean Object Marker -을/를 [ eul/reul ]. Do you remember that when form a Korean sentences, Korean verb comes last in Comparison of Korean and English? Hence, not like English, the order of the Korean sentence is usually: subject, object, verb such as 캐시 씨는 텔레비전을 봐요. [ kae-si-ssi-neun-tel-re-bi-jeon-eul-bwa-yo ] - Casey watches television.
Learn Korean Lesson 14 - Korean Object Marker
In Korean, objects are designated by the object marker 을/를. 을/를 is a particle used to identify the object of a verb in a sentence. The rules are the same as others. 을 is used when a noun ends with a consonant (with batchim)and 를 is used when a noun ends with a vowel (without batchim). Do you remember what is batchim? Refer Korean Consonants 3. The subject is often omitted when it is obvious to the other person. Sometimes, in Korean, the subject is often omitted in colloquial conversation, people often leave the object marker 을/를 out.
Ending with a vowel
• 차를 마셔요. [ cha-reul-ma-syeo-yo ] - I drink tea.
• 사과를 먹어요. [ sa-gwa-reul-meo-geo-yo ] - I eat an apple.
• 친구를 만나요. [ chin-gu-reul-man-na-yo ] - I meet my friend.
• 한국어를 공부해요. [ han-gu-geo-reul-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - I study Korean.
Ending with a consonants
• 옷을 사요. [ os-eul-sa-yo ] - I buy clothes.
• 책을 읽어요. [ chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - I read a book.
• 밥을 먹어요. [ ba-beul-meo-geo-yo ] - I eat a meal.
• 아이스크림을 사요. [ a-i-seu-keu-rim-eul-sa-yo ] - I buy ice cream.
So now, you may form a Korean sentence by combining what you have learned before such as Korean Subject Marker, Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings. For examples, the pattern for using 을/를 is - Subject (이/가), Object (을/를), Verb (Korean Sentence Ending Form). See examples below.
• 빌리 씨가 친구를 만나요. [ bil-ri-ssi-ga-chin-gu-reul-man-na-yo ] - Billy meets a friend.
• 캔디 씨가 음식을 먹어요. [ kaen-di-ssi-ga-eum-si-geul-meo-geo-yo ] - Candi eats food.
• 크리스티나 씨가 옷을 사요. [ keu-ri-seu-ti-na-ssi-ga-o-seul-sa-yo ] - Christina buy clothes.
• 다니엘 책을 읽어요. [ da-ni-el-chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - Daniel read a book.
Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 15 - Korean Place Marker. We will learn particle that indicates where the action conveyed by the verb phrase takes place in the next lesson. View Korean verbs list. Try Korean Language Exercises 4.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
earn Korean Language Lesson 15 - Korean Place Marker

Continue from Lesson 14 - Korean Object Marker, today we come to Learn Korean Language Lesson 15 - Korean Place Marker - 에 [ e ] and 에서 [ e-seo ]. Both of them are particles that indicates location. So, what is the difference between them? Korean place marker 에 is place after a noun indicates a special location. Korean place marker 에서 is place after a noun indicates a special location to designate where some action takes place. Use Korean place marker 에 after the place name with the Korean Verbs.
Korean Place Marker
Use Korean place marker 에 after the place name with the verbs 가다/오다. 가다 is used when one is going away from the place where the conversation is taking place. Use it like English word - Go. 오다 is used when one is coming toward the place where the conversation is taking place. Use it like English word - Come. When we added the particle 에 with 가다/오다 is attached to the name of a place to designate it as the destination. See examples below.
• 저는 집에 가요. [ jo-neun-jib-e-ga-yo ] - I am going home.
• 저는 학교에 가요. [ jo-neun-hak-gyo-e-ga-yo ] - I am going to school.
• 저는 은행에 가요. [ jo-neun-eun-haeng-e-ga-yo ] - I am going to bank.
• 저는 커피숍에 가요. [ jo-neun-keo-pi-syop-e-ga-yo ] - I am going to coffee shop.
• 저는 대사관에 가요. [ jo-neun-dae-sa-gwan-e-ga-yo ] - I am going to embassy.
On the other hand, 에서 is a particle that indicates where the action conveyed by the verb phrase takes place. This Korean place marker is used with action verbs, with the exception of 있어요/없어요 and 가요/와요, which take the Korean place marker 에.
• 도서관에서 책을 읽어요. [ do-seo-gwan-e-seo-chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - I read a book in the library.
• 식당에서 밥을 먹어요. [ sik-dang-e-seo-ba-beul-meo-geo-yo ] - I eat (my meals) at the cafeteria.
• 은행에서 일해요. [ eun-haeng-e-seo-il-hae-yo ] - I work at a bank.
• 학교에서 공부해요. [ hak-gyo-e-seo-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - I study at school.
• 노래방에서 노래해요. [ no-rae-bang-e-seo-no-rae-hae-yo ] - I sing at singing room. (view Korean Bang)
Do you remember that sentence structure of Korean order of questions and its answer are the same in Comparison of Korean and English? The only difference between questions and answer is questions are always end with a rising tone and declarative sentences end with a slightly falling tone. Hence, when using 에 with 가요/와요, just raising intonation at the end without any change in word order makes the sentence into a question. When asking a question, use the 어디 (Korean Question Word - Where). Use it like English question word - Where. 어디에서 with action verbs and 어디에 with 있어요/없어요 and 가요/와요.
• 어디에 가요? [ eo-di-e-ga-yo ] - Where are you going?
• 내일 학교에 와요? [ nae-il-hak-gyo-e-wa-yo ] - Are you coming to school tomorrow?
• 어디에서 책을 읽어요? [ eo-di-e-seo-chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - Where do you read the book?
• 어디에서 밥을 먹어요? [ eo-di-e-seo-ba-beul-meo-geo-yo ] - Where do you eat (your meals)?
• 어디에서 친구를 만나요? [ eo-di-e-seo-chin-gu-reul-man-na-yo ] - Where do you meet your friends?
Remember that Korean place marker 에서 is used with action verbs, with the exception of 있어요/없어요 and 가요/와요, which take the Korean place marker 에. Now, you can try to make your own Korean sentences with Korean Vocabulary - Places, Korean Verbs, and Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 16 - Korean Sentence Endin
Learn Korean Language Lesson 16 - Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Location or Existence

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 15 - Korean Place Marker, today we come to Learn Korean Lesson 16 - Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Location or Existence - 있다/없다 [ it-da/eob-da ]. Do you remember Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification? The rules are the same. 있다/없다 always goes to the end. With Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings, 있다/없다 will become 있어요/없어요 which are casual but polite sentence endings commonly used in everyday life.
Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Location or Existence
The Korean verb 있다 expresses location or existence. The opposite of 있다 is the Korean verb 없다. Change both of them to Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings. Use 있어요 [ i-sseo-yo ] when something exist, 없어요 [ eob-seo-yo ] when something does not. Use them like English “There is(are) or There is(are) not”. Place the Korean Subject Marker - 이/가 after the noun which exist (or not) and then 있어요/없어요.
• 침대가 있어요. [ chim-dae-ga-i-sseo-yo ] - There is a bed.
• 책상이 있어요. [ chaek-sang-i-i-sseo-yo ] - There is a desk.
• 옷장이 없어요. [ ot-jang-i-eob-sseo-yo ] - There is no closet.
• 의자가 없어요. [ ui-ja-ga-eob-seo-yo ] - There is no chair.
• 컴퓨터가 없어요. [ keom-pyu-teo-ga-eob-seo-yo ] - There is no computer.
Korean place marker -에 which we learned in Learn Korean Language Lesson 15 can be use with 있다/없다. Putting the Korean place marker -에 after a noun indicates a special location (Korean Vocabulary - Places). This locative particle -에 is used with -이/가 있다/없다 (as above) to show where someone or something is located. Usually, the pattern for using -에 with -이/가 있다/없다 will be “-이/가 (Korean Subject Marker) -에 (Korean Place Marker) 있다/없다 (Korean Verbs)”.
• 가방이 교실에 있어요. [ ga-bang-i-gyo-si-re-i-sseo-yo ] - There is a bag in the classroom.
• 컴퓨터가 집에 있어요. [ keom-pyu-teo-ga-ji-be-i-sseo-yo ] - There is a computer in the house.
• 예성이 공항에 있어요. [ ye-seong-i-gong-hang-e-i-sseo-yo ] - Yesung is at airport.
• 한경이 공원에 없어요. [ han-kyeong-i-gong-won-e-eob-seo-yo ] - Hankyung is not at the park.
• 려욱 씨가 집에 없어요. [ ryeo-wuk-ssi-ga-ji-be-eob-seo-yo ] - Ryeowook is not at home.
However, it doesn’t matter whether the object is specified before the location, or vice versa. Means that changing the word order does not necessarily change the meaning. But 있어요/없어요 must always come at the end.
• 교실에 가방이 있어요. [ gyo-si-re-ga-bang-i-i-sseo-yo ] - The bag is in the classroom.
• 집에 컴퓨터가 있어요. [ ji-be-keom-pyu-teo-ga-i-sseo-yo ] - There is a computer in the house.
• 공항에 예성이 있어요. [ gong-hang-e-ye-seong-i-i-sseo-yo ] - Yesung is at airport.
• 공원에 한경이 없어요. [ gong-won-e-han-kyeong-i-eob-seo-yo ] - Hankyung is not at the park.
• 집에 려욱 씨가 없어요. [ ji-be-ryeo-wuk-ssi-ga-eob-seo-yo ] - Ryeowook is not at home.
Last but not least, 있어요/없어요 can also be used like English “have/don’t have”. 있어요/없어요 also means have/don’t have which indicate what someone possesses. See examples below.
• 신디가 집이 있어요. [ sin-di-ga-ji-bi-i-sseo-yo ] - Cindy has a house.
• 신디가 자동차가 없어요. [ sin-di-ga-ja-dong-cha-ga-eob-seo-yo ] - Cindy doesn’t have a car.
House and car are objects in English, but in Korean when you use the verb 있어요/없어요, these possessive objects always take the marker 이/가. Now, you can try to make your own Korean sentences with Korean Vocabulary - Things, Korean Vocabulary - Places, and Korean Place Marker to express location or existence. Please remember that 있어요/없어요 always come at the end. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 17 - Korean Question Word - Where.