Particles Masterpost!
Particles come after the part of speech they’re indicating. Some of them (such as 은/는 or 이/가 or 의) are dropped when speaking in 반말, but they must be used when speaking in 존댓말.
은/는 – indicates the subject (who is doing the verb, what/who specifically are you talking about). Can also be used for comparison or emphasis.
오늘은 날씨가 아주 좋네요. – The weather’s so nice today. (compared to recent/other days)
을/를 – indicates the direct object (what is being acted upon).
난 아까 김밥을 먹었어요. – Earlier I ate kimbap.
이/가 – indicates the topic (clarifies the who/which/what). *Used in negative sentences!
커피가 좋은데 난 마시면 머리가 좀 아파요. – Coffee is nice/good but if I drink it my head hurts. 저는 미국 사람이 아니라 캐나다 사람이야. – I’m not American, I’m Canadian.
도 – ‘also,’ ‘even though.’ Can also be used for emphasis.
난 대학생이에요. 오빠도 대학생이죠. – I’m a college student. You’re also a college student, right? 아직도 안 시작했어? – You still haven’t started? 매워도, 엄청 맛있네. – Even though it’s spicy it’s really delicious.
께서 – honorific topic; can replace 은/는/이/가.
김사장님께서 일찍 도착하셨어요. – President Kim arrived early.
에 – at/to (time or place); per (time).
학교에 가야 되지. – I have to go to school. 오후 3시에 집으로 돌아갈게. – I’ll return home at 3pm. 이 약을 하루에 2번 먹어요. – Take this medicine twice a day.
에서 – at (where the action happens); from.
미국에서 왔어. – I came from America. 인천공항에서 만나자. – Let’s meet at Incheon Airport.
부터 – from (time or place).
이비행기는 부산부터 제주도까지 가고 있어요. – This plane is going from Busan to Jeju Island. 오후 4시부터 공부했어. – I’ve been studying since 4pm. 그 학생은 나를 처음부터 싫어했어요. – That student hated me from the beginning.
까지 – all the way up to (time or place).
삶이 힘들어도 끝까지 보기 마세요. – Even though life is hard, don’t give up until the end. 머리부터 발끝까지 예뻐. – You’re pretty from head to toe. 4시까지 기다릴게. – I’ll wait until 4pm.
의 – possession. my, her, his, etc. *저 + 의 = 제, 나 + 의 = 내
그 학생의 가방은 멋있지. – That student’s bag is awesome. 오바마께서는 미국의 대통령이잖아요. – You know that Obama is America’s president.
들 – plural.
여러분들 (everyone), 학생들 (students), 그들 (them), 애들 (kids)
만 – only (usually replaces 을/를).
어제 공부만 했어. – Yesterday all I did was study. 난 아침에 우유만 마셔요. – In the morning I only drink milk.
하고 / (이)랑 / 와/과 – and/with. (*와/과 is formal and mostly used in writing, (이)랑 is more informal and mostly used in speaking, 하고 is just used to link nouns together in a short list.)
저는 다음 주에 친구와 해변으로 갈 겁니다. – Next week I’m going to the beach with my friend. 엄마랑 셀카를 찍었어. – I took a selfie with mom. 김치하고 고추장을 넣어야지. – I have to add kimchi and red pepper paste.
(으)로 – by means of; in the direction of; asking for a favor.
인터넷으로 찾는 중이에요. – I’m looking on the internet. 산으로 갑시다. – Let’s go to the mountain. 그건 영어로 말해도 돼요? – May I say that in English? 창가 자리로 예약해 주실 수 있어요? – Can you reserve a window seat for me?
에게 / 한테 / 께 – to. (*에게 is polite, 한테 is more conversational, 께 is very respectful)
아버지는 언니한테 돈을 줬어. – Dad gave my sister money. 선생님에게 다 이야기해요. – I tell everything to the teacher.
에게서 / 한테서 / (으)로부터 – from. (*에게서 is polite, 한테서 is more conversational)
오늘은 내 생일인데 남자친구한테서 꽃다발을 받았어. – Today is my birthday and I got a bouquet from my boyfriend. 선생님에게서 많이 배웠어요. – I learned a lot from my teacher.
(이)나 – gives the impression of “good enough.” Replaces 이/가 or 을/를.
떡볶이 없어? 그럼 김밥이나 먹자. – There’s no spicy rice cakes? Then let’s just have kimbap. 시간이 있으면 커피나 한잔할까요? – If you have time, shall we get some coffee?
