는/은 - Contrastive emphasis | Korean Grammar Documentation

는/은 are topic particles that can mark contrast and emphasis, meaning "as for," "but," or highlighting differences between items.

Basic Form

은 (After Consonant)

Consonant-ending nouns:

책은 (as for the book)
물은 (as for water)
한국은 (as for Korea)
친구는 (as for my friend)

는 (After Vowel)

Vowel-ending nouns:

나는 (as for me)
커피는 (as for coffee)
차는 (as for the car)
바나나는 (as for bananas)

Core Functions

1. Topic Marker (Basic)

Introducing topic of sentence:

저는 학생이에요 (As for me, I'm a student)
한국은 아시아에 있어요 (As for Korea, it's in Asia)

2. Contrastive Emphasis

Highlighting contrast or difference:

사과는 좋아하는데 배는 싫어해요 (I like apples, BUT I don't like pears)
형은 키가 큰데 동생은 작아요 (My older brother is tall, BUT my younger sibling is short)

3. Exclusive Emphasis

Only/specifically this:

나는 안 가요 (I'M not going - others might)
이것은 비싸요 (THIS one is expensive - others aren't)

Contrastive Usage

Explicit Contrast: A는... B는...

Directly comparing two items:

커피는 좋아하는데 차는 싫어해요 (I like coffee, but I don't like tea)
여름은 더운데 겨울은 추워요 (Summer is hot, but winter is cold)
형은 학생인데 저는 직장인이에요 (My brother is a student, but I'm an office worker)

Implied Contrast: A는...

Contrasting with unstated alternative:

나는 안 가요 (I'm not going - implying others are)
이건 비싸요 (This is expensive - implying others aren't)
오늘은 바빠요 (Today I'm busy - implying other days aren't)

Disagreement/Correction

Correcting or disagreeing:

그건 아니에요 (THAT's not it - something else is)
나는 몰라요 (I don't know - implying someone else might)

는/은 vs 이/가

는/은 (Topic/Contrast)

Known information, contrast, general statements:

사과는 빨갛다 (Apples are red - general fact)
나는 안 먹어요 (I don't eat - but others do)
Topic/contrast marker

이/가 (Subject)

New information, neutral description, specific:

사과가 빨개요 (The apple is red - specific observation)
비가 와요 (It's raining - new information)
Subject marker

Nuance Difference

With contrast:

나는 학생이에요 (As for ME, I'm a student - contrasting)
내가 학생이에요 (I am a student - neutral statement)

Emphasis Patterns

Subject Emphasis

Highlighting who:

제가 아니라 동생이에요 (It's not me, it's my younger sibling)
나는 몰라요 (I don't know - emphasizing "I")

Object Emphasis

Highlighting what:

이건 좋은데 저건 안 좋아요 (This is good, but that isn't)
커피는 마시는데 술은 안 마셔요 (I drink coffee, but I don't drink alcohol)

Time Emphasis

Highlighting when:

오늘은 안 가요 (I'm not going today - maybe tomorrow)
어제는 비가 왔어요 (It rained yesterday - not today)

Common Patterns

N는 N인데 N는 N이다

Pattern for comparison:

형은 의사인데 동생은 선생님이다 (Brother is a doctor, but younger sibling is a teacher)

N는 Adj인데 N는 Adj이다

Contrasting qualities:

이건 비싼데 저건 싸요 (This is expensive, but that is cheap)

N는 V-는데 N는 V-다

Contrasting actions:

나는 가는데 너는 안 가? (I'm going, but you're not going?)

Multiple Contrasts

Three or More Items

Listing with contrasts:

사과는 빨간데, 바나나는 노란데, 포도는 보라색이에요 (Apples are red, bananas are yellow, and grapes are purple)

Accumulating Contrasts

형은 키가 크고, 동생은 작고, 나는 중간이에요 (Brother is tall, younger sibling is short, and I'm medium)

Negative Contrast

A는... 안/못...

Negative with contrast:

나는 안 가요 (I'm not going - others are)
이건 안 좋아요 (This isn't good - others are)
오늘은 못 해요 (I can't do it today - can do other days)

A는... -지 않다

Formal negative:

저는 가지 않아요 (I'm not going - formal)
이건 좋지 않아요 (This isn't good)

Politeness Levels

Formal (합니다체)

저는 학생입니다 (As for me, I'm a student)
이것은 책입니다 (As for this, it's a book)

Polite (해요체)

저는 학생이에요 (As for me, I'm a student)
이건 책이에요 (As for this, it's a book)

Casual (반말)

나는 학생이야 (As for me, I'm a student)
이건 책이야 (As for this, it's a book)

Special Expressions

그건 그렇고

Changing topic:

그건 그렇고, 오늘 뭐 해요? (That aside, what are you doing today?)

나는 말이야

Emphatic topic introduction:

나는 말이야, 그런 거 안 좋아해 (Speaking of me, I don't like that kind of thing)

-기는 하다 (Concession)

It is... but...:

비싸기는 한데 좋아요 (It IS expensive, but it's good)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: Using 는/은 for neutral statements

Overusing contrast marker

✅ Correct: Use 이/가 for neutral, 는/은 for contrast

Choose appropriate particle

❌ Incorrect: 커피이는

Wrong particle after vowel

✅ Correct: 커피는

Use 는 after vowels

Context Determines Meaning

Topic vs Contrast

Same sentence, different context:

Topic:

사과는 빨개요 (Speaking of apples, they're red)

Contrast:

사과는 빨간데 배는 노래요 (Apples are red, BUT pears are yellow)

Context clarifies which meaning

Summary Table

Function	Example	Meaning
Topic	나는 학생이에요	As for me, I'm a student
Contrast	나는 가는데 너는?	I'm going, but you?
Emphasis	이건 비싸요	THIS is expensive
After consonant	책은	as for the book
After vowel	나는	as for me
Negative contrast	나는 안 가요	I'm not going (others are)