The topic marker 은/는 (eun/neun) establishes what a sentence is about—the topic of discussion. It's one of the most frequently used particles in Korean and essential for natural communication.
Form
- 은 (eun) - after consonants
- 는 (neun) - after vowels
Basic Function
Marks the topic—what the sentence is about or what you're discussing.
Translation: "As for...", "speaking of...", or often just the subject in English.
Usage Examples
General Statements
Making broad statements or established facts:
- 사과는 과일이에요. (Sagwa-neun gwail-ieyo.) - Apples are fruit.
- 한국은 아시아에 있어요. (Hanguk-eun Asia-e isseoyo.) - Korea is in Asia.
- 고양이는 동물이에요. (Goyangi-neun dongmul-ieyo.) - Cats are animals.
Self-Introduction
Always use 은/는 when introducing yourself:
- 저는 학생이에요. (Jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.) - I'm a student.
- 제 이름은 민수예요. (Je ireum-eun Minsu-yeyo.) - My name is Minsu.
- 저는 한국 사람이에요. (Jeoneun Hanguk saram-ieyo.) - I'm Korean.
Known Information
When talking about something already mentioned or assumed:
A: 친구를 만났어요? (Did you meet your friend?) B: 네, 친구는 집에 있었어요. (Yes, as for the friend, they were at home.)
Contrast
은/는 often implies contrast with something else:
- 저는 커피를 좋아해요. (I like coffee.) [Implying: but maybe you don't]
- 이 영화는 재미있어요. (This movie is interesting.) [Implying: but others might not be]
- 오늘은 추워요. (Today is cold.) [Implying: but other days aren't]
Explicit contrast:
- 저는 커피를 좋아하지만 친구는 차를 좋아해요.
- (I like coffee, but as for my friend, they like tea.)
When to Use 은/는
1. Establishing Topics
When you want to specify what you're talking about:
- 이 책은 재미있어요. (As for this book, it's interesting.)
- 오늘은 월요일이에요. (As for today, it's Monday.)
- 한국 음식은 맛있어요. (As for Korean food, it's delicious.)
2. General Truths
Making statements about categories or general facts:
- 물은 H2O예요. (Water is H2O.)
- 겨울은 추워요. (Winter is cold.)
- 여름은 더워요. (Summer is hot.)
3. Personal Information
Sharing information about yourself:
- 저는 대학생이에요. (I'm a university student.)
- 저는 음악을 좋아해요. (I like music.)
- 저는 한국어를 공부해요. (I study Korean.)
4. Time Expressions
With time words to establish temporal context:
- 오늘은 바빠요. (Today I'm busy.)
- 내일은 시간이 있어요. (Tomorrow I have time.)
- 주말은 쉬어요. (On weekends I rest.)
Multiple Topics in One Sentence
You can have both a topic and a subject with different particles:
저는 커피가 좋아요. (Jeoneun keopi-ga joayo.)
- 저는 (as for me - topic)
- 커피가 (coffee - subject)
- "I like coffee." (Literally: As for me, coffee is good.)
친구는 한국어가 어려워요. (Chingu-neun hangugeo-ga eoryeowoyo.)
- 친구는 (as for friend - topic)
- 한국어가 (Korean - subject)
- "My friend finds Korean difficult."
Contrast Nuance
은/는 frequently carries an implicit or explicit contrast:
Implicit contrast:
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.) [but you might not be]
- 이것은 좋아요. (This is good.) [but that might not be]
Explicit contrast (with opposing statements):
- 형은 키가 크지만 동생은 키가 작아요.
- (As for older brother he's tall, but as for younger brother he's short.)
Contrast with 은/는 repeated:
- 사과는 있어요. 그런데 바나나는 없어요.
- (As for apples, I have some. But as for bananas, I don't have any.)
Common Patterns
Pattern 1: Topic + Noun Predicate
[Noun + 은/는] + [Noun + 이에요/예요]
- 저는 의사예요. (I'm a doctor.)
- 이것은 책이에요. (This is a book.)
- 그분은 선생님이에요. (That person is a teacher.)
Pattern 2: Topic + Adjective
[Noun + 은/는] + [Adjective]
- 날씨는 좋아요. (The weather is good.)
- 한국어는 어려워요. (Korean is difficult.)
- 음식은 맛있어요. (The food is delicious.)
Pattern 3: Topic + Verb
[Noun + 은/는] + [Verb]
- 저는 공부해요. (I study.)
- 친구는 일해요. (My friend works.)
- 동생은 자요. (My younger sibling sleeps.)
Pattern 4: Topic + Subject + Verb
[Topic + 은/는] + [Subject + 이/가] + [Verb/Adjective]
- 저는 시간이 없어요. (I don't have time.)
- 친구는 돈이 많아요. (My friend has a lot of money.)
- 한국은 음식이 맛있어요. (Korea has delicious food.)
Topic Marker with Other Particles
은/는 can combine with location/direction particles:
에서 + 는:
- 학교에서는 한국어로 말해요. (At school, we speak in Korean.)
에게 + 는:
- 친구에게는 말했어요. (To my friend, I did tell them.)
까지 + 는:
- 여기까지는 왔어요. (Up to here, I came.)
Topic vs Subject (은/는 vs 이/가)
은/는 emphasizes the topic/context:
- 저는 학생이에요. (Speaking of me, I'm a student.)
- Broader scope, known information, contrast
이/가 emphasizes the subject/new info:
- 제가 학생이에요. (It's me who's a student.)
- Specific focus, new information, emphasis
See the dedicated "은/는 vs 이/가" article for detailed comparison.
With Existential Verbs
Using 은/는 (Contrast/Topic)
- 책은 있어요. (As for books, I have some.) [Implying: but maybe not other things]
- 시간은 없어요. (As for time, I don't have any.) [Implying: but I have other things]
Example showing contrast: Q: 펜이 있어요? (Do you have a pen?) A: 펜은 없어요. 연필은 있어요. (As for pens no, but as for pencils yes.)
Common Expressions with 은/는
저는 (jeoneun) - I/me (polite)
- Most common way to say "I" in polite speech
이것은 (igeos-eun) - this (topic) 그것은 (geugeos-eun) - that (topic) 저것은 (jeogeos-eun) - that over there (topic)
오늘은 (oneul-eun) - today 내일은 (naeil-eun) - tomorrow 어제는 (eoje-neun) - yesterday
Topic Omission
In casual conversation, when the topic is obvious from context:
Full sentence:
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.)
Topic omitted:
- 학생이에요. (Am a student.)
Question context: Q: 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?) A: (저는) 공부해요. ((I) am studying.)
Difference from English
English doesn't have a true equivalent to the topic marker. The closest translations are:
- "As for..." (literal)
- "Speaking of..." (contextual)
- Often just the subject (practical)
Korean: 저는 학생이에요. Literal: As for me, I'm a student. Natural: I'm a student.
The topic-comment structure is fundamental to Korean but foreign to English, which is why many learners find 은/는 vs 이/가 challenging initially.
Key Points
- ✅ Form: 은 after consonants, 는 after vowels
- ✅ Function: Marks the topic of discussion
- ✅ Usage: General statements, self-introduction, known info, contrast
- ✅ Nuance: Often implies contrast with something else
- ✅ Frequency: One of the most common particles in Korean
- ✅ Combinations: Can combine with other particles (에서는, 에게는)
Understanding 은/는 is essential for natural Korean. It establishes context and creates the topic-comment structure that Korean speakers use constantly in conversation.