Korean particles carry subtle meanings beyond their basic functions. Understanding these nuances is crucial for natural, precise Korean communication.
Subject Particles: 이/가 vs 은/는
Basic Distinction
이/가: Neutral subject marker
- 새로운 정보 제시 (New information)
- 대비 없이 주어 표시 (Subject without contrast)
- 특정 상황 설명 (Specific situation)
은/는: Topic marker with contrast
- 화제 제시 (Topic introduction)
- 대비·비교 (Contrast/comparison)
- 일반적 진술 (General statement)
New Information vs Known Topic
이/가 for new info:
- A: 누가 왔어요? (Who came?)
- B: 친구가 왔어요 (My friend came - new info)
은/는 for known topic:
- A: 친구는 언제 왔어요? (When did your friend come? - friend already mentioned)
- B: 친구는 어제 왔어요 (My friend came yesterday)
Contrast Emphasis
은/는 shows contrast:
- 나는 학생이야 (I'm a student - implying others might not be)
- 커피는 좋아해요 (I like coffee - but maybe not tea)
- 오늘은 바빠요 (I'm busy today - but not usually)
이/가 neutral statement:
- 내가 학생이야 (I'm a student - neutral fact)
- 커피가 맛있어요 (Coffee is delicious - general observation)
Question Formation
누가 (who) - always 이/가:
- 누가 왔어요? (Who came?)
- 누가 했어요? (Who did it?)
What/which questions:
- 뭐가 좋아요? (What is good? - asking for new info)
- 이건 뭐예요? (What is this? - neutral)
Existence/Description
이/가 for existence:
- 책상 위에 책이 있어요 (There's a book on the desk)
- 문제가 있어요 (There's a problem)
- 시간이 없어요 (There's no time)
Describing specific features:
- 눈이 커요 (The eyes are big - describing specific feature)
- 머리가 아파요 (My head hurts - specific body part)
Emotional/Psychological States
이/가 with adjectives of feeling:
- 무서워요 (X) → 무서워요 or 무서운데
- Correct: 그것이 무서워요 (That is scary)
- Or: 나는 무서워요 (I am scared - topic)
Common pattern:
- 배가 고파요 (I'm hungry - lit. stomach is hungry)
- 기분이 좋아요 (I feel good - lit. mood is good)
- 머리가 아파요 (I have a headache - lit. head hurts)
Object Particles: 을/를 Nuances
Direct Object Marking
Standard usage:
- 밥을 먹어요 (eat rice)
- 책을 읽어요 (read a book)
- 영화를 봐요 (watch a movie)
Route/Path
을/를 for passing through:
- 다리를 건너요 (cross the bridge)
- 길을 걸어요 (walk the street/path)
- 공원을 지나가요 (pass through the park)
Starting Point with 을/를
Departing from places:
- 집을 나가요 (leave home)
- 학교를 졸업해요 (graduate from school)
- 회사를 그만둬요 (quit the company)
Object of Emotion
Target of feelings:
- 친구를 좋아해요 (like friend)
- 그 사람을 사랑해요 (love that person)
- 동생을 미워해요 (hate younger sibling)
Location Particles: 에 vs 에서 vs (으)로
에: Static Location
Location of existence:
- 집에 있어요 (I'm at home)
- 학교에 가요 (go to school)
- 의자에 앉아요 (sit on a chair)
Time point:
- 3시에 만나요 (meet at 3 o'clock)
- 월요일에 와요 (come on Monday)
에서: Location of Action
Where action happens:
- 학교에서 공부해요 (study at school)
- 식당에서 밥 먹어요 (eat at a restaurant)
- 공원에서 운동해요 (exercise at the park)
Starting point:
- 서울에서 출발해요 (depart from Seoul)
- 집에서 나와요 (come out from home)
(으)로: Direction/Means
Direction toward:
- 오른쪽으로 가세요 (go to the right)
- 위로 올라가요 (go up)
- 앞으로 나오세요 (come forward)
Means/method:
- 버스로 가요 (go by bus)
- 한국어로 말해요 (speak in Korean)
- 카드로 계산해요 (pay with card)
Subtle Difference: 에 vs 에서
에 with 있다/없다/살다:
- 집에 있어요 (I'm at home)
- 서울에 살아요 (I live in Seoul)
- 책상에 책이 있어요 (There's a book on the desk)
에서 with action verbs:
- 집에서 쉬어요 (I rest at home)
- 서울에서 일해요 (I work in Seoul)
- 도서관에서 책을 읽어요 (I read books at the library)
Comparison: 보다 vs 만큼
보다: Direct Comparison
More/less than:
- 형보다 커요 (taller than older brother)
- 어제보다 좋아요 (better than yesterday)
- 생각보다 어려워요 (harder than expected)
만큼: Equal Degree
As much as:
- 형만큼 커요 (as tall as older brother)
- 친구만큼 똑똑해요 (as smart as friend)
- 생각한 만큼 어려워요 (as hard as I thought)
Expressing quantity:
- 이만큼 주세요 (give me this much)
- 그만큼 먹어요 (eat that much)
Special Particles Nuances
만 (only) vs 밖에 (only/nothing but)
만: Simple limitation:
- 친구만 왔어요 (Only friends came)
- 물만 마셔요 (I only drink water)
밖에: Negative emphasis (always with negative verb):
- 친구밖에 안 왔어요 (Only friends came - nobody else)
- 물밖에 안 마셔요 (I drink nothing but water)
Nuance difference:
- 하나만 있어요 (I have only one - neutral)
- 하나밖에 없어요 (I have only one - emphasis on scarcity)
도 (too/also) vs 까지 (even/up to)
도: Addition/inclusion:
- 나도 가요 (I go too)
- 커피도 마셔요 (I drink coffee too)
- 친구도 학생이야 (My friend is also a student)
까지: Extent/extreme:
- 나까지 가요 (Even I go - unexpected inclusion)
- 커피까지 마셔요 (I even drink coffee - went further)
- 친구까지 왔어요 (Even my friend came - surprising)
Additional nuance of 까지:
- Up to a point:
- 10시까지 일해요 (work until 10)
- 서울까지 가요 (go up to Seoul)
한테 vs 에게 vs 께
한테: Casual "to" (people):
- 친구한테 줬어 (gave to friend - casual)
- 동생한테 말했어 (told younger sibling)
에게: Neutral/formal "to" (people):
- 친구에게 줬어요 (gave to friend - polite)
- 선생님에게 물어봤어요 (asked teacher)
께: Honorific "to" (respected people):
- 선생님께 말씀드렸어요 (told teacher - honorific)
- 할머니께 전화했어요 (called grandmother)
Possessive Nuances
의 (formal) vs Deletion (casual)
의 in formal contexts:
- 나의 책 (my book - formal)
- 한국의 문화 (Korean culture)
- 회사의 정책 (company policy)
Deletion in casual speech:
- 내 책 (my book - casual, 나의 → 내)
- 친구 집 (friend's house - 친구의 집)
- 엄마 차 (mom's car - 엄마의 차)
When 의 must stay:
- 추상적/공식적 관계 (abstract/official relationships)
- 서울의 인구 (Seoul's population)
- 학교의 규칙 (school's rules)
Time Particle Nuances
에 for Specific Times
Exact time points:
- 3시에 (at 3 o'clock)
- 월요일에 (on Monday)
- 1월에 (in January)
No particle for general time:
- 오늘 (today - no 에)
- 어제 (yesterday - no 에)
- 내일 (tomorrow - no 에)
- 지금 (now - no 에)
Exception:
- 작년에 (last year - takes 에)
- 올해 (this year - no 에)
- 내년에 (next year - takes 에)
Emphasis Particles
이/가 vs 을/를 for Emphasis
Unexpected subject emphasis:
- 내가 했어 (I did it - emphasizing unexpected subject)
- 비가 와요 (It's raining - emphasizing weather phenomenon)
Object emphasis in contrast:
- 밥은 먹었어요 (I did eat rice - but maybe not other things)
- 이것만 사요 (I'll buy only this - emphasizing limitation)
Advanced Nuance: Same Particle, Different Meanings
에 Multiple Functions
Location: 집에 있어요 (at home) Time: 3시에 만나요 (at 3 o'clock) Direction: 학교에 가요 (to school) Purpose: 공부하러 도서관에 가요 (to library to study)
(으)로 Multiple Functions
Direction: 오른쪽으로 (to the right) Means: 버스로 (by bus) Material: 나무로 만들었어요 (made of wood) Change: 선생님으로 됐어요 (became a teacher)
Context-Dependent Meanings
을/를 with Different Verbs
Movement verbs:
- 다리를 건너다 (cross the bridge)
- 길을 걷다 (walk the street)
Departure verbs:
- 학교를 졸업하다 (graduate from school)
- 집을 떠나다 (leave home)
Consumption verbs:
- 밥을 먹다 (eat rice)
- 물을 마시다 (drink water)
Summary of Key Nuances
이/가 vs 은/는
- 이/가: New info, neutral subject, specific situations
- 은/는: Known topic, contrast, general statements
에 vs 에서
- 에: Static location, destination, time
- 에서: Action location, starting point
만 vs 밖에
- 만: Only (neutral)
- 밖에: Only (emphatic, with negative)
도 vs 까지
- 도: Also, too (addition)
- 까지: Even, up to (extent/extreme)
한테 vs 에게 vs 께
- 한테: Casual (to people)
- 에게: Neutral/polite (to people)
- 께: Honorific (to respected people)
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Context determines meaning: Same particle, different nuances
- ✅ 은/는 implies contrast: Even when not stated
- ✅ 이/가 for new information: Especially in answers
- ✅ Formality affects choice: 한테 vs 에게 vs 께
- ✅ Emotion targets use 을/를: Object of feelings
- ✅ Time specificity matters: 에 for exact times, not for general
- ✅ Negative with 밖에: Always requires negative verb
Particle nuances are what separate basic Korean understanding from true fluency. Mastering these subtle differences allows for precise, natural expression and helps you understand the implied meanings in native Korean speech.