Particles (조사 - josa) are one of the most important and unique features of Korean grammar. These small postpositions attach to nouns to indicate their grammatical function in a sentence. Mastering particles is essential for speaking natural Korean.
What Are Particles?
Particles are grammatical markers that attach directly to nouns to show:
- Grammatical role (subject, object, etc.)
- Location and direction
- Topic and focus
- Relationships between nouns
Key feature: Particles allow flexible word order because they mark function regardless of position.
Particle Structure
Particles attach directly to the preceding word:
Structure: [Noun] + [Particle]
Examples:
- 책 + 이 = 책이 (book + subject)
- 물 + 을 = 물을 (water + object)
- 학교 + 에서 = 학교에서 (school + at/from)
Core Case Particles
Subject Markers: 이/가
Marks the grammatical subject (who/what does the action).
Form:
- 이 (i) - after consonants
- 가 (ga) - after vowels
Examples:
- 비가 와요. (It's raining.) - 비 ends in vowel → 가
- 학생이 공부해요. (Student studies.) - 학생 ends in consonant → 이
- 고양이가 자요. (Cat sleeps.) - 고양이 ends in vowel → 가
Object Markers: 을/를
Marks the direct object (what receives the action).
Form:
- 을 (eul) - after consonants
- 를 (reul) - after vowels
Examples:
- 밥을 먹어요. (Eat rice.) - 밥 ends in consonant → 을
- 책을 읽어요. (Read book.) - 책 ends in consonant → 을
- 커피를 마셔요. (Drink coffee.) - 커피 ends in vowel → 를
Topic Markers: 은/는
Marks the topic (what the sentence is about).
Form:
- 은 (eun) - after consonants
- 는 (neun) - after vowels
Examples:
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.) - 저 ends in vowel → 는
- 한국은 좋아요. (Korea is good.) - 한국 ends in consonant → 은
- 날씨는 추워요. (Weather is cold.) - 날씨 ends in vowel → 는
Possessive Marker: 의
Shows possession or relationship.
Form: 의 (ui)
Examples:
- 저의 책 (my book) - often shortened to 제 책
- 친구의 집 (friend's house)
- 한국의 음식 (Korea's food / Korean food)
Note: Often omitted in casual speech when possession is clear.
Location and Direction Particles
에 (e) - Location/Time/Direction
Usage 1: Static location (where something exists)
- 집에 있어요. (Be at home.)
- 학교에 가요. (Go to school.)
Usage 2: Specific time
- 3시에 만나요. (Meet at 3 o'clock.)
- 월요일에 일해요. (Work on Monday.)
Usage 3: Direction/destination
- 서울에 가요. (Go to Seoul.)
에서 (eseo) - Action Location/Origin
Usage 1: Location where action happens
- 학교에서 공부해요. (Study at school.)
- 도서관에서 책을 읽어요. (Read book at library.)
Usage 2: Starting point (from)
- 집에서 출발해요. (Depart from home.)
(으)로 (euro) - Direction/Means
Form:
- 로 (ro) - after vowels or ㄹ
- 으로 (euro) - after other consonants
Usage 1: Direction (toward)
- 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Go to the left.)
- 서울로 가요. (Go toward Seoul.)
Usage 2: Means/method
- 버스로 가요. (Go by bus.)
- 한국어로 말해요. (Speak in Korean.)
Person-Related Particles
에게/한테 (ege/hante) - To (person)
Marks the recipient or target of an action.
Form:
- 에게 (ege) - formal/written
- 한테 (hante) - casual/spoken
Examples:
- 친구에게 전화했어요. (Called friend.)
- 엄마한테 말했어요. (Told mom.)
께 (kke) - To (honorific)
Honorific version of 에게/한테.
Examples:
- 선생님께 말씀드렸어요. (Told teacher.)
- 할머니께 드렸어요. (Gave to grandmother.)
Additional Particles
도 (do) - Also/Too
Examples:
- 저도 가요. (I also go.)
- 물도 주세요. (Water too, please.)
만 (man) - Only
Examples:
- 이것만 주세요. (Only this, please.)
- 물만 마셔요. (Drink only water.)
부터 (buteo) - From (time/starting point)
Examples:
- 오늘부터 공부해요. (Study from today.)
- 1시부터 3시까지 (From 1 to 3 o'clock)
까지 (kkaji) - Until/To (endpoint)
Examples:
- 10시까지 일해요. (Work until 10.)
- 학교까지 걸어요. (Walk to school.)
와/과 (wa/gwa) - And/With
Form:
- 와 (wa) - after vowels
- 과 (gwa) - after consonants
Examples:
- 친구와 영화를 봤어요. (Watched movie with friend.)
- 사과와 바나나 (Apples and bananas)
하고 (hago) - And/With (casual)
More casual than 와/과.
Examples:
- 친구하고 놀았어요. (Played with friend.)
- 밥하고 김치 (Rice and kimchi)
Particle Combinations
Particles can combine to add layers of meaning:
에서 + 는:
- 학교에서는 한국어로 말해요. (At school, speak in Korean.)
에게 + 는:
- 친구에게는 말했어요. (To friend, I told.)
까지 + 도:
- 그것까지도 먹었어요. (Ate even that.)
Particle Omission
When Particles Are Optional
In casual speech, particles can be omitted when the meaning is clear:
Written/formal:
- 저는 밥을 먹어요. (I eat rice.)
Casual/spoken:
- 저 밥 먹어요. (I rice eat.)
When Particles Are Required
Some contexts require particles:
Topic establishment:
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.) - 는 needed
Answering "who/what":
- 친구가 왔어요. (Friend came.) - 가 needed
Emphasis:
- 제가 했어요. (I did it.) - 가 for emphasis
Choosing the Right Particle
에 vs 에서
에 - Static location or destination:
- 집에 있어요. (Be at home.)
- 학교에 가요. (Go to school.)
에서 - Action location or origin:
- 집에서 공부해요. (Study at home.)
- 학교에서 왔어요. (Came from school.)
이/가 vs 은/는
이/가 - Grammatical subject, new info:
- 비가 와요. (It's raining.)
- 누가 왔어요? (Who came?)
은/는 - Topic, known info, contrast:
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.)
- 비는 안 와요. (Rain isn't coming.)
에게 vs 한테 vs 께
에게 - Formal/written:
- 선생님에게 질문했어요. (Asked teacher.)
한테 - Casual/spoken:
- 친구한테 말했어요. (Told friend.)
께 - Honorific:
- 할아버지께 드렸어요. (Gave to grandfather.)
Common Particle Patterns
Pattern 1: Subject-Object-Verb
[Subject + 이/가] + [Object + 을/를] + [Verb]
- 학생이 책을 읽어요. (Student reads book.)
Pattern 2: Topic-Comment
[Topic + 은/는] + [Comment]
- 저는 학생이에요. (I'm a student.)
Pattern 3: Location + Action
[Place + 에서] + [Action]
- 도서관에서 공부해요. (Study at library.)
Pattern 4: Direction
[Destination + 에/로] + [Movement Verb]
- 학교에 가요. (Go to school.)
- 왼쪽으로 가세요. (Go to the left.)
Pattern 5: Giving/Receiving
[Giver] + [Recipient + 에게/한테] + [Object + 을/를] + [Verb]
- 친구에게 선물을 줬어요. (Gave gift to friend.)
Practice Strategy
1. Learn particles in context: Don't memorize in isolation 2. Notice patterns: Pay attention to which particles appear together 3. Practice substitution: Take one sentence and change particles to see how meaning changes 4. Observe native content: Notice particle usage in K-dramas, songs 5. Start with core particles: Master 이/가, 을/를, 은/는, 에, 에서 first
Particles are the backbone of Korean grammar. Understanding and correctly using them will dramatically improve your Korean fluency.