🧩 Building Korean Sentences: The Magic of Particles
Imagine you’re a director of a play. Each actor needs to know their ROLE—who is the hero? Who is receiving the action? Where is the scene happening? In Korean, tiny words called particles do exactly this job. They’re like name tags that tell every word what role to play!
🎭 The Big Picture: What Are Particles?
Think of a sentence like a team of superheroes:
- 🦸 The hero (subject/topic) needs a badge
- 🎯 The target (object) needs a badge
- 📍 The location needs a badge
In English, we use word order to show roles. In Korean, we attach particles to words. Same idea, different costume!
English: The cat eats fish.
(order tells us who does what)
Korean: 고양이가 생선을 먹어요.
cat + SUBJECT fish + OBJECT eats
(particles tell us who does what)
🏷️ Topic Marker: 은/는 (eun/neun)
The Spotlight Particle ✨
What it does: Points at something and says, “Hey everyone, look HERE! We’re talking about THIS thing!”
When to use:
- 은 after consonant: 책은 (book)
- 는 after vowel: 나는 (I)
Simple Examples
나는 학생이에요.
I + TOPIC student + am
= As for me, I am a student.
고양이는 귀여워요.
Cat + TOPIC cute + is
= As for cats, they are cute.
🎬 Real-Life Moment
Your friend asks: “What about pizza?” You answer: 피자는 맛있어요! (Pizza + TOPIC is delicious!)
You’re putting pizza under the spotlight! 🍕✨
🎯 Subject Marker: 이/가 (i/ga)
The Doer Badge 🏃
What it does: Tags the word that does the action or is something.
When to use:
- 이 after consonant: 책이 (book)
- 가 after vowel: 나가 (I)
Simple Examples
비가 와요.
Rain + SUBJECT comes
= Rain is coming.
친구가 왔어요.
Friend + SUBJECT came
= A friend came.
🆚 Topic vs. Subject: The Difference
| Situation | You Say |
|---|---|
| “I am a student.” (introducing yourself) | 저는 학생이에요. |
| “Who came?” → “I came!” (emphasizing YOU) | 제가 왔어요! |
Think of it:
- 는/은 = “Speaking of…” (general topic)
- 가/이 = “THIS ONE specifically!” (pinpointing)
🎁 Object Marker: 을/를 (eul/reul)
The Target Sticker 🎯
What it does: Marks the thing that receives the action.
When to use:
- 을 after consonant: 책을 (book)
- 를 after vowel: 커피를 (coffee)
Simple Examples
저는 커피를 마셔요.
I + TOPIC coffee + OBJECT drink
= I drink coffee.
고양이가 생선을 먹어요.
Cat + SUBJECT fish + OBJECT eats
= The cat eats fish.
🎮 Quick Pattern
WHO + 는/가 WHAT + 을/를 ACTION
(doer) (target) (verb)
📍 Location Particle: 에 (e)
The “At/To” Pin 📌
What it does: Shows where something is or where someone goes to.
Simple Examples
학교에 가요.
School + AT/TO go
= I go to school.
집에 있어요.
Home + AT exist/am
= I am at home.
세 시에 만나요.
3 o'clock + AT meet
= We meet at 3 o'clock.
Triple Power of 에:
- 📍 Location: 집에 있어요 (at home)
- 🚶 Destination: 학교에 가요 (to school)
- ⏰ Time: 아침에 (in the morning)
🚪 Source Particle: 에서 (eseo)
The “From/At (doing something)” Marker 🎬
What it does:
- Shows where an action takes place
- Shows where something comes from
Action Location (different from 에!)
도서관에서 공부해요.
Library + AT(doing) study
= I study at the library.
카페에서 커피를 마셔요.
Cafe + AT(doing) coffee + OBJ drink
= I drink coffee at the cafe.
Source/Origin
한국에서 왔어요.
Korea + FROM came
= I came from Korea.
🆚 에 vs 에서
| Particle | Use When… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 에 | Just existing/going somewhere | 집에 있어요 (I’m at home - just being there) |
| 에서 | Doing an ACTION at a place | 집에서 일해요 (I work at home - action!) |
➕ Also Particle: 도 (do)
The “Me Too!” Tag 🙋
What it does: Adds something to the group. Like saying “also,” “too,” or “as well.”
Simple Examples
저도 학생이에요.
I + ALSO student + am
= I am also a student.
커피도 주세요.
Coffee + ALSO please-give
= Please give me coffee too.
오늘도 공부해요.
Today + ALSO study
= I study today as well.
💡 Magic Trick
도 replaces other particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를):
나는 가요. (I go.)
나도 가요. (I go too.) ← 는 disappears!
사과를 먹어요. (I eat apples.)
바나나도 먹어요. (I eat bananas too.) ← 를 disappears!
🎯 Only Particle: 만 (man)
The “Just This One” Limiter ✋
What it does: Limits to ONLY that thing. Nothing else!
Simple Examples
물만 마셔요.
Water + ONLY drink
= I drink only water.
나만 알아요.
I + ONLY know
= Only I know.
오늘만 쉬어요.
Today + ONLY rest
= I rest only today.
🎭 Emotional Flavor
만 often carries a feeling of limitation or exclusion:
저만 못 가요.
I + ONLY can't go
= Only I can't go. (feeling left out!)
👥 Plural Marker: 들 (deul)
The “Many” Multiplier 👨👩👧👦
What it does: Shows there’s more than one. Usually for living things!
Simple Examples
학생들이 공부해요.
Student + PLURAL + SUBJ study
= Students are studying.
친구들과 영화를 봐요.
Friend + PLURAL + with movie + OBJ watch
= I watch movies with friends.
고양이들이 귀여워요.
Cat + PLURAL + SUBJ cute
= The cats are cute.
💡 Fun Fact
Korean often skips 들 when the meaning is already clear:
사과 세 개 (three apples)
↑ "three" already tells us it's plural!
So 들 is not needed.
🎨 Particle Combination Chart
graph LR A[Korean Word] --> B{Which role?} B -->|Topic/Focus| C[은/는] B -->|Subject/Doer| D[이/가] B -->|Object/Target| E[을/를] B -->|Location - being| F[에] B -->|Location - action| G[에서] B -->|Also/Too| H[도] B -->|Only| I[만] B -->|Plural| J[들]
🏆 Quick Reference Card
| Particle | Meaning | After Consonant | After Vowel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | “As for…” | 은 | 는 |
| Subject | “does/is” | 이 | 가 |
| Object | “receives action” | 을 | 를 |
| Location | “at/to” | 에 | 에 |
| Source | “from/at (action)” | 에서 | 에서 |
| Also | “too” | 도 | 도 |
| Only | “just” | 만 | 만 |
| Plural | “many” | 들 | 들 |
🎯 Mini Story: A Day in Seoul
Let’s see all particles working together!
저는 학생이에요.
(I + TOPIC student + am)
As for me, I am a student.
오늘 학교에 가요.
(Today school + TO go)
Today I go to school.
도서관에서 공부해요.
(Library + AT(action) study)
I study at the library.
친구들도 와요.
(Friends + PLURAL + ALSO come)
Friends come too.
커피만 마셔요.
(Coffee + ONLY drink)
I drink only coffee.
🌟 You Did It!
You just learned the 8 essential Korean particles! 🎉
Remember:
- Particles are role badges for words
- They attach to the END of words
- Some change based on consonant/vowel endings
- 도 and 만 are special—they replace other particles!
Now go practice! Try spotting these particles in Korean songs, dramas, or webtoons. You’ll be amazed how often you see them! 🚀