Korean postpositions

Korean grammar Phonology Pronouns Numerals Postpositions Verbs Speech levels Honorifics

Korean postpositions are suffixes or short words in Korean grammar that immediately follow a noun or pronoun. This article uses the Yale romanization to show morphology. Look to the hangul versions underneath for the official orthographic form.

Preceding syntactic element	Example sentence	Translation
('n-) un 은/는	Used as a topic particle or a subject particle. Un 은 is used following a consonant, 'n un 는 is used following a vowel.
Nouns (topic)	Na'nun haksayng-i ta. 나는 학생이다.	I am a student.
Nouns (topic)	I-kes'un yenpil-i ta. 이것은 연필이다.	This is a pencil.
Nouns (genericized nominative)	Chitha-neun ppalu ta. 치타는 빠르다.	Cheetahs are fast.
Nouns (topic)	Na'nun ccacangmyen. 나는 짜장면.	I'd like a jajangmyeon.
i/ka 이/가	Used as an identifier particle or a subject particle. I 이 is used following a consonant, ka 가 is used following a vowel.
Nouns (agent)	Nay ka masye-ss ta. 내가 마셨다.	I drank.
Nouns (identifier)	Ce-kes-i Han Kang-i ya. 저것이 한강이야.	That is the Han River.
Nouns (specific nominative)	Chitha ka nuli ta. 치타가 느리다.	This cheetah is slow.
to 도	Used as an additive particle. When dealing with additive qualities/descriptions of the same subject, ttohan 또한 is used.
Nouns	Ku-nye to kongpu-ha-n ta. 그녀도 공부한다.	She studies too.
Nouns (additive)	Cengnam un kunin-ye-ss ta. Cengnam un ttohan cengchika-ye-ss ta. 정남은 군인였다. 정남은 또한 정치가였다.	Jeong-nam was a soldier. Jeong-nam was also a politician.
('l-) ul 을/를	Used as an object particle. Ul 을 is used following a consonant, 'l ul 를 is used following a vowel,
Nouns	Na'nun lamyen'ul mek.e-ss ta. 나는 라면을 먹었다.	I ate ramen.
eykey/hantey 에게/한테	Used as a dative particle. Eykey 에게 is the literary form, and han tey 한테 is the colloquial form.
Noun	Nehuy eykey hal mal-i iss ta. 너희에게 할 말이 있다.	I have something to tell you.
kkey 께	Kkey 께 is the honorific dative marker.
Noun	Koyongju'kkey senmul'ul tulye-ssta. 고용주께 선물을 드렸다.	I gave a gift to my employer.
(u)lo 으로/로	Used to mark the instrumental case, which can also denote destination or role. Ulo 으로 is used following a consonant, which is abbreviated to 'lo 로 following a vowel.
Noun (means)	KTX'lo Sewul'ey'se Pusankkaci 3 sikan kelli-nta. KTX로 서울에서 부산까지 3시간 걸린다.	It takes 3 hours to go from Seoul to Busan via KTX.
Noun (destination)	Nayil Hocwu'lo ttena-pni'ta. 내일 호주로 떠납니다.	I am leaving for Australia tomorrow.
Noun (role)	Wuncensa'lo cwicik-hay yo. 운전사로 취직해요.	I'm looking for a job as a driver.
ey 에	Used for any words relating to time or place.
Time (noun)	Maikul un 8 wol ey wa-ss ta. 마이클은 8월에 왔다.	Michael came in August.
Location (noun)	Ceytong un ilpon ey ka-ss ta. 제동은 일본에 갔다.	Jae-dong went to Japan.
ey se 에서	Translates to: "from" when used with a motion verb. May also be used as "at", "in" when used with an action verb which is not motion related.
Noun (from)	Cwungkuk ey se wa-ss.e. 중국에서 왔어.	I came from China.
Noun (in)	Pang ey se kongpu'l ul hay-ss ta. 방에서 공부를 했다.	I studied in my room.
man 만	Translates to: "only", used after a noun.
Noun	Ocik ceimsu man hankuk.e'l ul kongpu hay-ss ta. 오직 제임스만 한국어를 공부했다.	Only James studied Korean.
uy 의	Functions as: possession indicator, noun link, topic marker.
Noun: possession	Mikuk uy taythonglyong 미국의 대통령	President of the United States
(k)wa 과/와	Translates to: "and" (conjunction); "with" or "as with" (preposition). Kwa 과 is used following a consonant, wa 와 is used following a vowel.
Nouns: conjunction	Ne wa na 너와 나	You and I

References

• Martin SE (2006). Reference Grammar of Korean: A Complete Guide to the Grammar and History of the Korean Language. Tuttle Publishing.
• Vincent M, Yeon J (2010). Complete Korean. McGraw-Hill Professional.
• Ihm Ho Bin, Hong Kyung Pyo, and Chang Suk In. Korean Grammar for International Learners. Yonsei University Press