Korean postpositions
| Korean grammar |
|---|
Korean particles are suffixes or short words in Korean grammar that immediately follow the modified noun, verb, adjective, or sentence. This article uses the Yale romanization to show morphology. Look to the hangul versions underneath for the official orthographic form.
Particles
| 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'n un 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'n un ppalu ta. 치타는 빠르다. |
Cheetahs are fast. |
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'n un 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-ss ta. 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 Pusan kkaci 3 sikan kelli-n ta. KTX로 서울에서 부산까지 3시간 걸린다. |
It takes 3 hours to go from Seoul to Busan via KTX. |
| Noun (role) | Nayil Hocwu 'lo ttena-pni ta. 내일 호주로 떠납니다. |
I am leaving for Australia tomorrow. |
| Noun (destination) | 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 너와나 |
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