Why Particles Are the Final Boss for Beginners
In French or English, word order determines meaning. In Korean, particles determine each word's role.
The 3 Essential Pairs
은/는 (eun/neun) — TOPIC Particle
Marks the topic — what you're talking about. Think "as for..."
- 저는 프랑스 사람이에요 — As for me, I'm French
이/가 (i/ga) — SUBJECT Particle
Marks the grammatical subject — who does the action. Think "it is X that..."
- 비가 와요 — It's raining (rain is the subject)
은/는 vs 이/가
- 은/는 = known topic, comparison
- 이/가 = new information, emphasis on subject
을/를 (eul/reul) — OBJECT Particle
Marks the direct object.
- 밥을 먹어요 — I eat rice
Other Essential Particles
| Particle | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 에 | location (static) | 학교에 있어요 |
| 에서 | location (action) | 학교에서 공부해요 |
| 도 | also | 저도 (me too) |