Korean Particles Explained: 은/는, 이/가, 을/를 and More

Particles are small endings attached to nouns that tell you what role each word plays in a sentence. English uses word order and prepositions for this; Korean uses particles. Master the ten below and you can build most beginner sentences.

Why two forms? Consonant vs. vowel

Most particles have two forms. Which one you use depends on whether the noun ends in a consonant (has a 받침) or a vowel:

• 책 (book) ends in a consonant → 책은, 책이, 책을
• 커피 (coffee) ends in a vowel → 커피는, 커피가, 커피를

The second form usually exists simply to make pronunciation smoother.

은/는: the topic

은/는 marks what the sentence is about, often translated as "as for…". It is also used to contrast.

• 저는 학생이에요. — I am a student. (As for me, …)
• 커피는 좋아요. 차는 싫어요. — I like coffee. Tea, I don't like.

이/가: the subject

이/가 marks the subject, especially new information or who does something. Compare 누가 왔어요? (Who came?) with 민수가 왔어요 (Minsu came). It is also used with 있어요 (there is) and 없어요 (there isn't): 시간이 있어요 — I have time.

은/는 or 이/가? This is the hardest choice for beginners. A useful rule of thumb: use 은/는 when introducing what you are talking about, and 이/가 when answering "who/what?". You will get a feel for it with exposure, and small mistakes rarely stop people from understanding you.

을/를: the object

을/를 marks the thing that receives the action.

• 밥을 먹어요. — I eat rice / a meal.
• 한국어를 공부해요. — I study Korean.

In casual speech, 을/를 is often dropped: 밥 먹었어? (Did you eat?).

에: time, destination and location of existence

• 세 시에 만나요. — Let's meet at three. (time)
• 학교에 가요. — I go to school. (destination)
• 집에 있어요. — I'm at home. (where something is)

에서: location of an action, and "from"

• 카페에서 공부해요. — I study at a café. (where the action happens)
• 브라질에서 왔어요. — I came from Brazil.

Tip: if the verb is 있다/없다 or a movement verb like 가다, use 에. If someone is doing an activity there, use 에서.

도: also, too

도 replaces 은/는, 이/가 or 을/를: 저도 학생이에요 — I'm a student too.

의: possession

의 works like "'s": 친구의 가방 — my friend's bag. In speech, 저의 and 나의 often shorten to 제 and 내: 제 이름 — my name.

와/과, 하고, (이)랑: and, with

All three mean "and" or "with". 와/과 is more formal or written, 하고 is neutral and very common in speech, and (이)랑 is casual: 빵하고 우유 주세요 — Bread and milk, please.

(으)로: by means of, toward

• 카드로 계산할게요. — I'll pay by card.
• 명동으로 가 주세요. — To Myeongdong, please.

Use 로 after a vowel or ㄹ, and 으로 after other consonants.

Quick reference

You can see particles in action in every lesson on this site — for example in Introducing Yourself and Getting Around. When you study song lyrics with our Lyrics Tool, it recognizes common particles and finds the base word for you.

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