Particle Library
Master the essential Korean particles.
Core building blocks
The handful you need before anything else — who does what to whom.
Topic Particles
Sets the topic of the sentence. What are we talking about?
Subject Particles
Identifies the grammatical subject of the sentence.
Object Particles
Marks the object receiving the action of the verb.
Possessive
Indicates possession or relationship. Equivalent to 's or 'of'.
Plural Particle
Makes a noun plural. Often optional but clarifies multiple items.
Place, time & range
Where something happens, when, and from where to where.
Location Particles
Marking location and time. The difference depends on static vs dynamic verbs.
Range (From/To)
Defines a range in time or place (From... To...).
Emphatic From
A more emphatic way of saying 'starting from a place'.
Frequency / Every
Means 'every' or 'each'.
Approximation
Means 'about', 'around', or 'approximately'.
People & speech
Giving to someone, hearing from someone, calling them, quoting them.
Honorific Subject
A highly polite version of the subject particle (이/가).
Dative (To a person)
Indicates the recipient of an action (giving to, talking to).
From (Person)
Indicates receiving something 'from' a person.
From (Source)
Marks the origin or source that something comes from.
Vocative (Calling)
Used to call someone's name casually.
Recipient (Speech)
Identifies the person being spoken to.
To (Spoken)
Colloquial marker for 'to (a person)' when asking/telling them something.
Quotation
Marks quoted speech or thoughts.
Direction, means & role
Which way, by what method, and in what capacity.
Direction/Means
Indicates direction (towards) or method (using/by).
As (Role/Status)
Indicates a status, capacity, or qualification. 'As a...'
By Means Of
Indicates an instrument, means, or method. 'By using...'
According to
Means 'according to' or 'following'.
Adding & joining
Putting things together, and piling one thing on top of another.
Connection
Means 'and' or 'with'.
Among / Between
Indicates 'among ourselves/themselves' or 'between (a group)'.
Also / Too
Means 'also' or 'too'. Replaces subject/object particles.
On top of / And also
Indicates adding something onto a location or existing thing.
Not only... but also
Adds a second, often bigger point on top of the first.
Limiting & excluding
Narrowing things down to only this, and ruling the rest out.
Only
Indicates exclusivity. Means 'only' or 'just'.
Only (Negative)
Means 'nothing but'. Must use negative verb forms.
Only / Just
Means 'only' or 'just'. Used for exclusivity.
Not... But...
Used to exclude one option and choose another.
Choice & alternatives
Offering options, settling for second best, swapping one for another.
Choice / Selection
Means 'Or'. Also suggests 'something like that'.
Second Best
Suggests the 'next best' thing when the ideal is missing.
Indifference / Any
No matter what/who/when/where.
Instead of
Means 'instead of'. Substitution or compensation.
Comparing & measuring
More than, like, as much as — and living up to what you are.
Comparison
Means 'than'. Used to compare two nouns.
Simile / Like
Means 'like' or 'as'. Expresses resemblance.
Befitting / Like a proper
Says something behaves as its own nature or role demands.
Extent / As much as
Indicates a similar degree or extent.
Distribution / Each
Means 'each' or 'apiece'. Distributes items.
Standard / Exception
Expresses a standard for comparison or exceptions.
Cause, purpose & topic
Because of, thanks to, for the sake of, and about.
Reason (Noun)
Means 'because of'. Attached to nouns.
Positive Reason
Indicates a positive cause. Means 'Thanks to'.
For the sake of
Means 'for' or 'for the sake of' a person or cause.
About / Regarding
Means 'about' or 'regarding' a certain topic.
Emphasis & extremes
Turning the volume up: truly, even, and let alone.