12: N하고 N

Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar #12

Bread and milk, a friend and a teacher, dinner with a classmate—하고 connects the people and things in these everyday expressions.

What Does N하고 N Mean?

Put 하고 after a noun to mean “and” when listing nouns. After a person, it can also mean “with.” It is common in everyday conversation and does not change according to the final sound.

The Rule

Use N하고 N: 빵하고 우유 (bread and milk). With an action, the meaning can be “with”: 친구하고 공부해요 (I study with a friend). No space goes before 하고; put a space before the following noun.

Useful Korean Words

KoreanEnglish
빵bread
우유milk
사과apple
친구friend
가족family
선생님teacher
공부하다to study
여행하다to travel

Korean Grammar Examples

빵하고 우유를 사요.
I buy bread and milk.

사과하고 바나나를 좋아해요.
I like apples and bananas.

친구하고 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean with a friend.

가족하고 제주도에 여행을 가요.
I travel to Jeju Island with my family.

책상 위에 책하고 연필이 있어요.
There are a book and a pencil on the desk.

A Short Dialogue

A: 누구하고 점심을 먹어요? — Who are you having lunch with?
B: 민수 씨하고 먹어요. — I’m eating with Minsu.
A: 뭐를 먹어요? — What are you eating?
B: 김밥하고 라면을 먹어요. — We’re eating gimbap and ramyeon.

A Common Mistake to Avoid

하고 connects nouns; it does not connect full actions. To link actions, learners need another grammar pattern. 와/과 can also mean “and/with” and is common in more formal writing, while (이)랑 is very conversational. For this lesson, practice the dependable spoken form 하고.

Quick Quiz 🎯

Add 하고 in the correct place: ① 커피 ___ 빵을 주문해요. ② 친구 ___ 영화를 봐요. ③ 책 ___ 공책이 있어요. ④ 엄마 ___ 시장에 가요.

Answers and Explanation

① 커피하고 빵을 주문해요. ② 친구하고 영화를 봐요. ③ 책하고 공책이 있어요. ④ 엄마하고 시장에 가요. In ① and ③, 하고 means “and”; in ② and ④, it means “with.”

Try It in Your Own Life

Say or write two original sentences with N하고 N. Use a person, place, food, class, or daily routine that is real for you. Then change one detail and say the new sentence aloud. This small change helps you practice the grammar as a speaking tool rather than memorizing only one example.

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