Learn Korean for Free | Beginner Korean Grammar # 3
You’ll see 은/는 everywhere in Korean. It tells the listener, “This is what I’m talking about.”
What Does N (은/는) Mean?
은/는 marks the topic of a sentence. It can also be used when comparing or contrasting things.
The Rule
Consonant + 은
오늘 → 오늘은
수박 → 수박은
Vowel + 는
저 → 저는
학교 → 학교는
💡 Easy Trick: Consonant → 은 | Vowel → 는
Useful Korean Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 오늘 | today |
| 날씨 | weather |
| 취미 | hobby |
| 독서 | reading |
| 요리 | cooking |
| 수박 | watermelon |
| 서울 | Seoul |
| 바다 | sea |
Korean Grammar Examples
오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.
The weather is nice today.
저는 요리를 좋아해요.
I like cooking.
사과는 빨간색이에요.
Apples are red.
수박은 커요.
Watermelons are big.
제 취미는 독서예요.
My hobby is reading.
Quick Quiz 🎯
- 오늘 → 오늘______
- 저 → 저______
- 서울 → 서울______
- 우유 → 우유______
Answers: 오늘은 / 저는 / 서울은 / 우유는
Introducing and contrasting
A: 저는 베트남 사람이에요. 리나 씨는요? — I’m Vietnamese. How about you, Lina?
B: 저는 영국 사람이에요. — I’m British.
A topic can stay the same across several sentences
은/는 tells the listener what you are talking about. It can also set up a contrast: 저는 커피를 좋아해요. 동생은 차를 좋아해요. “I like coffee. My younger sibling likes tea.” Choose 은 or 는 from the final sound of the noun, but choose between 은/는 and 이/가 from the meaning and context. They are not interchangeable in every situation.
Practice in context
Fill in 은 or 는: ① 제 이름___ 리나예요. ② 저___ 학생이에요. ③ 동생___ 회사원이에요.
Answers and explanation
① 은: 이름 ends in ㅁ. ② 는: 저 ends in a vowel. ③ 은: 동생 ends in ㅇ. Read the three sentences as a short introduction, then replace the details with your own.
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