Emphasis (Contrast) particle
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Noun, Pronoun, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction + 은/는
은 - if a word ends in a consonant, 는 - if ends in a vowel
2. The -은/는 particle can also be used to emphasize or contrast things, actions, etc.
As for A, it is different from B | if you want A (but not B, C, ...) | for reaching place A (but not B, C, ...) | etc.
Compare these two examples,
김밥이 맛있습니다.
김밥은 맛있습니다.
Korean
김밥
맛있다
English
gimbap
delicious
Gimbap is delicious.
김밥이 맛있습니다.
김밥은 맛있습니다.
Both sentences are grammatically correct. However, the meaning is slightly different. The first sentence simply states that gimbap is delicious, while the second sentence emphasizes that gimbap is delicious in contrast to other dishes mentioned in the context.
More examples,
제가 컴퓨터는 있지만 마우스는 없어요.
Korean
컴퓨터
마우스
있다
없다
English
computer
mouse
to have
not to have
As for computer, I do have it but I don't have a mouse.
저+가 컴퓨터는 있지만 마우스는 없어요.
저는 대학생이고 언니는 회사 직원이에요.
Korean
저
대학생
언니
회사
직원
English
I
university student
elder sister
company
employee
As for me, I am a college student and as for (or but) my elder sister is a company employee.
저는 대학생이고 언니는 회사 직원이에요.
내 딸은 노래는 잘 못 부르지만 춤은 아주 잘 춘다.
(딸은 - topic, 노래는, 춤은 - emphasis)
Korean
나
딸
노래
잘
부르다
춤추다
아주
English
I
daughter
song
well
to sing, to call
to dance
very
My daughter cannot sing very well but she dances very well.
나+의 딸은 노래는 잘 못 부르지만 춤은 아주 잘 추+ㄴ다.
The 은/는 particle can be used not only with nouns and pronouns, but also with many other grammatical particles such as prepositions, conjunctions, and so on. However, it is important to note that it can not be used with all grammatical particles.
See examples,
(click on translation and grammar buttons)
화요일에는 쉬고 수요일에는 학교에 갑니다.
(preposition 에 + 는)
Korean
화요일
쉬다
수요일
학교
가다
English
Tuesday
to have a rest
Wednesday
school
to go
As for Tuesday, I have a rest, and on Wednesday I go to school.
화요일에는 쉬고 수요일에는 학교에 가+ㅂ니다.
유진이가 저하고는 잘 지냅니다.
(conjunction 하고 + 는)
Korean
유진
저
잘
지내다
English
Yu Jin
I
well
be friends with
(I don't know about others,) but with me, Yu Jin is on friendly terms.
유진이가 저하고는 잘 지내+ㅂ니다.
저는 친구가 되게 많지는 않습니다.
(지 + 는)
Korean
친구
되게
많다
English
friend
very
a lot
As for me, I don't really have that many friends.
저는 친구가 되게 많지는 않습니다.
Quick reference (click to open)
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j
Syllable: Bra-zil (2 syllables), Ar-gen-ti-na (4), In-di-a (3), Viet-nam (2), thin-king (2), beau-ti-ful (3), good (1)
Batchim: is a final consonant in a syllable. → Bra-zil (batchim: 'l'), Ar-gen-ti-na (batchims: 'r' and 'n'), In-di-a ('n'), Viet-nam ('t', 'm')
Romanization: is a conversion of text (not pronunciation ! ) from different writing system (Korean, Arabic, Russian, etc.) to the Roman (Latin) alphabet.
IPA: is an alphabetic system of phonetic (pronunciation) notation.
Noun: road, user, sister, table, sky
Pronoun: I, my, we, you, they, her
Verb: to go, to study, to think, to feel
Adjective: cold, kind, hungry, curious, expensive
Adverb: quickly, nicely, never, exactly, urgently
Preposition: from, to, on, in, with, till
Conjuction: and, because, if, but, while
Declarative sentence: I learn Korean.
Interrogative sentence: Do you learn Korean?
Imperative sentence: You must learn Korean!
Exclamative sentence: Wow, you learn Korean!
Verb / Adj. stem in Korean: part of a verb or adj. which is left after removing the last syllable -다 ( e.g. 가다 → 가, 예쁘다 → 예쁘, 듣다 → 듣 ).