Learn Korean (TTMIK)

Lesson 7

In this lesson, you can learn how to say “this” “that” and “it” in Korean.

In English, the words “this” and “that” can be used both on their own and to modify words.

Example)

In English you can say “This is my car.” and also “This car is mine.” So the word “this” here can be used as a pronoun and also as a word that modifies “car.”

In Korean, however, words for “this” as a modifier and “this” as “this item here” or “this thing here” are strictly distinguished, and the same is true for “that” as well.

i = this (near you)

geu = the / that (near the other person)

jeo = that (over there)

I = this

 (look at the picture on the side for clarifications)

Since i, geu, and jeo in Korean can only work as modifiers, when you want to say ‘this’ ‘that’ or

‘it’ as pronouns, you have to add the word geo or geot after these words.

geo = geot = thing, item, stuff, fact

So...

i = this

i + geot = i-geot or i-geo = this thing, this item, this one

geu = the, that

geu + geot = geu-geot or geu-geo = the thing, the item, that one, it

jeo = the, that, that ... over there

jeo + geot = jeo-geot or jeo-geo = that thing over there

You can form various expressions using i, geu or jeo along with other words.

Example)

sa-ram means a person

sa-ram = this person, this man here, this lady here, he, she

geu sa-ram = the person, that person, he, she

jeo sa-ram = that person over there, he, she