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# What Are Korean Particles? A Simple Guide to 조사 (Josa)
- URL: https://www.youngssam-korean.com/korean-particles-josa-guide/
- Published: 2026-09-16T01:48:58.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-16T01:48:57.000Z
- Description: What do 은/는, 이/가, and 을/를 actually do? Learn the three types of Korean particles, see them in simple sentences, and find out when you can leave them out.
- Author: YoungSsam
- Tags: Sentence Building

If you have studied Korean for a while, you have probably seen words like **저는, 친구가, 커피를, 학교에, 저도, 물만**.

The small parts attached to the end — **는, 가, 를, 에, 도, 만** — are called **조사 (josa)** in Korean, or **particles** in English.

Korean particles help us understand **what role a word has in a sentence** or **what extra meaning the speaker wants to add**.

> 저는 커피를 마셔요.  
> I drink coffee.

Here, **저** means “I/me,” and **커피** means “coffee.” **는** marks the topic, while **를** marks the object of “drink.”

**Korean particles are written together with the word before them, with no space.**

- 저 + 는 → **저는**
- 커피 + 를 → **커피를**
- 학교 + 에 → **학교에**

In Korean school grammar, particles are generally divided into three main groups:

1. **격조사 — Case particles**
2. **보조사 — Auxiliary particles**
3. **접속조사 — Connective particles**

Let’s look at them one by one.

---

## 1\. 격조사: Case Particles

**격조사** show the **grammatical role** of a noun or noun phrase in a sentence. They help us understand who is doing an action, what receives the action, where it happens, or where someone is going.

> 고양이가 자요.  
> The cat is sleeping.

**이/가** marks the subject. Here, **고양이** is the subject of the sentence.

> 저는 커피를 마셔요.  
> I drink coffee.

**을/를** marks the object. Here, **커피** is the object of **마시다 — to drink**.

> 학교에서 공부해요.  
> I study at school.

**에서** marks the place where the action happens.

### Common case particles

- **이/가 — subject:** 고양이가 자요. (The cat is sleeping.)
- **을/를 — object:** 책을 읽어요. (I read a book.)
- **에 — time, destination, or location:** 학교에 가요. (I go to school.)
- **에서 — place where an action happens:** 집에서 공부해요. (I study at home.)
- **에게/한테 — recipient or target:** 친구한테 전화해요. (I call a friend.)
- **(으)로 — direction, method, or means:** 버스로 가요. (I go by bus.)
- **의 — possession or relationship:** 친구의 책 (a friend’s book)

These are common uses, rather than a complete list of meanings.

> **Case particles show what role a noun has in the sentence.**

### A quick note on particle pairs

Some particles have two forms. The choice usually depends on whether the word before them ends in a consonant (**받침**) or a vowel.

- **After a consonant:** 이, 을, 은 — 책이, 책을, 책은
- **After a vowel:** 가, 를, 는 — 커피가, 커피를, 커피는

**(으)로** has a useful exception: use **로** after a vowel or **ㄹ**, and **으로** after other consonants. For example: **버스로, 지하철로, 트럭으로**.

### Case particles are often omitted in conversation

When the grammatical role of a word is clear from context, speakers often omit some case particles, especially **이/가** and **을/를**.

> 저는 커피를 마셔요.  
> I drink coffee.

In everyday conversation, you may also hear:

> 저는 커피 마셔요.

The object particle **를** is omitted, but it is still clear that coffee is what the speaker drinks.

> 뭐 먹어요?  
> What are you eating?  
>  
> 김밥 먹어요.  
> I’m eating gimbap.

The fuller form is **김밥을 먹어요**. Since 김밥 is clearly the object of 먹어요, speakers often leave out 을.

The subject particle can also be omitted:

> 택배 왔어요.  
> The package is here. / A package arrived.

The fuller form is **택배가 왔어요**.

However, this does **not** mean every case particle can always be removed. Omission depends on context, emphasis, and the expression.

> 학교에 가요.  
> I go to school.  
>  
> 학교에서 공부해요.  
> I study at school.

**에** marks a destination here, while **에서** marks the place of an action. You may hear **학교 가요** in conversation, but do not assume 에 and 에서 can always be dropped in the same way.

> **If the role of the noun is obvious from context, 이/가 and 을/를 are often omitted in conversation.**

Practice using the particles first. As you become familiar with natural Korean, you will notice when speakers leave them out.

---

## 2\. 보조사: Auxiliary Particles

**보조사** work differently. Instead of mainly showing a grammatical role, they **add a specific meaning**.

> 저**는** 커피를 마셔요.  
> **As for** me, I drink coffee.  
>  
> 저**도** 커피를 마셔요.  
> **I also** drink coffee.  
>  
> 저**만** 커피를 마셔요.  
> **Only I** drink coffee.

The basic word 저 is the same, but the meaning changes depending on the particle.

### 도 — also / too

**도** adds the meaning of “also” or “too.”

> 저도 한국어를 공부해요.  
> I study Korean too.  
>  
> 커피도 좋아해요.  
> I like coffee too.

In the first example, 도 highlights **another person** who studies Korean. In the second, it highlights **another thing** the speaker likes.

### 만 — only

**만** adds the meaning of “only.”

> 물만 마셔요.  
> I drink only water.  
>  
> 오늘만 쉬어요.  
> I’m resting only today.

Compare **물을 마셔요** (I drink water) with **물만 마셔요** (I drink **only** water). 만 adds a restriction.

### 은/는 — topic and contrast

In Korean school grammar, **은/는** is classified as a **보조사**, or auxiliary particle. Korean-learning materials often call it a **topic particle** or **topic marker**, which describes one of its most important functions.

> 저는 선생님이에요.  
> As for me, I’m a teacher.  
>  
> 커피는 좋아해요.  
> As for coffee, I like it.

**은/는** introduces a topic and can also create contrast, depending on context. “As for…” helps show the topic function, although natural English often leaves it unspoken.

This is why **은/는 and 이/가 are not simply interchangeable**: they have different functions.

### 요 — politeness

**요** can function as a **보조사** that adds politeness toward the listener. You can see this clearly in short expressions:

> 저요?  
> Me?  
>  
> 왜요?  
> Why?  
>  
> 커피요.  
> Coffee.

Compare **왜?** (casual) with **왜요?** (polite).

You will also see 요 at the end of polite forms such as **해요, 먹어요, 좋아요**. Learners usually study these as **\-아요/어요** endings. For this guide, focus on the clear particle examples above; you do not need to analyze every polite ending as you speak.

> **Auxiliary particles add meanings such as “also,” “only,” topic, contrast, or politeness.**

---

## 3\. 접속조사: Connective Particles

**접속조사** connect two or more nouns or noun phrases with the same grammatical role. Think of “and” or “or” in English.

- **와/과, (이)랑, 하고** — and
- **(이)나** — or, when connecting alternatives

> 엄마와 아빠가 왔어요.  
> Mom and Dad came.

**와** connects 엄마 and 아빠. The whole phrase **엄마와 아빠** is the subject.

> 사과랑 바나나를 샀어요.  
> I bought apples and bananas.

**랑** connects 사과 and 바나나. The whole phrase **사과랑 바나나** is the object of 샀어요.

You can also say **사과하고 바나나를 샀어요**. The basic function is the same: two nouns are connected.

> 커피나 차를 마셔요.  
> I drink coffee or tea.

Here, **나** connects two alternatives.

---

## One Particle Can Have Different Roles

The same particle form does **not always belong to the same category in every sentence**.

> 민수와 지수가 왔어요.  
> Minsu and Jisu came.

Here, **와** connects 민수 and 지수, so it functions as a **접속조사**.

> 민수는 지수와 이야기했어요.  
> Minsu talked with Jisu.

Here, **와** means “with” and shows the relationship between 지수 and 이야기하다. It functions as a **격조사** — more specifically, an adverbial case particle.

Instead of memorizing “와 = connective particle,” ask:

> **What is this particle doing in this sentence?**

---

## The Three Types of Korean Particles

- **격조사 — Case particles:** show grammatical roles. Examples: 이/가, 을/를, 에, 에서.
- **보조사 — Auxiliary particles:** add meaning. Examples: 은/는, 도, 만, 요.
- **접속조사 — Connective particles:** connect nouns or noun phrases. Examples: 와/과, (이)랑, 하고, (이)나.

You do not need to memorize every Korean particle before you start making sentences. Instead, ask these three questions:

1. **Does it show the role of the noun?** It may be a 격조사.
2. **Does it add meaning such as “only,” “also,” topic, contrast, or politeness?** It may be a 보조사.
3. **Does it connect two nouns?** It may be a 접속조사.

Once you understand these three basic functions, Korean particles become much easier to organize and learn.

LET’S PRACTICE TOGETHER

## Turn these particles into your own sentences.

Try writing one sentence about your day using 은/는, 도, or 만.  
Join **YoungSsam Korean Club on Circle** to practice with other learners, ask questions, and get feedback from me.

[Join YoungSsam Korean Club →](https://youngssam-korean-club.circle.so/?ref=youngssam-korean.com)

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