에
To, At
에 is a particle attached to nouns to show where something is (at, in, on) or where someone is going (to).
How It Works
에 has two main uses that are essential for beginners to learn. It attaches directly to a noun without a space, regardless of whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.
1. Static Location (at, in, on)
This usage indicates where something or someone exists. It is used with verbs of existence or state, not action verbs.
- Common verbs: 있다 (to be/exist), 없다 (to not be/not exist), 살다 (to live), 많다 (to be many)
For example: '저는 집에 있어요.' (I am at home.)
2. Destination (to)
This usage indicates the destination of movement. It is used with verbs of motion.
- Common verbs: 가다 (to go), 오다 (to come), 다니다 (to attend/commute), 도착하다 (to arrive)
For example: '학교에 가요.' (I am going to school.)
Important Note: 에 vs. 에서
This is a very common point of confusion.
- 에 marks a static location: '도서관에 있어요.' (I am at the library.)
- 에서 marks where an action happens: '도서관에서 공부해요.' (I study at the library.)
3. Time
에 can also be used to mark a specific point in time.
For example: '3시에 만나요.' (Let's meet at 3 o'clock.)
Examples (5)
- 저는 학교에 있어요.
I am at school.
Word by Word: I school-at exist.
에 is used with 있어요 to show a static location (where you are).
- 내일 회사에 가요.
I'm going to the company tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow company-to go.
에 is used with 가요 to show a destination (where you are going).
- 가방 안에 책이 있어요.
There is a book inside the bag.
Word by Word: Bag inside-at book-is exist.
Here, 에 attaches to '안' (inside) to specify the location 'inside the bag'.
- 친구가 한국에 와요.
My friend is coming to Korea.
Word by Word: Friend Korea-to comes.
에 marks Korea (한국) as the destination of the verb 'to come' (와요).
- 오후 3시에 만나요.
Let's meet at 3 PM.
Word by Word: Afternoon 3 o'clock-at meet.
In this case, 에 is used to mark a specific point in time.
Common Mistakes
Using 에 for the location of an action, instead of 에서.
Not Quite도서관에 공부해요.Better도서관에서 공부해요.에 is used for a static location (where something 'is'), while 에서 is used for the location where an action (like studying, eating, meeting) takes place. Since 'studying' is an action, you must use 에서.
Using 에 with people instead of 에게/한테.
Not Quite친구에 선물을 줘요.Better친구에게 선물을 줘요.To indicate the recipient of an action (giving something 'to' a person), you must use the particle 에게 or 한테, not 에. 에 is for places and things.
Related Patterns
- 에서From
에서 marks the location where an action takes place, while 에 marks a static location or destination. This is a very common point of confusion. For example, '학교에 있어요' (I am at school) vs. '학교에서 공부해요' (I study at school).
- 있다/없다To Have/not Have
The verbs 있다 (to be at/exist) and 없다 (to not be at/not exist) are very frequently used with 에 to describe the location of something or someone. For example, '책상 위에 책이 있어요' (There is a book on the desk).
- 에게To, For
While 에 marks a location or destination, 에게 and 한테 are used to mark the recipient of an action (a person or animal). For example, '학교에 가요' (I go to school) vs. '친구에게 선물을 줘요' (I give a gift to a friend).
- 이/가Subject Marker
The subject marker 이/가 is often used in sentences with 에 to mark what exists at a certain location. For example, in '교실에 학생이 있어요' (There is a student in the classroom), '학생이' is the subject that exists at the location '교실에'.
- 에 / 에서 / 로Location Particles
A comparison of location particles to help you choose the right one.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.