은/는
Topic Marker
은/는 is a particle that marks the topic. Use 는 after a vowel (사과 + 는) and 은 after a consonant (책 + 은).
How It Works
은/는 is one of the most fundamental particles in Korean. It attaches to nouns to indicate what the sentence is about (the topic). It's often translated as 'as for...' or 'regarding...'.
Attachment Rules:
The form you use depends on whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- Nouns ending in a consonant + 은
책 + 은 → 책은 (The book)
학생 + 은 → 학생은 (The student) - Nouns ending in a vowel + 는
저 + 는 → 저는 (I)
사과 + 는 → 사과는 (The apple)
Main Functions:
1. Introducing a Topic
Use 은/는 to introduce a new topic or to state a general, factual statement about something.
Example: 저는 학생입니다. (As for me, I am a student.)
Here, '저' (I) is the topic we are going to talk about.
2. Showing Contrast
은/는 is also used to contrast two things. When used this way, it puts emphasis on the difference.
Example: 사과는 맛있어요. 그런데 바나나는 맛없어요. (Apples are delicious. But bananas are not.)
The use of 는 on both 사과 and 바나나 highlights the comparison between them.
Topic vs. Subject (이/가)
For beginners, this is a tricky point. Think of it this way:
- 은/는 (Topic): 'As for X, ...' (Sets the general topic)
- 이/가 (Subject): 'X is the one that...' (Identifies the specific actor)
You'll learn more about this distinction as you advance.
Examples (4)
- 저는 학생입니다.
I am a student.
Word by Word: I-topic student am.
Here, '저' (I) is introduced as the topic of the sentence. 는 is used because 저 ends in a vowel.
- 이 책은 재미있어요.
This book is interesting.
Word by Word: This book-topic is interesting.
The topic is 'this book'. 은 is used because 책 ends in a consonant (ㄱ).
- 오늘은 날씨가 좋아요.
The weather is nice today.
Word by Word: Today-topic weather-subject is good.
'오늘' (today) is the main topic. The sentence then gives information about the weather on this topic day.
- 형은 키가 커요. 동생은 키가 작아요.
My older brother is tall. My younger sibling is short.
Word by Word: Older brother-topic height-subject is big. Younger sibling-topic height-subject is small.
This example shows contrast. 은 is used on both '형' (older brother) and '동생' (younger sibling) to highlight the difference in their height.
Common Mistakes
Using 은/는 instead of 이/가 when asking 'who' or 'what'.
Not Quite누구는 왔어요?Better누가 왔어요?When asking a question like 'Who came?', you are trying to identify the specific subject who performed the action. Therefore, you must use the subject marker 이/가. Using 은/는 would sound like 'As for who, did they come?', which is unnatural.
Confusing the topic with the subject in every sentence.
Different Meaning어제 영화는 봤어요.Better어제 영화를 봤어요.In the sentence 'I watched a movie yesterday,' the movie is the object of the verb 'watch', not the topic. Therefore, it should be marked with the object marker 을/를. You would only use '영화는' if you were contrasting it, e.g., '영화는 봤지만, 책은 안 읽었어요' (I watched the movie, but I didn't read the book).
Related Patterns
- 이/가Subject Marker
이/가 is the subject marker, while 은/는 is the topic marker. They are often confused. 이/가 identifies who/what performs an action, while 은/는 sets the general topic of conversation or shows contrast.
- 을/를Object Marker
을/를 is the object marker. While 은/는 marks the topic (what the sentence is about), 을/를 marks the noun that receives the action of the verb.
- Core sentence particles
은/는 is one of the core sentence particles in Korean, along with the subject marker 이/가 and the object marker 을/를. Understanding these three is essential for building basic sentences.
- 이다To Be
The topic marker 은/는 is very frequently used with 이다 ('to be') to state facts or definitions about the topic. For example, '저는 학생입니다' (I am a student).
- 이/가 / 은/는Subject vs. Topic Marker
A helpful comparison explaining when to choose topic marker vs subject marker.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.