7. Korean Particles "에" and "에서"

 

Korean Particles "에" and "에서" Explained for Beginners

In Korean, the particles 에 and 에서 are both used with places, but they have different meanings and functions.

✅ 에 → "To" or "At" (used for locations, directions, and time)
✅ 에서 → "At" or "From" (used for actions and starting points)

Let’s go through each one with examples and learn how they are different! 😊

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1. 에 – Location & Direction ("To, At")

The particle 에 is used to indicate where something is or where someone is going. It answers the question "Where?"

🔹 Sentence Structure:

👉 Place + 에 + Verb (있다, 없다, 가다, 오다, 다니다, 살다, etc.)

Verb Meaning Example Sentence Translation

있다	To be (exist)	학교에 있어요.	I am at school.
없다	To not be (not exist)	집에 없어요.	I am not at home.
가다	To go	공원에 가요.	I go to the park.
오다	To come	회사에 와요.	I come to the office.
다니다	To attend	대학교에 다녀요.	I attend university.
살다	To live	서울에 살아요.	I live in Seoul.

📌 Tip: 에 is mostly used with verbs that describe existence (있다/없다), movement (가다/오다), or state (살다, 다니다).

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2. 에서 – Action & Starting Point ("At, From")

The particle 에서 is used to indicate where an action happens or where something starts from. It answers the question "Where (does something happen)?" or "From where?"

🔹 Sentence Structure:

👉 Place + 에서 + Action Verb
👉 Place + 에서 + 출발하다 / 오다 / 떠나다 (used for departure points)

Verb Meaning Example Sentence Translation

공부하다	To study	도서관에서 공부해요.	I study at the library.
먹다	To eat	식당에서 밥을 먹어요.	I eat at the restaurant.
놀다	To hang out	친구랑 카페에서 놀아요.	I hang out with my friend at the café.
사다	To buy	백화점에서 옷을 샀어요.	I bought clothes at the department store.
시작하다	To start	학교에서 수업이 시작해요.	The class starts at school.
출발하다	To depart	부산에서 출발해요.	I depart from Busan.

📌 Tip: 에서 is mostly used with action verbs (먹다, 공부하다, 일하다, etc.) or verbs related to departure and origin (출발하다, 오다, 떠나다).

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3. Comparing 에 vs. 에서

Sentence Meaning

학교에 가요.	I go to school. (Destination)
학교에서 공부해요.	I study at school. (Action happening at school)
카페에 있어요.	I am at the café. (Location)
카페에서 커피를 마셔요.	I drink coffee at the café. (Action)
서울에 살아요.	I live in Seoul. (State)
서울에서 왔어요.	I came from Seoul. (Origin)

📌 Key Differences:
✅ 에 – "Where something is" or "Where you go"
✅ 에서 – "Where an action happens" or "Where something starts from"

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4. Useful Location Vocabulary (장소 단어)

Korean English

학교	School
집	Home
공원	Park
병원	Hospital
회사	Company / Office
은행	Bank
도서관	Library
식당	Restaurant
카페	Café
백화점	Department store
극장	Movie theater
공항	Airport
기차역	Train station
시장	Market

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🎯 Quick Quiz (Test Yourself!)

1️⃣ Choose the correct particle (에 or 에서):
🔹 저는 서울(에 / 에서) 살아요.
🔹 도서관(에 / 에서) 공부해요.
🔹 친구가 집(에 / 에서) 있어요.
🔹 공항(에 / 에서) 출발했어요.
🔹 식당(에 / 에서) 밥을 먹었어요.

2️⃣ Translate into Korean:
🔹 "I am at home."
🔹 "I eat lunch at a restaurant."
🔹 "I go to the bank."
🔹 "I came from Busan."

Comment your answers below! ⬇️😊