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은/는

eun / neun

Why Korean says 나는, not 내가

The picture Switching on a stage light before you speak: this is what we are talking about now. Whatever the light misses goes dark on its own.

Particles

Where the picture shows up in 은/는

  1. what the light is on

    오늘 야간 근무예요.

    jeo-neun o-neul ya-gan geun-mu-ye-yo

    I'm on the night shift today.

  2. two lights

    커피데 우유 없어요.

    keo-pi-neun in-neun-de u-yu-neun eop-seo-yo

    We have coffee, but no milk.

  3. already lit

    그 서류 과장님이 가져갔어요.

    geu seo-ryu-neun gwa-jang-ni-mi ga-jeo-ga-sseo-yo

    That document — the manager took it.

  4. moving the light

    오늘 좀 쉬세요.

    o-neu-reun jom swi-se-yo

    Today at least, get some rest.

  5. a wide beam

    한국 여름에 비가 많이 와요.

    han-gu-geun yeo-reu-me bi-ga ma-ni wa-yo

    In Korea it rains a lot in summer.

    한국이 비가 와요 is about right now; 한국은 is about how it always is.

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