This and that
이, 그, 저 and the words built on them.
Korean has three words for "this" and "that". They go before a noun.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 이 i | this, near me | 이 책 i chaek this book |
| 그 geu | that, near you, or the one just mentioned | 그 책 geu chaek that book |
| 저 jeo | that over there, away from us both | 저 책 jeo chaek that book over there |
They make whole families of words:
| 이 | 그 | 저 | Question | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thing | 이것 igeot | 그것 geugeot | 저것 jeogeot | 어느 것 eoneu geot which one |
| thing, spoken | 이거 igeo | 그거 geugeo | 저거 jeogeo | 어느 거 eoneu geo which one |
| place | 여기 yeogi here | 거기 geogi there | 저기 jeogi over there | 어디 eodi where |
| this way | 이렇게 ireoke | 그렇게 geureoke | 저렇게 jeoreoke | 어떻게 eotteoke how |
| this kind of | 이런 ireon | 그런 geureon | 저런 jeoreon | 어떤 eotteon what kind of |
- igeo eolmayeyo?How much is this?
- jeogi isseoyo.It's over there.
- geureoke haseyo.Please do that.
그 for what was said
그 also points back to something just mentioned, even if it is nowhere near: 그 영화 "that film (we talked about)". 그래서 "so" and 그런데 "but, by the way" are built on it.
Short forms in speech
With particles, 이것, 그것 and 저것 shorten in speech:
| Full | Short | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이것이 | 이게 ige | this (subject) |
| 이것은 | 이건 igeon | this (topic) |
| 이것을 | 이걸 igeol | this (object) |
| 그것이 | 그게 geuge | that (subject) |
- ige mwoyeyo?What's this?
Which: 어느 and 무슨
어느 asks which of a known set; 무슨 asks what kind: 어느 나라 사람이에요? "which country are you from?", 무슨 음식을 좋아해요? "what kind of food do you like?"
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and sentences cards.
Which word means 'that' for something near the listener: 이, 그 or 저?
그.
Which word means 'that one over there', away from both of you?
저: 저 건물 'that building over there'.
How do you ask 'How much is this?' with 얼마 (how much)?
이거 얼마예요?
How do you say 'here', 'there' and 'over there'?
여기, 거기, 저기.
What is 이것이 (this, as subject) shortened to in speech?
이게 (ige).
What does 그 mean in 그 영화 when the film was just being talked about?
That film, the one mentioned.
How do you say 'like this' or 'this way'?
이렇게 (ireoke).
어느 or 무슨: which asks 'which country'?
어느: 어느 나라 'which country'.