Particles

TOPIK 1 19 TOPIK 2 10 TOPIK 3 10 TOPIK 4 13 TOPIK 5 3 TOPIK 6 5

TOPIK 1 — 19 particles

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과 gwa 와 A postpositional word used to indicate the subject of comparison or the object that serves as a basis. 까지 kkaji A postpositional particle referring to the end of a certain range. 께서 kkeseo (honorific) '가,' '이'; a postpositional particle used to indicate that the subject of an act is elevated. 도 do A postpositional particle used to indicate an addition or inclusion of another thing to something that already exists. 만 man A postpositional particle used when limiting the field to one thing, excluding all the others. 보다 boda A postpositional particle that indicates the subject of a comparison when comparing different things. 부터 buteo 에서부터 A postpositional particle that indicates the start or beginning of something. 에 on; in; at 다가 · 에다가 A postpositional particle to indicate that the preceding statement refers to a certain place or space. 에게 ege 에게로 · 에게서 A postpositional particle that indicates whom a certain object belongs to. 에서 eseo 서 A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding word refers to a place where a certain action is being done. 으로 euro 로 A postpositional particle that indicates the direction of movement. 은 eun 는 · ㄴ A postpositional particle used to indicate that a certain subject contrasts with something else. 을 eul 를 · ㄹ A postpositional particle used to indicate the subject that an action has a direct influence on. 의 ui A postpositional particle used to indicate that the referent of the following word is owned by, belongs to, is related to, originates from, or is… 이 i 가 A postpositional particle referring to a subject under a certain state or situation, or the agent of an action. 이다 ida A predicate particle indicating the meaning of the attribute or category of the thing that the subject of the sentence refers to. 이랑 irang 랑 A postpositional particle used to indicate that something is being compared or used as a criterion for comparison. 하고 hago A postpositional particle used to indicate that something is the subject of, or a basis for, comparison. 한테 hante A postpositional particle referring to the ownership or location of an object.

TOPIK 2 — 10 particles

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께 kke (honorific) '에게'; a postpositional particle referring to the ownership or location of an object. 마다 mada A postpositional particle that means "everything without exception." 밖에 bakke A postpositional particle that means "except for that" or "other than that." 에게로 egero A postpositional particle used to indicate that the entity it is attached to is affected by a certain act. 에게서 egeseo A postpositional particle referring to the entity from which a certain act originates. 에다가 edaga 에다 A postpositional particle referring to a certain location. 에서부터 eseobuteo A postpositional particle that indicates something is the starting point of an action or event or it is the subject that causes it. 이나 ina 나 A postpositional particle used to indicate something is being chosen though it is not satisfactory. 처럼 cheoreom A postpositional particle used when something is similar or identical to something else in shape or level. 한테서 hanteseo A postpositional particle referring to the entity from which a certain act originates.

TOPIK 3 — 10 particles

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같이 gachi A postpositional particle used to indicate that there are similar characteristics to the preceding statement. 대로 daero A postpositional particle used when following what the preceding statement points to or doing something in such a way. 만큼 mankeum A postpositional particle indicating what is of a similar level or limit to the preceding words. 보고 bogo A postpositional particle used when something is the subject that an act has an influence on. 뿐 ppun A postpositional particle used when there is nothing more than the content of the preceding statement or when it is only so. 아 a 야 A postpositional particle used to address a friend, younger person, animal, etc. 요 yo A postpositional particle used to indicate respect for the other person, the subject who is shown respect. 으로부터 eurobuteo A postpositional particle that indicates something is the starting point of an action or event or it is the subject that causes it. 이고 igo 고 A postpositional particle used to list two or more things and choose them on an equal basis. 이라고 irago 라고 · 라 · 이라 A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding statement was a quote.

TOPIK 4 — 13 particles

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까지 kkaji A postpositional particle referring to the end of a certain range. 마저 majeo A postpositional particle that indicates the addition of the last remaining thing to the current state or amount. 으로서 euroseo 로서 A postpositional particle that indicates a status, position, or qualification. 으로써 eurosseo 로써 A postpositional particle that indicates the material or ingredients of an object. 이나마 inama 나마 A postpositional particle used to accept something even though it is displeasing or is in an insufficient condition. 이든 ideun 든 · 이든지 · 든지 A postpositional particle used when it does not matter which one is chosen. 이라도 irado 라도 A postpositional particle used to indicate that it is not the best option but the most acceptable among many options. 이란 iran 란 A postpositional particle used to explain or emphasize something by specially choosing it as the topic. 이며 imyeo 며 · 이니 · 니 A postpositional particle that connects two or more similar objects that are mentioned consecutively. 이면 imyeon 면 A postpositional particle used to list two or more things on an equal footing. 이야 iya 야 A postpositional particle used to emphasize the preceding word. 치고 chigo A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding statement is the same as the following statement without an exception. 커녕 keonyeong ㄴ커녕 · 는커녕 · 은커녕 A postpositional particle used to imply negation by emphasizing the preceding statement, while comparing it with the following statement.

TOPIK 5 — 3 particles

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따라 ttara A postpositional particle used to mean "different from the usual for no particular reason." 이라든가 iradeun-ga 라든가 · 이라든지 · 라든지 A postpositional particle used when listing things in which the choice of any one does not matter. 조차 jocha A postpositional particle to indicate an inclusion of extreme cases that are generally hard to predict.

TOPIK 6 — 5 particles

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깨나 kkaena A postpositional particle used to convey the meaning of "above average." 마는 maneun 만 A postpositional particle used when accepting the preceding content while also stating a question about it, a situation that contradicts to it, etc. 을랑 eullang A postpositional particle used to specify and point to a certain subject. 이라고 irago 라고 A postpositional particle used to indicate that one is not happy with the preceding statement. 이라면 -ramyeon 라면 A connective ending used when assuming a certain fact or situation.

Common questions

How many Korean particles are there?

The dictionary grades 60 of them across the six TOPIK levels, 19 at 1급, 10 at 2급, 10 at 3급, 13 at 4급, 3 at 5급, 5 at 6급. That is the graded set, not the complete set — but a learner who knows these has met every one that appears on a TOPIK paper.

Can I drop particles in Korean?

In casual speech, often yes — 밥 먹었어? drops the object marker and nobody notices. In writing, on a test, and whenever the sentence would otherwise be ambiguous, no. The one particle that is never dropped without changing the meaning is 은/는, because it is doing something word order cannot do.

Grammar definitions, usage notes and examples from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.