| The
use of pronoun can be omitted when not needed if the the listener is clear
about who or what is being refered to in a sentenced for example, A can ask B
"밥을 먹었어요?" (You've eaten?) and clearly the question is about B; the
listener. In return, B can reply a plain "네, 먹었어요." (Yes, I have
eaten.) without ever using '저' too, as it remains clear in this conversation
that the subject is B. |
| | | | | |
| | English | 한국어 | | |
| Casual/Intimate | Polite | | |
| 1st person | I | 나 | 저 | *Korean has no true third person pronoun and instead use
this/that/these/those with a noun (e.g. man, woman, thing, people and so on)
to refer to the third person) E.g. : 그녀, 그 사람, 그 남자, 그 여자, 그 분. |
| 2nd person | you | 너 | 당신 |
| 1st person | us | 우리 | 우리 |
| 3rd person | she/he/that
person | 그 | 그분 |
| 3rd person | they | 그들 | 그들 | | |
| | | | | |
| Possesive pronoun | | |
| 1st person | my/mine | 나의 (shortened: 내) | 저의 (shortened: 제) | | |
| 2nd person | your
(singular) | 너의
(shortened:네 pronounced as 니) | 당신의 | | |
| 2nd person | your
(plural) | 너희 | 당신들의 | -의
suffix indicates possesion |
| 2nd person | our | 우리/우리의 | 우리/우리의 | -들
suffix indicates plurarity |
| 3rd person | his/her | 그의 | 그분의 | | |
| 3rd person | their | 그들의 | 그들의 | | |
| | | | | |
The use of '우리' although means 'our' or 'us', its is always used
in replace of 'my' to appear humble e.g. 우리 남편, 우리 아보지, 우리 누나. It may sound strange for Westerners but
this is actually a common practise in Asia.
In fact to refer person as '우리 (name)' is considered a sign of
endearment towards that person.
|
| Most times 2nd and 3rd person use titles and names. This is because refering to another '당신' is
too direct and considered impolite and rather is only reserved to emphasis a
point. However in the casual manner,
using '너' is acceptable if two persons are very close or refering to a much
younger person. A more respectful way
is to refer the 2nd or 3rd person with their titles and names with suffix -씨.
Examples below: - |
| | | | | |
| mom |
| | -님 is an honorific suffix for titles | |
| dad | 아빠 | | -씨 is a
respecful suffix for names (both male and females) | |
| mother | 어머니 | | |
| father | 아버지 | | | | |
| older brother | 형(called by a male),
어빠(called by a female) | | | |
| older sister | 누나(called by a male),
언니(called by a female) | | | |
| dear (married) | 여보 | | | | |
| son | 아들 | | | | |
| daugther | 딸 | | | | |
| senior | 선배 | | | | |
| junior | 후배/막내 | | | | |
| boss | 사장님 | | | | |
| teacher | 선생님 | | | | |
| professor | 교수님 | | | | |
| older woman | 아주마 | | | | |
| older man/mister | 아저시 | | | | |
| customer | 손님 | | | | |
| driver | 기사님
| | | | |
| Ji Won (name) | 지원씨 | | | | |
| Min Ha (name) | 민하씨 | | | |
|
