If you're an English speaker—especially from the U.S.—learning Korean, one of the first confusing concepts you'll encounter is the difference between 은/는 and 이/가. These tiny particles carry a lot of meaning and affect the structure of your sentences.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what these particles do, how they’re different, and when to use each—explained in simple terms just for you.
What Are Particles in Korean?
Korean particles are markers attached to nouns to show what role that noun plays in the sentence. Unlike English, which uses word order, Korean relies heavily on these markers to indicate subjects, topics, objects, and more.
은/는 — Topic Markers
The particles 은 (eun) and 는 (neun) introduce or emphasize the topic of the sentence. It tells the listener: “Here’s what I’m talking about.”
Example:
저는 학생입니다. → "As for me, I am a student."
The topic is me; the sentence is about who I am.
Use 은 after a consonant, and 는 after a vowel.
이/가 — Subject Markers
이 (i) and 가 (ga) are subject markers. They highlight the noun that is doing the action or being described.
Example:
고양이가 귀여워요. → "The cat is cute."
Here, the cat is the subject—it’s the thing being described.
Use 이 after a consonant, and 가 after a vowel.
The Key Difference
- 은/는 tells us what the conversation is about.
- 이/가 tells us who or what is performing an action or being described.
Contrast with 은/는
은/는 can also be used to contrast two different topics.
저는 학생이에요. 친구는 선생님이에요.
"I'm a student. (But) my friend is a teacher."
So When Should You Use Each?
- Use 은/는 to introduce a new topic or make general statements.
- Use 이/가 when identifying or emphasizing the subject in a specific context.
You Can Use Both!
Sometimes both topic and subject markers appear in the same sentence—and that’s perfectly normal.
저는 고양이가 좋아요. → "As for me, I like cats."
저는 sets the topic (me), and 고양이가 is the subject (cats).
Final Thoughts
Learning when to use 은/는 vs 이/가 can take time, but it gets easier with practice. Read lots of examples, listen to native speakers, and try using both in your own sentences. You’ve got this!
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If you're learning Korean, understanding the culture can make your studies more meaningful. For example, this article about Gyeongbokgung Palace explores a historic site that often appears in Korean language and culture lessons.