Nouns: Dative Case Markers

01

Spoken vs. Written Forms

한테 (han·tʰehan·tehan·t'ehan·they) is the colloquial form used most frequently in spoken Korean. You will use this when talking with friends, family, or in casual conversation.

• 친구한테 전화를 해요.

  chʰin·gu·han·tʰe jŏn·hwa·rŭl hæ·yo.chin·gu·han·te jeon·hwa·reul hae·yo.ch'in·gu·han·t'e jŏn·hwa·rŭl hae·yo.chin·ku·han·they cen·hwa·lul hay·yo.

  I am making a phone call to a friend.

• 저한테 말해 보세요.

  jŏ·han·tʰe mal·hæ bo·se·yo.jeo·han·te mal·hae bo·se·yo.jŏ·han·t'e mal·hae bo·se·yo.ce·han·they mal·hay po·sey·yo.

  Please try telling me.

에게 (e·gee·gee·geey·key) is slightly more formal. It is commonly found in written Korean (books, newspapers, lyrics) or very formal speeches, though it is also heard in speech.

• 학생들에게 한국어를 가르쳐요.

  hak·sæng·dŭ·re·ge han·gu·gŏ·rŭl ga·rŭ·chʰyŏ·yo.hak·saeng·deu·re·ge han·gu·geo·reul ga·reu·chyeo·yo.hak·saeng·dŭ·re·ge han·gu·gŏ·rŭl ga·rŭ·ch'yŏ·yo.hak·sayng·tu·ley·key han·ku·ke·lul ka·lu·chye·yo.

  I teach Korean to the students.

• 너에게 편지를 써.

  nŏ·e·ge pʰyŏn·ji·rŭl ssŏ.neo·e·ge pyeon·ji·reul sseo.nŏ·e·ge p'yŏn·ji·rŭl ssŏ.ne·ey·key phyen·ci·lul sse.

  I write a letter to you.

02

The Honorific Form '께'

When the person receiving the action is of higher social status (like a grandparent, a boss, or a teacher), you must use the honorific marker 께 (ggeggekkekkey) instead of 한테 (han·tʰehan·tehan·t'ehan·they) or 에게 (e·gee·gee·geey·key). This shows respect to the recipient.

This marker is often paired with the honorific verb 드리다 (dŭ·ri·dadeu·ri·dadŭ·ri·datu·li·ta), which is the polite version of "to give".

• 부모님께 선물을 드려요.

  bu·mo·nim·gge sŏn·mu·rŭl dŭ·ryŏ·yo.bu·mo·nim·gge seon·mu·reul deu·ryeo·yo.bu·mo·nim·kke sŏn·mu·rŭl dŭ·ryŏ·yo.pu·mo·nim·kkey sen·mu·lul tu·lye·yo.

  I give a present to my parents.

• 선생님께 물어봤어요.

  sŏn·sæng·nim·gge mu·rŏ·bwa·ssŏ·yo.seon·saeng·nim·gge mu·reo·bwa·sseo·yo.sŏn·saeng·nim·kke mu·rŏ·bwa·ssŏ·yo.sen·sayng·nim·kkey mu·le·pwa·sse·yo.

  I asked the teacher.

03

Animate vs. Inanimate Targets

A crucial rule for 한테 (han·tʰehan·tehan·t'ehan·they), 에게 (e·gee·gee·geey·key), and 께 (ggeggekkekkey) is that they can only be attached to nouns representing people or animals (animate objects).

If the target of the action is a place, a building, a plant, or an inanimate object, you must use the location/direction marker 에 (eeeey) instead.

• 강아지한테 밥을 줘요.

  gang·a·ji·han·tʰe ba·bŭl jwŏ·yo.gang·a·ji·han·te ba·beul jwŏ·yo.gang·a·ji·han·t'e ba·bŭl jwŏ·yo.kang·a·ci·han·they pa·pul jwŏ·yo.

  I give food to the puppy. (Animate)

• 학교에 가요.

  hak·gyo·e ga·yo.hak·gyo·e ga·yo.hak·gyo·e ga·yo.hak·kyo·ey ka·yo.

  I go to school. (Inanimate/Place)

• 나무에 물을 줘요.

  na·mu·e mu·rŭl jwŏ·yo.na·mu·e mu·reul jwŏ·yo.na·mu·e mu·rŭl jwŏ·yo.na·mu·ey mu·lul jwŏ·yo.

  I give water to the tree. (Inanimate)

04

Meaning "From"

These markers can also mean from when used with verbs that imply receiving or learning, such as 받다 (bat·dabat·dabat·dapat·ta) - to receive, 듣다 (dŭt·dadeut·dadŭt·datut·ta) - to hear, or 배우다 (bæ·u·dabae·u·dabae·u·dapay·u·ta) - to learn. The context of the verb flips the direction of the action.

To be more specific, you can add 서 (sŏseosŏse) to make 한테서 (han·tʰe·sŏhan·te·seohan·t'e·sŏhan·they·se) or 에게서 (e·ge·sŏe·ge·seoe·ge·sŏey·key·se), which explicitly means "from", but the short form is very common.

• 오빠한테 돈을 받았어요.

  o·bba·han·tʰe do·nŭl ba·da·ssŏ·yo.o·bba·han·te do·neul ba·da·sseo·yo.o·ppa·han·t'e do·nŭl ba·da·ssŏ·yo.o·ppa·han·they to·nul pa·ta·sse·yo.

  I received money from my older brother.

• 친구에게서 소식을 들었어요.

  chʰin·gu·e·ge·sŏ so·si·gŭl dŭ·rŏ·ssŏ·yo.chin·gu·e·ge·seo so·si·geul deu·reo·sseo·yo.ch'in·gu·e·ge·sŏ so·si·gŭl dŭ·rŏ·ssŏ·yo.chin·ku·ey·key·se so·si·kul tu·le·sse·yo.

  I heard the news from a friend.