Nouns: Genitive Case Marker '의'

01

Pronunciation of '의 (ŭi)'

While the particle is written as 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy), its pronunciation changes when it functions as a possession marker. In standard spoken Korean, it is most commonly pronounced as e (similar to the 'e' in 'bed').

You will hear native speakers pronounce it as e, but you must always write it as 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy).

• 친구의 이름

  chʰin·gu·ŭi i·rŭmchin·gu·ui i·reumch'in·gu·ŭi i·rŭmchin·ku·uy i·lum

  Friend's name (Pronounced: chʰin·gu·e i·rŭm)

• 사람의 마음

  sa·ram·ŭi ma·ŭmsa·ram·ui ma·eumsa·ram·ŭi ma·ŭmsa·lam·uy ma·um

  Person's heart (Pronounced: sa·ram·e ma·ŭm)

02

Possessive Pronouns (My, Your)

When 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy) is combined with basic pronouns like "I" or "You", the forms often contract into a single syllable. These contracted forms are used much more frequently than the full forms.

• My (Polite): 저 (jŏjeojŏce) + 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy) becomes 제 (jejejecey).
• My (Casual): 나 (na) + 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy) becomes 내 (nænaenaenay).
• Your (Casual): 너 (nŏneonŏne) + 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy) becomes 네 (neneneney). Note: In speech, 네 (neneneney) is often pronounced as ni to distinguish it from 내 (nænaenaenay).

• 제 전화번호입니다.

  je jŏn·hwa·bŏn·ho·im·ni·da.je jeon·hwa·beon·ho·im·ni·da.je jŏn·hwa·bŏn·ho·im·ni·da.cey cen·hwa·pen·ho·im·ni·ta.

  It is my phone number.

• 그것은 내 가방이야.

  kŭ·gŏs·ŭn næ ka·bang·i·ya.geu·geos·eun nae ga·bang·i·ya.kŭ·gŏs·ŭn nae ka·bang·i·ya.ku·kes·un nay ka·pang·i·ya.

  That is my bag.

• 네 생각은 어때?

  ne sæng·gag·ŭn ŏ·ddæ?ne saeng·gag·eun eo·ddae?ne saeng·gag·ŭn ŏ·ttae?ney sayng·kag·un e·ttay?

  What are your thoughts?

03

Using 'Our' instead of 'My'

Koreans frequently use the word 우리 (u·riu·riu·riu·li) - we/our - instead of "my" when referring to collective groups or shared possessions. This is culturally significant and applies even when the speaker is the sole owner in a legal sense.

Common words used with 우리 (u·riu·riu·riu·li) include family members, house, school, country, and company.

• 우리 엄마

  u·ri ŏm·mau·ri eom·mau·ri ŏm·mau·li em·ma

  My mom (literally: our mom)

• 우리 집

  u·ri jipu·ri jipu·ri jipu·li cip

  My house (literally: our house)

• 우리 학교

  u·ri hak·gyou·ri hak·gyou·ri hak·gyou·li hak·kyo

  My school (literally: our school)

04

Omitting the Particle

In casual conversation, the particle 의 (ŭiuiŭiuy) is frequently omitted if the relationship between the two nouns is obvious. This is similar to how English uses noun adjuncts (e.g., "Seoul station" instead of "Seoul's station").

• 서울 대학교

  sŏ·ul dæ·hak·gyoseo·ul dae·hak·gyosŏ·ul dae·hak·gyose·ul tay·hak·kyo

  Seoul University (instead of Seoul's University)

• 김 선생님 가방

  gim sŏn·sæng·nim ka·banggim seon·saeng·nim ga·banggim sŏn·saeng·nim ka·bangkim sen·sayng·nim ka·pang

  Mr. Kim's bag (particle dropped)