Topic Marker '는/은' — Korean Grammar

The topic markers (ŭneunŭnun) and (nŭnneunnŭnnun) are particles attached to a noun to indicate what the sentence is talking about. They mark the "topic" of the conversation, which can be translated as "As for X..." or "Regarding X...".

Form: Consonants vs. Vowels

The choice between (ŭneunŭnun) and (nŭnneunnŭnnun) depends entirely on the sound that precedes it.

1. After a Vowel: Use 는 (nŭn)

If the noun ends in a vowel, attach (nŭnneunnŭnnun).

저는 학생입니다.
jŏ·nŭn hak·sæng·im·ni·da.jeo·neun hak·saeng·im·ni·da.jŏ·nŭn hak·saeng·im·ni·da.ce·nun hak·sayng·im·ni·ta.
I am a student.
사과는 맛있어요.
sa·gwa·nŭn mas·iss·ŏ·yo.sa·gwa·neun mas·iss·eo·yo.sa·gwa·nŭn mas·iss·ŏ·yo.sa·kwa·nun mas·iss·e·yo.
Apples are delicious.

2. After a Consonant: Use 은 (ŭn)

If the noun ends in a consonant ( (bat·chʰimbat·chimbat·ch'impat·chim)), attach (ŭneunŭnun). This makes the pronunciation smoother by carrying the consonant sound over to the next syllable.

물은 중요해요.
mu·lŭn jung·yo·hæ·yo.mu·leun jung·yo·hae·yo.mu·lŭn jung·yo·hae·yo.mu·lun cung·yo·hay·yo.
Water is important.
이것은 책이에요.
i·gŏs·ŭn chæk·i·e·yo.i·geos·eun jaek·i·e·yo.i·gŏs·ŭn chaek·i·e·yo.i·kes·un cayk·i·ey·yo.
This is a book.

Function 1: Setting the Topic

The primary function is to introduce a topic before making a comment about it. It sets the stage for the sentence. In English, this is often done by stress or intonation, but Korean uses these particles.

오늘 날씨는 좋습니다.
o·nŭl nal·ssi·nŭn choh·sŭm·ni·da.o·neul nal·ssi·neun joh·seum·ni·da.o·nŭl nal·ssi·nŭn choh·sŭm·ni·da.o·nul nal·ssi·nun coh·sum·ni·ta.
(As for) today's weather, it is good.
제 이름은 김민수입니다.
je i·rŭm·ŭn gim·min·su·im·ni·da.je i·reum·eun gim·min·su·im·ni·da.je i·rŭm·ŭn gim·min·su·im·ni·da.cey i·lum·un kim·min·su·im·ni·ta.
(As for) my name, it is Kim Min-su.

Function 2: Contrast and Comparison

One of the most distinct uses of (ŭn/nŭneun/nŭnŭn/nŭnun/nŭn) is to create contrast. When you use these markers, you often imply that the statement applies to this specific subject, but perhaps not to others.

If you say "The coffee is good" using (nŭnneunnŭnnun), it can imply "The coffee is good (but the donut is bad)."

커피는 좋아요.
kʰŏ·pʰi·nŭn choh·a·yo.keo·pi·neun joh·a·yo.k'ŏ·p'i·nŭn choh·a·yo.khe·phi·nun coh·a·yo.
Coffee is good (implying: unlike other drinks).
저는 미국 사람이에요.
jŏ·nŭn mi·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.jeo·neun mi·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.jŏ·nŭn mi·guk sa·ram·i·e·yo.ce·nun mi·kuk sa·lam·i·ey·yo.
I am American (implying: unlike the others here).

Function 3: General Truths and Definitions

When stating general facts, definitions, or universal truths that are generally known, the topic marker is preferred over the subject marker.

치타는 빠릅니다.
chʰi·tʰa·nŭn bba·rŭm·ni·da.chi·ta·neun bba·reum·ni·da.ch'i·t'a·nŭn ppa·rŭm·ni·da.chi·tha·nun ppa·lum·ni·ta.
Cheetahs are fast.
서울은 한국의 수도입니다.
sŏ·u·rŭn han·guk·ŭi su·do·im·ni·da.seo·u·reun han·guk·ui su·do·im·ni·da.sŏ·u·rŭn han·guk·ŭi su·do·im·ni·da.se·u·lun han·kuk·uy su·to·im·ni·ta.
Seoul is the capital of Korea.

Topic Marker vs. Subject Marker

Learners often confuse the topic marker ( (ŭn/nŭneun/nŭnŭn/nŭnun/nŭn)) with the subject marker ( (i/ga)). While both can mark the subject of a sentence, the nuance differs:

(i/ga) (Subject Marker): Focuses on the subject itself. It answers "Who?" or "What?". It introduces new information.
(ŭn/nŭneun/nŭnŭn/nŭnun/nŭn) (Topic Marker): Focuses on the description or action following the subject. It answers "What about X?". It discusses old/known information.

누가 왔어요?
nu·ga wass·ŏ·yo?nu·ga wass·eo·yo?nu·ga wass·ŏ·yo?nu·ka wass·e·yo?
Who came? (Focus on "Who")
친구가 왔어요.
chin·gu·ga wass·ŏ·yo?jin·gu·ga wass·eo·yo?chin·gu·ga wass·ŏ·yo?cin·ku·ka wass·e·yo?
A friend came. (Answering the specific question)

친구는 뭐 해요?
chin·gu·nŭn mwŏ hæ·yo?jin·gu·neun mwŏ hae·yo?chin·gu·nŭn mwŏ hae·yo?cin·ku·nun mwŏ hay·yo?
What is your friend doing? (Focus on the action)
친구는 자요.
chin·gu·nŭn ja·yo?jin·gu·neun ja·yo?chin·gu·nŭn ja·yo?cin·ku·nun ca·yo?
My friend is sleeping. (Describing the topic)

Contractions in Spoken Korean

In casual conversation, the topic marker is often shortened or merged with the noun.

(na·nŭnna·neunna·nŭnna·nun) (I am) becomes (nan).
(nŏ·nŭnneo·neunnŏ·nŭnne·nun) (You are) becomes (nŏnneonnŏnnen).
(i·gŏs·ŭni·geos·euni·gŏs·ŭni·kes·un) (This thing) becomes (i·gŏni·geoni·gŏni·ken).

난 배고파.
nan bæ·go·pʰa.nan bae·go·pa.nan bae·go·p'a.nan pay·ko·pha.
I'm hungry.
이건 뭐야?
i·gŏn mwŏ·ya?i·geon mwŏ·ya?i·gŏn mwŏ·ya?i·ken mwŏ·ya?
What is this?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Korean course

222 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 2. A few of them, with the words “Topic Marker '는/은'” is about in bold:

이쪽은 내 친구 안나야. 학생이야.
i·jjog·ŭn næ chʰin·gu an·na ya. hak·sæng i·ya.i·jjog·eun nae chin·gu an·na ya. hak·saeng i·ya.i·tchog·ŭn nae ch'in·gu an·na ya. hak·saeng i·ya.i·ccog·un nay chin·ku an·na ya. hak·sayng i·ya.
This is my friend, Anna. She is a student. (cas.)
Lesson 2
그도 자고 있어요. 그녀는 아니에요.
kŭ do ja·go iss·ŏ·yo. kŭ·nyŏ·nŭn a·ni·e·yo.geu do ja·go iss·eo·yo. geu·nyeo·neun a·ni·e·yo.kŭ do ja·go iss·ŏ·yo. kŭ·nyŏ·nŭn a·ni·e·yo.ku to ca·ko iss·e·yo. ku·nye·nun a·ni·ey·yo.
He is also sleeping. She isn't.
Lesson 16
이 물은 차가워요. 저 물은 뜨거워요.
i mur·ŭn chʰa·ga·wo·yo. chŏ mur·ŭn ttŭ·gŏ·wo·yo.i mur·eun cha·ga·wo·yo. jeo mur·eun ddeu·geo·wo·yo.i mur·ŭn ch'a·ga·wŏ·yo. chŏ mur·ŭn ttŭ·gŏ·wŏ·yo.i mur·un cha·ka·we·yo. ce mur·un ttu·ke·we·yo.
This water is cold. That water is hot.
Lesson 68

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