What are common mistakes with 주제 조사 은/는?

Learners either overuse 은/는 everywhere or confuse it with 이/가. The concept of 'topic' as distinct from 'subject' doesn't exist in European languages. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English has no topic marker. Speakers default to always using 은/는 because it feels like 'the'. Key: 은/는 = 'as for X', 이/가 = 'X is the one who'. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German has no topic particle either. However, German topicalization (moving elements to position 1) is conceptually similar: 'Kaffee trinke ich gern' ≈ 커피는 좋아해요. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian uses word order for topic/focus (known info first), which is conceptually similar. But having an explicit particle for it is new.

조사A1

Topic Marker 은/는

Topic marker particles 은/는 — marking the topic of a sentence

Learning Goal

Can use 은/는 to mark the topic of a sentence, including contrast

Exam Skills:쓰기읽기

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

저는 한국 사람이에요.

I am Korean.

날씨는 좋아요.

The weather is nice.

사과는 좋아요. 바나나는 싫어요.

I like apples. I don't like bananas.

이름은 뭐예요?

What is your name?

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

주제 조사 은/는 — Topic Marker

The topic markers 은 and 는 are among the most important and unique features of Korean grammar. They mark the topic of a sentence — what the sentence is about.

Form:

Condition	Marker	Example
After consonant (받침)	은	선생님은 (teacher + topic)
After vowel (no 받침)	는	저는 (I + topic)

When to use 은/는:

Introducing a topic: 저는 학생이에요. = As for me, I'm a student.
Contrast: 커피는 좋아요. 차는 싫어요. = Coffee, I like. Tea, I don't like.
General statements: 한국어는 재미있어요. = Korean is fun (in general).

Topic vs Subject (은/는 vs 이/가):

This is the #1 grammar challenge in Korean. The key difference:

Marker	Function	English feel
은/는	Topic (what we're talking about)	"As for X..." / "Speaking of X..."
이/가	Subject (who does the action — new info)	"X is the one who..."

Tip: 은/는 often translates to nothing in English — it's a discourse marker that doesn't exist in European languages.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners either overuse 은/는 everywhere or confuse it with 이/가. The concept of 'topic' as distinct from 'subject' doesn't exist in European languages. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English has no topic marker. Speakers default to always using 은/는 because it feels like 'the'. Key: 은/는 = 'as for X', 이/가 = 'X is the one who'.

저는 한국 사람이에요.

I am Korean.

저 + 는 (topic): 'As for me, I'm Korean.' 는 is used because 저 ends in a vowel.

날씨는 좋아요.

The weather is nice.

날씨 (weather) + 는 (topic): 'As for the weather, it's nice.' General statement about a known topic.

사과는 좋아요. 바나나는 싫어요.

I like apples. I don't like bananas.

Contrast use: 사과는 (as for apples) vs 바나나는 (as for bananas). The 는 highlights the comparison between two topics.

이름은 뭐예요?

What is your name?

이름 (name) + 은 (topic, after consonant ㅁ): 'As for (your) name, what is it?' This is the standard way to ask someone's name.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

Topic Marker 은/는

주제 조사 은/는 — Topic Marker

Common Error Patterns

Put it into practice

Frequently asked questions