Learn Korean - For Beginners [ Monthly Update ]

How to say "this" and "that" in Korean

There are three ways of saying "this" and "that". Here are the three forms:

1. 이 - i (this)
2. 그 - keu (that)
3. 저 - jeo (that)

All three of these forms are placed before the noun. Here are a few examples with the first form "이".

이
Just like in English this form is used when talking about something close to you or something you are holding.

이 여자 - i yeo-ja = This woman

이 사람 - i sa-ram = This person

이 의자 - i oui-ja = This chair

Another example:

이것 좋아 - i-keot - jo-a = I like this thing

이것 += This thing (the "ㅅ" / "t" in 이것 - i-keot is silent).

그
In English there is only one form for "that". In Korean there are teo forms. 그 And 저. 그 is when talking about something that has been mentioned previously in your conversation or when "that" something is further away from you.

Let's look at a few examples of the second form "그".

그 남자 - keu nam-ja = that man

그 차 - keu cha = that car

그 탁자 - keu tak-ja = that table

Just like the previous example this one can be put with "것" as well! Let's look at it.

그것 좋아 - keu-keot jo-a = I like that thing

그것 - keu-keot = that thing

(the "ㅅ" / "t" in 그것 - keu-keot is silent).

저
This is the second form of "that". This form is used when talking about something far away like for example a country or something that you can see but can't touch because it's far away.

Here are a few examples:

저 새 - jeo sae = that bird
저 집 - jeo jib = that house
저 국가 - jeo kuk-ka = that country

저것 좋아 - jeo-keot jo-a = I like that thing

저것 - jeo-keot = That thing

(the "ㅅ" / "t" in 저것 - jeo-keot is silent).