HOW TO Use 의 | Using the Korean Possessive Particle

Q: Can "의" be used with verbs in Korean?

No, "의" cannot be used with verbs in Korean. It is only used to indicate possession or a relationship between two nouns. To indicate an action or a verb's subject or object, other particles like "을/를" or "이/가" are used. For example, "나는 한국어를 공부합니다." (I study Korean.) Here, "을" is used to indicate the object "한국어" (Korean) that the speaker studies.

Q: What are some other Korean particles?

Here are some more Korean particles: 이/가 (i/ga): marks the subject of a sentence or clause 을/를 (eul/reul): marks the direct object of a sentence or clause 에 (e): indicates a location or a time 으로/로 (euro/ro): indicates a direction

Q: Can I learn Korean with LTL Language School?

Yes! Learn Korean with a professional live teacher online on Flexi Classes , or in person in Seoul ( group and/or individual classes). Feel free to contact us if you need to speak directly with a LTL Student Advisor.

Home A1 Possessive Particle 의

KOREAN POSSESSIVE PARTICLE

Korean language uses particles to indicate the different roles of nouns within a sentence.

We already mentioned in another lesson, that particles 이/가 are used for subjects, and 을/를 are used for objects.

We will walk you through on how to use the Korean particle 의.

BASIC STRUCTURE WITH 의

The basic structure for using 의 is very simple – you just have to add 의 next to the possessing noun as a suffix.

PATTERN

Noun + 의

The structure is very similar to how the possessive form ‘s is used in English.

Let’s take a few examples:

^{jonggugui keompyuteo}

종국의 컴퓨터

_{Jong-Guk’s computer}

^{minaui gabang}

미나의 가방

_{Mina’s bag}

^{hakgyoui jeongwon}

학교의 정원

_{School’s garden}

This basic structure also applies to plurals and pronouns.

Here are a few examples of using 의 with pronouns:

^{naui haengbok}

나의 행복

_{My happiness}

^neoui juso

너의 주소

_{Your address}

^{jeoui chaegim}

저의 책임

_{My responsibility}

Finally, it is interesting to note that 의 can be used with interrogative pronouns as well.

The basic structure is the same:

^{nuguui jadongcha ipnikka?}

누구의 자동차 입니까?

_{Whose car is it?}

^{eonjeui girok ipnikka?}

언제의 기록 입니까?

_{From when the record is?}

USING CONTRACTIONS

In spoken Korean, a contraction form can be used when the possessive particle is used with pronouns.

For example:

EXAMPLE		ENGLISH
나의 집 (naui jip)	→ 내 집 (nae jip)	My house
너의 가방 (neoui gabang)	→ 네 가방 (nae gabang)	Your bag
저의 이름 (jeoui ireum)	→ 제 이름 (je ireum)	My name

TOP 5 Things You Need To Know Before Studying Korean || The Best Guide For Beginners

FOCUS ON 우리

The word 우리 it the 1^st person plural subject pronoun.

With 우리, the possessive particle is generally not used when the possessed nouns refer to a place, transportation or a member of family.

For example:

^urinara

우리나라

_{Our country}

^urijip

우리집

_{Our house}

^uridongne

우리동네

_{Our town}

^urieomma

우리엄마

_{Our mother}

On the other hand, here are examples where 의 is used with 우리:

EXAMPLE	ROMANISATION	ENGLISH
우리의 행복	uriui haengbok	Our happiness
우리의 관계	uriui gwangye	Our relationship

Learn Korean with FlexiClasses

Book online classes with the best teachers in the industry.

MORE RESOURCES

Want to learn more? Check out these other free resources:

Learn about the Mandarin possessive particle 的
Learn about the Japanese posses s ive particle の

FAQs

What is the meaning of “의” in Korean?

“의” is a Korean particle that can be translated to “of” or “apostrophe s” in English.

It is used to show possession or to indicate a relationship between two nouns.

How do you use “의” in a sentence?

To use “의” in a sentence, you need to place it after the noun that is possessing something or that has a relationship with another noun.

For example, “제 친구의 차는 빨강색입니다.” (My friend’s car is red.)

Here, “의” follows the noun “친구” (friend) to indicate that the car belongs to the speaker’s friend.

Can “의” be used with verbs in Korean?

No, “의” cannot be used with verbs in Korean.

It is only used to indicate possession or a relationship between two nouns.

To indicate an action or a verb’s subject or object, other particles like “을/를” or “이/가” are used.

For example, “나는 한국어를 공부합니다.” (I study Korean.)

Here, “을” is used to indicate the object “한국어” (Korean) that the speaker studies.

What are some other Korean particles?

Here are some more Korean particles:

이/가 (i/ga): marks the subject of a sentence or clause

을/를 (eul/reul): marks the direct object of a sentence or clause

에 (e): indicates a location or a time

으로/로 (euro/ro): indicates a direction

Where to get more free Korean lessons?

You can get more free Korean lessons on our Korean Grammar Bank.

We regularly add more lessons, so make sure to bookmark this page and come back to see what’s new.

Can I learn Korean with LTL Language School?

Yes!

Learn Korean with a professional live teacher online on Flexi Classes, or in person in Seoul (group and/or individual classes).

Feel free to contact us if you need to speak directly with a LTL Student Advisor.

TEST YOUR TOPIK KNOWLEDGE

Thinking about taking the TOPIK Exam? Or just interested in testing your vocabulary skills?

Challenge yourself with those TOPIK vocabulary quizzes, and discover how much you really know! 🔥

TOPIK Level 1 Quiz

TOPIK Level 2 Quiz

Each quiz contains 30 randomised questions, so you can retake it as many times as you like and receive fresh questions every time!

For even more free resources and LTL news, sign up to our LTL Monthly Newsletter.

GET IN TOUCH

Our Student Advisor Team

Contact LTL Seoul

BASIC STRUCTURE WITH 의

PATTERN

USING CONTRACTIONS

FOCUS ON 우리

Learn Korean with FlexiClasses

MORE RESOURCES

FAQs

TEST YOUR TOPIK KNOWLEDGE

MORE FREE LESSONS

Basic sentence structure

Present Tense

Present progressive tense in Korean

Past Tense

Past progressive tense in Korean

Future Tense

Negative Form

Korean plurals with 들

Adjectives in Korean

Irregular adjectives in Korean

Korean particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를)

Place & time particles 에 and 에서

Direction particle -로 and -으로

Possessive Particle 의

Common Korean prepositions

Writing dates in Korean

Telling time in Korean

Writing dates in Korean

Asking questions in Korean

Age in Korean

Sequential actions in Korean

Expressing "but" in Korean

Expressing "because" in Korean

Expressing "too/also" in Korean

Expressing "or" in Korean

Korean measure words for general objects

Korean measure words for living beings

Korean measure words for specific items

Expressing capacity in Korean

Expressing acts of service in Korean

Expressing desire in Korean

Expressing confirmation in Korean