Korean Demonstratives: Pointing to People and Things with 이, 그, 저
Learn to point out people and things near you, near your listener, and far from both, using 이, 그, and 저 with Korean nouns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Korean does not use articles like "a" or "the." Instead, when you want to point something out, you attach a demonstrative word directly before a noun. The choice depends on where the thing is: 이 for something near you, 그 for something near your listener or already mentioned, and 저 for something far from both of you. In this lesson you will learn these three words, the common noun 것 ("thing"), and how to say "this book is mine; that one is yours" naturally in Korean.
By the end, you can…
- point out a person or thing near me using 이.
- point out something near my listener or already mentioned using 그.
- point out something far from both of us using 저.
- say that one thing belongs to me and another belongs to you.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이 책은 제 거예요.
This book is mine.
i chaek-eun je geo-ye-yo
이 points to something close to the speaker. 제 거예요 is a polite way to say "it is mine."
그 책은 누구 거예요?
Whose book is that one?
geu chaek-eun nu-gu geo-ye-yo
그 points to something near the listener or already mentioned. Use this when the book is not right next to you.
저 책은 민수 씨 거예요.
That book over there is Minsu's.
jeo chaek-eun Min-su ssi geo-ye-yo
저 points to something far from both speaker and listener. 씨 is a polite suffix after a person's name.
이것은 뭐예요?
What is this thing?
i-geos-eun mwo-ye-yo
이것 is a common contraction of 이 and 것. It is very common in everyday speech.
저것은 우리 집이에요.
That thing over there is our house.
jeo-geos-eun u-ri jib-i-e-yo
저것 is a contraction of 저 and 것. Use it for a building or object you can see at a distance.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is demonstrative + noun. For example, 이 책 (this book), 그 사람 (that person near you), 저 집 (that house over there). When you do not want to repeat the noun, use 것: 이것 (this thing), 그것 (that thing near you), 저것 (that thing over there). To say who owns something, use a person or pronoun plus 거: 제 거예요 (it is mine), 민수 씨 거예요 (it is Minsu's). The polite copula 예요/이에요 ends the sentence.
When to use it
Use 이 when the object is close enough to touch or clearly in your space. Use 그 when the object is near the listener, or when you are referring back to something already mentioned in the conversation. Use 저 when the object is visible but far from both of you. For example, if you are holding a pen, say 이 펜; if your friend is holding it, say 그 펜; if it is across the room, say 저 펜. This is different from English articles, which do not show distance.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 책은 누구 거예요?
Whose book is this?i chaek-eun nu-gu geo-ye-yo그 책은 제 거예요.
That book is mine.geu chaek-eun je geo-ye-yo그럼 저 책은요?
Then what about that book over there?geu-reom jeo chaek-eun-yo저 책은 민수 씨 거예요.
That book over there is Minsu's.jeo chaek-eun Min-su ssi geo-ye-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean demonstratives are used often in conversation, and choosing 그 for something already mentioned is very natural. When pointing at people, avoid using 저 사람 with a rude tone; it is better to describe the person or use a name when possible. In polite speech, 제 거예요 is safer than 내 거야, which is casual and used with close friends or people younger than you.
One thing to watch for
Using 이 for everything you can see, including things far away.
Try this instead: Match the demonstrative to distance and listener. Use 이 for something near you, 그 for something near your listener or already mentioned, and 저 for something far from both. For example, if the book is across the room, say 저 책은 제 거예요, not 이 책은 제 거예요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are holding a pen and want to say "This pen is mine." Which demonstrative do you use?
Show a sample answer
이 펜은 제 거예요.
이 is used because the pen is close to you. 제 거예요 is the polite possessive form.
2Your friend is holding a bag and you ask whose it is. Which demonstrative fits?
Show a sample answer
그 가방은 누구 거예요?
그 is used because the bag is near your listener. 누구 거예요 asks "whose is it?" politely.
3You see a car far away and want to say "That car over there is my father's." Which demonstrative fits?
Show a sample answer
저 차는 아버지 거예요.
저 is used because the car is far from both speaker and listener. 아버지 거예요 means "it is father's."
Use 이 for near you, 그 for near your listener or already mentioned, and 저 for far from both. Attach them directly before a noun, and use 것 or 거 when you do not repeat the noun.
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