Korean word

서

Pronunciation

Romanizationseo

Meaning

  • particlefrom

Example

저는 서울서 왔어요.cheo neun seo ul seo wa sseo yo

I came from Seoul.

Illustration for 서 (from)

More examples

지금 여기서 출발해요.chi geum yeo gi seo chul bal hae yo

We are leaving from here now.

Core concept

A location serving as the source of movement or the setting of an action.

Common phrases

  • 서울서seo ul seo

    from Seoul

  • 여기서yeo gi seo

    from here

  • 학교서hak kkyo seo

    from school

Similar words

에서eseo: A marker for the place where an action happens or a state exists.
부터puteo: A marker for the time or place where something begins.
로부터robuteo: A marker showing the source or origin from which something comes.

Definition in Korean

움직임이나 행위의 시작 지점을 가리키는 조사로, 일상회화에서 '에서' 대신 쓰이는 구어체 표현um ji gi mi na haeng wi ui si jak chi jeo meul ka ri ki neun cho sa ro il sang hoe hwa e seo e seo tae sin sseu i neun ku eo che pyo hyeon

Word origin

This conversational form comes from reducing the fuller location marker in everyday speech while keeping its meaning of a source or action location.

Usage tips

  • It is a natural conversational choice, but the full form is safer in formal writing and formal speech.

Other meanings

  • atparticle

Opposites

  • 까지kkajitoparticle

Word lists with this word