Korean word

에

Pronunciation

Romanizatione

Meaning

  • particleon

Example

버스에 탔어요.peo seu e ta sseo yo

I got on the bus.

Illustration for 에 (on)

More examples

영화는 7시에 시작해요.yeong hwa neun 7 si e si ja kae yo

The movie starts at 7 o'clock.

Core concept

Points to a noun as a location of existence, a time point, or an endpoint that something moves toward.

Common phrases

  • 집에 가다chi be ka da

    go home

  • 도서관에 있다to seo gwa ne it tta

    be at the library

  • 7시에 시작하다7 si e si ja ka da

    start at 7 o'clock

Similar words

에서eseo: Identifies the setting where someone acts or an event occurs.
에게ege: Identifies a person who is the recipient or target of an action.
로/으로roeuro: Identifies the direction or endpoint of movement.
까지kkaji: Identifies the point where a range, period, or extent ends.

Definition in Korean

명사 뒤에 붙어 어떤 것의 위치·존재 또는 특정 시점을 가리키는 조사myeong sa twi e pu teo eo tteon keo sui wi chi chon jae tto neun teuk jjeong si jeo meul ka ri ki neun cho sa

Word origin

The particle's exact historical origin is uncertain, but its modern form is a short marker attached to nouns for locations, times, and movement endpoints.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use separate prepositions for these roles, while Korean can use this single particle across them.

Other meanings

  • toparticle

Word lists with this word