Korean word

엔

Pronunciation

Romanizationen

Meaning

  • particlemarks a topic

Example

저녁엔 주로 집에 있어요.cheo nyeo gen chu ro chi be i sseo yo

I am usually at home in the evening.

Illustration for 엔 (marks a topic)

More examples

주말엔 가족과 식사해요.chu ma ren ka jok kkwa sik ssa hae yo

I have a meal with my family on weekends.

Core concept

A time or place is placed in focus, often with an implied comparison to another time or place.

Common phrases

  • 주말엔chu ma ren

    on weekends

  • 저녁엔cheo nyeo gen

    in the evening

  • 집엔chi ben

    at home

Similar words

에는eneun: Makes a time or place the topic or a point of contrast in a more formal expression.
에e: Points to where something is, when it happens, or where it is headed.
에서eseo: Points to the place where an activity or event happens.

Definition in Korean

엔은 '에'에 조사 '는'이 붙어 구어에서 축약된 형태로, 시간이나 장소를 가리키며 그 대상에 대해 화제화하거나 대비를 만들 때 쓰는 조사이다.e neun e e cho sa neun i pu teo ku eo e seo chu gyak ttoen hyeong tae ro si ga ni na chang so reul ka ri ki myeo keu tae sang e tae hae hwa je hwa ha geo na tae bi reul man deul ttae sseu neun cho sa i da

Word origin

This particle is a spoken contraction of the Korean location or time marker with the topic marker, keeping the original sense of focus and contrast.

Usage tips

  • It is common in relaxed conversation, while the fuller form is more likely in careful writing, so recognizing this shortened form helps with listening.

Other meanings

  • marks a contrastparticle

Word lists with this word