Korean word

저

Pronunciation

Romanizationcheo

Meaning

  • pronounI

Example

저는 학생이에요.cheo neun hak ssaeng i e yo

I am a student.

Illustration for 저 (I)

More examples

선생님이 저에게 질문했어요.seon saeng ni mi cheo e ge chil mun hae sseo yo

The teacher asked me a question.

Core concept

The speaker gently steps back and refers to themself with respect.

Common phrases

  • 저는cheo neun

    I

  • 저도cheo do

    me too

  • 저에게cheo e ge

    to me

Similar words

나na: An informal first-person pronoun for relaxed everyday speech.
저희cheohi: A humble first-person plural pronoun for a group that includes the speaker.
우리uri: A first-person plural pronoun for a closely connected group that includes the speaker.

Definition in Korean

상대에게 예의를 갖추어 자신을 낮춰 말할 때 쓰는 1인칭 대명사이며, 명사 앞에 붙어 떨어져 있는 대상을 가리키는 지시대명사로도 쓰인다.sang dae e ge ye ui reul kat chu eo cha si neul nat chwo mal hal ttae sseu neun 1 in ching tae myeong sa i myeo myeong sa a pe pu teo tteo reo jeo in neun tae sang eul ka ri ki neun chi si dae myeong sa ro do sseu in da

Word origin

The exact historical development of this pronoun is uncertain, so it is best learned as an established Korean respectful form rather than a transparent compound.

Usage tips

  • English uses one everyday form for I, but Korean shows respect through the pronoun choice, so this form sounds more polite than the casual alternative.

Other meanings

  • thatdeterminer
  • that onepronoun

Related words

Word lists with this word