📍 Difference Between ~에 and ~에서 in Korean
Confused between ~에 and ~에서? You're not alone! These two particles are some of the most commonly used — and most commonly mixed up — by Korean learners. Let’s break down the difference so you can master location expressions like a native. 🗺️
📘 Table of Contents
- 1. Basic Meaning
- 2. Key Differences at a Glance
- 3. Examples in Everyday Sentences
- 4. Which Verbs Go with ~에 vs ~에서?
- 5. 💡 Did You Know?
- 6. 🧠 Self-Learning Tips
- 7. Learn More Korean
1. Basic Meaning
~에 indicates location or destination — where something is or is going to.
~에서 indicates location of action — where something happens.
~에서 → At / From (Action, activity, origin)
2. Key Differences at a Glance
| Particle | Main Function | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| ~에 | Destination, existence | 있다 (to be), 가다 (to go), 오다 (to come) |
| ~에서 | Action location, origin | 하다 (to do), 먹다 (to eat), 시작하다 (to start) |
3. Examples in Everyday Sentences
| Expression | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 학교에 가요. | hakgyoe gayo | I’m going to school. |
| 학교에 있어요. | hakgyoe isseoyo | I am at school. |
| 학교에서 공부해요. | hakgyoeseo gongbuhaeyo | I study at school. |
| 카페에서 커피를 마셔요. | kapeseo keopireul masyeoyo | I drink coffee at a café. |
| 집에 와요. | jibe wayo | I come home. |
| 집에서 요리해요. | jibeseo yoriihaeyo | I cook at home. |
4. Which Verbs Go with ~에 vs ~에서?
✅ Verbs with ~에:
- 가다 (gada) → to go
- 오다 (oda) → to come
- 있다 (itda) → to be/exist
- 머무르다 (meomureuda) → to stay
✅ Verbs with ~에서:
- 하다 (hada) → to do
- 공부하다 (gongbuhada) → to study
- 먹다 (meokda) → to eat
- 일하다 (ilhada) → to work
- 출발하다 (chulbalhada) → to depart from
🎯 Tip: Think of ~에 as “location or direction” and ~에서 as “action or movement from that location.”
5. 💡 Did You Know?
💡 Koreans sometimes play on this grammar in jokes. Example: “학교에 갔는데 공부는 집에서 해요!” (I went to school, but I study at home!) → A common student joke about skipping school but still “studying.”
💡 Subway announcements in Korea use both particles: “서울역에 도착했습니다.” (We have arrived at Seoul Station) vs “서울역에서 환승하세요.” (Please transfer at Seoul Station)
6. 🧠 Self-Learning Tips
- 🗺️ Make two columns: one with ~에 and one with ~에서. Write 5 verbs for each!
- ✏️ Write your own day in Korean: “I go to X. I do Y at X.”
- 🎧 Listen to K-dramas or subway announcements — spot the difference!
Which is correct? 1) 저는 도서관__ 책을 읽어요. ✅ Answer: 도서관에서
7. 🎓 Learn More Korean
Struggling with Korean particles? You’re not alone. Let’s practice together with real-life examples and conversation drills!
👉 Book a class with me on italki — I’ll help you feel confident using even the trickiest grammar points.
