Learn the simple decision rule to choose between 이/가 and 은/는 so you never sound like a textbook robot again.
Many beginners use 은/는eun/neun for everything because it's the first thing they learn. But using the wrong marker can change the whole focus of your sentence.
Wrong:날씨는 좋아요?nalssineun johayo? (Sounds like: "As for the weather, is it good? [implying other things might be bad]")
This particle identifies the "doer" of the sentence. It is used when introducing new information or when you want to emphasize who did something. If someone asks "Who ate the cake?", you answer with 이/가i/ga because the identity of the person is the most important part.
Register (neutral/polite)
Neutral. Used in all levels of speech from casual to formal.
Common mistakes (wrong → right)
Wrong: 저가 한국 사람이에요.jeoga hanguk saramieyo.
Right: 제가 한국 사람이에요.jega hanguk saramieyo. (When 저jeo meets 가ga, it changes to 제je.)
Examples
이름이 뭐예요?ireumi mwoyeyo? — What is your name?
비가 와요.biga wayo. — It is raining.
친구가 한국에 와요.chinguga hanguge wayo. — A friend is coming to Korea.
This is the "Topic Marker." It sets the stage for what you are talking about. It is also used heavily for contrast. If you say "I like apples, but (as for) bananas, I hate them," you use 은/는eun/neun for the bananas to show the contrast.
Common mistakes (wrong → right)
Wrong: 저는 이름이 민수예요.jeoneun ireumi minsuyeyo. (Technically okay, but redundant in many contexts)
Right: 제 이름은 민수예요.je ireumeun minsuyeyo. (My name [topic] is Minsu.)
Examples
저는 학생이에요.jeoneun haksaeieyo. — I am a student.
이 사과는 맛있어요.i sagwaneun masisseoyo. — This apple is delicious.
오늘은 날씨가 더워요.oneureun nalssiga deowoyo. — As for today, the weather is hot.
동생은 공부를 해요. — (As for) my younger sibling, they are studying.
저는 대학생입니다.
jeoneun daehaksaeipnida.
(As for me) I am a college student.
이것은 비싸요. 저것은 싸요.
igeoseun bissayo. jeogeoseun ssayo.
This one is expensive. That one is cheap.
Q1: 이i is the subject marker used after a consonant (수박subak) to state a simple fact about the subject.
Q2: 는neun is used here to show contrast between apples and grapes after a vowel-ending noun (포도podo).
Q3: 은eun is the standard topic marker used when introducing a specific topic like your name after a consonant (이름ireum).
