If you are learning Korean, you’ve probably asked this question:

Why does Korean have both 이/가 and 은/는?
Do they mean the same thing?

The short answer is:
👉 They are both subject markers, but they are used in different situations.

Let’s break it down in a simple way.

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1️⃣ What Are 이/가 and 은/는?

In Korean, particles are attached to nouns to show their role in a sentence.

이 / 가 : Subject marker

은 / 는 : Topic marker

They often look interchangeable, but their function and focus are different.

 

🌸이/가 : When You Introduce New Information

이/가 is used when:

• You introduce new information

• You want to emphasize who or what performs the action

• You answer a question like “Who?” or “What?”

🔹 Example 1

       A: 누가 와요? Who is coming?
       B: 민지가 와요. Minji is coming. (Here, Minji is new information, so we use 가.)

🔹 Example 2

       비가 와요. It is raining. (The focus is on the event itself — rain is happening now.)

✅ Think of 이/가 as:
“This is the important/new thing.”

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🌸 은(는): When You Talk About a Topic or Contrast

은/는 is used when:

• The listener already knows the topic

• You want to compare or contrast

• You want to talk about something in general

🔹 Example 1

      저는 인도 사람입니다. I am Indian. (You are setting “me” as the topic.)

🔹 Example 2 (Contrast)

       커피는 좋아해요. 차는 안 좋아해요. I like coffee, but I don’t like tea. (Here, 은/는 shows contrast.)

✅ Think of 은/는 as:
“As for this topic…”

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2️⃣ Same Sentence, Different Meaning

Look at this example:

🔸 민지가 학생이에요. Minji is a student. (Focus: Minji, new information)

🔸 민지는 학생이에요. Minji is a student. (Focus: Minji as a topic, maybe compared to others)

Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the nuance is different.

 

3️⃣ Simple Rule for Beginners

If you’re just starting, remember this:

👉 Use 이/가 when the information is new or important
👉 Use 은/는 when the topic is already known or contrasted

Even native speakers choose particles based on context, not strict rules.

So don’t worry if it feels confusing at first — that’s normal!

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The more you listen and speak, the more natural it becomes.

Final Tip from a Korean Teacher 🇰🇷

Instead of asking “Which one is correct?”

Ask yourself “What do I want to emphasize?”

That’s the key to mastering 이/가 and 은/는.

If you want to practice this with real conversation and clear guidance,
learning with a native Korean teacher makes a big difference.

📩 Book a free trial class with us and start speaking Korean with confidence!