A2 Expression رسمي

저것은 ~입니다.

1056

That is ~.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this to formally identify an object that is far away from both you and the person you are talking to.

  • Means: 'That thing over there is [noun].'
  • Used in: Sightseeing, pointing out landmarks, or identifying items in a store.
  • Don't confuse: With '그것은', which refers to things near the listener.
👉 + 🏔️ + 🗣️ = 저것은 산입니다.

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic way to say 'That is [something].' Use '저' for things far away. Use '것' for 'thing.' Use '입니다' to be polite. It is like pointing your finger at a mountain and telling a friend what it is.
At this level, you learn that '저것은' identifies objects distant from both the speaker and the listener. It is the formal version of '저거예요.' You use it to name things in a professional or polite way, like in a classroom or a museum.
Intermediate learners use this phrase to distinguish between '그것' (near the listener) and '저것' (far from both). You should also be comfortable with the contraction '저건' and using it to introduce topics in a formal {설명|說明} (explanation) or when giving directions to a stranger.
Upper-intermediate students recognize that '저것은' can introduce abstract concepts in a formal discourse. It serves as a deictic marker that places a topic in an 'objective' space, allowing the speaker to analyze it from a distance. You should master the nuances of the topic marker '은' versus the subject marker '이/가' in this context.
Advanced learners analyze the pragmatic functions of '저것은 ~입니다' in literary and oratorical contexts. It is often used to create a sense of 'othering' or to establish a clear boundary between the speaker's immediate reality and the subject being discussed. The choice of the formal copula reflects a specific {화계|話階} (speech level) strategy to maintain professional distance.
At the level of near-native mastery, one understands the cognitive linguistics behind the Korean demonstrative system. '저것은 ~입니다' is seen as a tool for spatial grounding. Mastery involves using this phrase to navigate complex social hierarchies where the distance of the object mirrors the psychological distance or respect afforded to the topic, often seen in high-level {정치|政治} (political) or academic rhetoric.

المعنى

Introducing or identifying an object at a distance.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

The use of '저' (distant) can sometimes be used to show humility. By placing an object in the 'far' zone, you are not claiming ownership or immediate control over it, which can sound more polite in certain formal descriptions. Japanese and Korean share the exact same spatial logic for demonstratives, which is rare. This reflects a shared East Asian linguistic focus on the relationship between the speaker, listener, and the environment. English speakers often struggle with '저것' because they only have 'that'. They tend to use '그것' for everything, which can sound slightly confusing to Koreans who expect a distinction based on distance. In Korean business presentations, '저것' is used to point at data on a screen. It creates a professional distance between the presenter and the data, making the analysis seem more objective.

🎯

Use the contraction

In 99% of spoken Korean, people say '저건' instead of '저것은'. It sounds much more natural.

⚠️

Don't use for people

Calling a person '저것' is like calling them 'that thing'. Always use '저분' or '저 사람'.

المعنى

Introducing or identifying an object at a distance.

🎯

Use the contraction

In 99% of spoken Korean, people say '저건' instead of '저것은'. It sounds much more natural.

⚠️

Don't use for people

Calling a person '저것' is like calling them 'that thing'. Always use '저분' or '저 사람'.

💬

Pointing Etiquette

While saying '저것은', it's more polite to point with your whole hand (palm up) rather than just one finger, especially in formal settings.

اختبر نفسك

Choose the correct word to identify a mountain in the distance.

( )은 산입니다.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 저것

A mountain is typically far from both the speaker and the listener, requiring '저것'.

Complete the formal sentence to say 'That (over there) is a car.'

저것은 자동차____.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 입니다

The phrase '저것은' is formal, so it should be paired with the formal copula '입니다'.

Match the demonstrative to the situation.

You are pointing at a star in the sky.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 저것은 별입니다.

Stars are extremely distant from both parties.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

가: 저것은 무엇입니까? 나: 저것은 _________.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 박물관입니다

The answer should maintain the formal '-입니다' style to match the question.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

الأسئلة الشائعة

4 أسئلة

Yes, '저것' is acceptable for animals, though '저 강아지' (that puppy) or '저 새' (that bird) is more specific and common.

'저거는' is slightly more casual and common in speech, while '저것은' is the standard written and formal form.

Usually yes, but it can be used for things mentioned earlier in a conversation that feel 'distant' or 'external' to the current focus.

'저게' is the contraction of '저것이' (subject marker). Use it when 'that thing' is doing an action or being described with an adjective.

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

이것은 ~입니다

contrast

This is...

🔗

그것은 ~입니다

contrast

That is...

🔗

저기요

builds on

Excuse me

🔗

저분은 ~입니다

specialized form

That person is...

أين تستخدمها

🏛️

At a Museum

Tourist: 저것은 무엇입니까?

Guide: 저것은 조선 시대의 왕관입니다.

formal
⛰️

Hiking with a Colleague

Colleague A: 저것은 무슨 산입니까?

Colleague B: 저것은 북한산입니다.

formal
📺

In a Large Electronics Store

Customer: 저것은 신제품입니까?

Clerk: 네, 저것은 이번 달에 출시된 TV입니다.

formal
🚌

City Tour Bus

Guide: 오른쪽을 보세요. 저것은 국회의사당입니다.

formal
💼

Job Interview (Referring to a Portfolio)

Interviewee: 화면을 봐 주십시오. 저것은 제가 작년에 완료한 프로젝트입니다.

formal
🏠

Real Estate Viewing

Agent: 창밖을 보세요. 저것은 단지 내 공원입니다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jeo' as 'Just over there'—it starts with J and points to something distant.

Visual Association

Imagine a long, straight road stretching to the horizon. At the very end of the road is a tiny house. You point your whole arm at it and say 'Jeo-geot'.

Rhyme

이(I) is near, 그(Geu) is there, 저(Jeo) is far, beyond your hair!

Story

You are on a hike with a guide. You see a golden eagle circling a peak miles away. The guide points and says, '저것은 독수리입니다.' The distance makes the eagle look like a tiny 'dot' (geot).

Word Web

이것 (this)그것 (that near you)저것 (that over there)무엇 (what)입니다 (is - formal)저기 (over there - place)저분 (that person - formal)저건 (contraction)

تحدٍّ

Go outside and find 5 things that are at least 50 meters away. Point at each one and say '저것은 [Noun]입니다' out loud.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Aquello es...

Spanish changes the demonstrative based on the gender of the noun, whereas Korean '저것' is gender-neutral.

French partial

Cela est... / C'est là-bas...

French requires an adverbial phrase like 'là-bas' to achieve the same spatial precision.

German moderate

Jenes ist...

Modern German speakers usually just use 'Das da' with a gesture instead of 'Jenes'.

Japanese high

あれは ~です (Are wa ~ desu)

The grammar and spatial logic are virtually the same, making this easy for Japanese speakers.

Arabic high

ذٰلِكَ (Dhalika)

Arabic demonstratives change for gender and number (dual/plural), unlike Korean.

Chinese partial

那是... (Nà shì...)

Chinese lacks the specific 'near listener' vs 'far from both' distinction found in Korean.

Korean (Dialect) high

저거다 (Jeogeoda)

Dialects often drop the topic marker '은' and use more aggressive contractions.

Portuguese high

Aquilo é...

Portuguese uses 'aquilo' for unspecified things and 'aquele/aquela' for specific nouns.

Easily Confused

저것은 ~입니다. مقابل 그것은 ~입니다

Learners often use '그것' for any 'that', regardless of distance.

If you have to walk to get to it, it's probably '저것'. If the other person can reach out and touch it, it's '그것'.

الأسئلة الشائعة (4)

Yes, '저것' is acceptable for animals, though '저 강아지' (that puppy) or '저 새' (that bird) is more specific and common.

'저거는' is slightly more casual and common in speech, while '저것은' is the standard written and formal form.

Usually yes, but it can be used for things mentioned earlier in a conversation that feel 'distant' or 'external' to the current focus.

'저게' is the contraction of '저것이' (subject marker). Use it when 'that thing' is doing an action or being described with an adjective.

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