At the A1 level, you don't really need to use the word '주체'. It is a very difficult and formal word. Instead, you use words like '나' (I), '사람' (person), or '누구' (who). These words tell us who is doing something. For example, instead of saying 'the subject of the action', you just say 'I eat' or 'He goes'. '주체' is like the 'boss' of a sentence or an action. Think of it as the person who makes the choice. Even though you won't say '주체' yet, you are learning the idea of it every time you learn a new verb and the person doing it. At this level, just remember that every action has someone who does it. That 'someone' is what advanced learners call the '주체'. You will see this word much later in your studies when you read news or big books. For now, focus on simple subjects like '엄마' (mom) or '친구' (friend).
At the A2 level, you might start to see '주체' in very formal textbooks or simple news headlines about the economy. You know words like '주인공' (main character) from dramas. '주체' is a bit like '주인공', but it's used for serious things like history or society. For example, if you hear '우리 삶의 주체' (the subject of our lives), it means 'you' are the one in control of your life. You are the boss. You might also see '주체성', which means having your own strong mind and not just following others. If a teacher says '주체적으로 공부하세요', they mean 'Study by yourself and make your own choices, don't wait for me to tell you everything'. It is a step up from '혼자' (alone). It implies you have the power and the will to do it. It's still a bit formal, so don't worry if you don't use it in daily chat with friends.
At the B1 level, you should begin to recognize '주체' in various formal contexts. You will encounter it in social studies, intermediate reading passages, and news reports. This is the level where you distinguish between '주제' (topic) and '주체' (agent). You'll notice it often appears with the particle '-가/이' or as '주체적인'. For instance, '경제 주체' is a common term for households and businesses in economic news. You should understand that '주체' implies agency—the ability to act and make decisions. If you are describing a person who is very independent and doesn't care what others think, you can describe them as having a strong '주체성'. This is more sophisticated than just saying '성격이 강하다' (has a strong personality). It specifically refers to their independence of thought. You might also start seeing it in grammar explanations to describe the 'agent' of a passive or causative sentence.
At the B2 level, you are expected to use '주체' accurately in academic and professional settings. You should be comfortable discussing '행위의 주체' (the agent of an action) or '역사의 주체' (the subject of history). At this level, you understand the philosophical nuance: '주체' is the conscious 'self' that interacts with the '객체' (object). You can use this word to write essays about social responsibility or individual identity. For example, you might write about how citizens are the '주체' of democracy. You should also be aware of the idiomatic expression '주체를 못 하다', which means to be unable to handle or contain something (like being so happy you don't know what to do with yourself: '기쁨을 주체하지 못하다'). This level requires you to understand the word not just as 'subject', but as a concept of autonomy and central agency in complex systems.
At the C1 level, your understanding of '주체' should be deeply nuanced. You can discuss the 'decentering of the subject' (주체의 탈중심화) in post-modern philosophy or the 'legal agency' (법적 주체성) of AI. You recognize that '주체' is a fundamental building block of Korean intellectual discourse. You can differentiate between '주체' (the agent), '주어' (the grammatical subject), and '주인공' (the narrative protagonist) with precision. In professional environments, you use '주체' to define accountability in project management or policy-making. You are also sensitive to the historical and political connotations of the word, including its role in various ideologies, but you can use it neutrally in scientific or social contexts. You can read complex academic papers where '주체' is used to analyze power dynamics and social structures without needing to look up the term.
At the C2 level, '주체' is a tool for high-level conceptualization. You can use it to explore existentialist themes, structuralist critiques, and the nuances of Korean traditional thought versus Western individualism. You understand how the concept of '주체' has evolved in Korean history, from its Hanja roots to its modern usage in sociology and law. You can engage in debates about whether the '주체' is truly independent or merely a product of social structures. Your usage of the word is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker, employing it in sophisticated metaphors and precise technical definitions. You can handle the most complex idiomatic uses and understand the subtle shifts in meaning when '주체' is paired with different verbs or prefixes in specialized fields like phenomenology or constitutional law.

주체 in 30 Sekunden

  • The central agent or doer of an action.
  • Represents independence and autonomy (주체성).
  • Opposite of '객체' (object/passive entity).
  • Common in academic, legal, and economic contexts.

The Korean word 주체 (主體 - Ju-che) is a sophisticated noun that primarily refers to the 'main agent' or 'subject' of an action, existence, or thought. While in basic English, 'subject' can mean a topic of conversation (like math or science), in Korean, 주체 specifically denotes the entity that possesses agency and independence. It is the 'doer' rather than the 'done-to'. In a philosophical sense, it represents the 'self' or the 'ego' that interacts with the external world, which is referred to as the 객체 (object). Understanding this word is crucial for moving from intermediate to advanced Korean because it appears frequently in academic texts, news broadcasts, and serious discussions about social responsibility and individual identity.

Philosophical Agency
In philosophy, 주체 refers to the conscious being that has experiences and makes decisions. It is the center of perception. If you are the one deciding your future, you are the 주체 of your life.
Grammatical Context
While '주어' is the technical term for a grammatical subject in a sentence, 주체 describes the semantic agent—the person or thing actually performing the verb's action.
Social and Political Context
In sociology, it refers to a group or individual capable of independent action within a structure. It is often used when discussing who should take the lead in social change.

역사를 만드는 주체는 바로 민중이다.

Translation: The main agents who create history are the people.

The term is deeply rooted in Hanja: 主 (주) meaning 'master' or 'owner', and 體 (체) meaning 'body' or 'substance'. Together, they signify the 'master body' or the central entity. This is why the word carries a heavy weight of responsibility and independence. When someone says you need to have a '주체성' (subjectivity/independence), they are telling you not to be swayed by others and to think for yourself. It is the opposite of being a passive observer or a tool used by others.

우리는 우리 삶의 주체가 되어야 한다.

Translation: We must become the masters (subjects) of our own lives.

In everyday modern Korean, you might not use '주체' to talk about who is cooking dinner, but you will certainly hear it in documentaries, news reports about economic '주체' (economic actors like households, businesses, and government), and in psychological discussions about finding one's true self. It is a word that distinguishes a 'leader' or 'initiator' from a 'follower' or 'object'.

법적 주체로서의 권리와 의무.

Translation: Rights and duties as a legal subject (entity).

Using 주체 correctly requires understanding its formal tone. It is rarely used in casual slang but is indispensable in professional and academic writing. It often functions as a noun that takes various particles or combines with other words to form complex concepts. The most common way to use it is in the pattern '[Noun]의 주체', meaning 'the subject/agent of [Noun]'.

Pattern: [Action/Concept]의 주체
This describes who is responsible for a specific action. For example, '소비의 주체' (the subject of consumption) refers to consumers.
Pattern: 주체적(인) + Noun
This turns the noun into an adjective meaning 'independent' or 'self-reliant'. '주체적인 삶' means an independent life where one makes their own choices.

그는 매사에 주체적인 태도를 보인다.

Translation: He shows an independent attitude in everything he does.

Another frequent usage is in legal and economic contexts. In Law, a 'legal subject' (권리의 주체) is an entity that can hold rights and duties, such as a person or a corporation. In Economics, '경제 주체' (economic agents) include households, firms, and the government. These phrases are fixed expressions that you will encounter in any introductory textbook on these subjects.

이번 프로젝트의 주체는 우리 부서입니다.

Translation: The lead agent (subject) of this project is our department.

When discussing personal growth, '주체성' (subjectivity/agency) is the most common derivative. You might hear a mentor say, '주체성을 잃지 마세요' (Do not lose your sense of self/agency). This implies that even under pressure, one should maintain their independent judgment. It is also used to describe a nation's sovereignty or a group's autonomy.

여성이 사회 변화의 주체로 떠오르고 있다.

Translation: Women are emerging as the main agents of social change.

You will hear 주체 in environments where critical thinking, structural analysis, or formal reporting is taking place. It is a 'high-register' word. If you watch the 9 o'clock news (KBS News 9), you will likely hear it within the first ten minutes during reports on the economy or government policy. For instance, a reporter might discuss '경제 주체들의 심리 위축' (the shrinking confidence of economic agents).

In University Lectures
Professors in humanities and social sciences use '주체' constantly. In a philosophy class, they might discuss '근대적 주체' (the modern subject) as established by Descartes.
In Corporate Strategy
During high-level meetings, managers might discuss who the '추진 주체' (the entity driving the initiative) is to clarify accountability.

국가는 복지 서비스의 제공 주체이다.

Translation: The state is the provider (subject) of welfare services.

In literature and film criticism, '주체' is used to analyze the protagonist's growth. A critic might write about how a character evolves from a passive object of fate into a '주체' who controls their own destiny. This word conveys a sense of empowerment. If you are reading a self-help book in Korean, the author will likely emphasize the importance of being the '주체' of your emotions, meaning you shouldn't let outside events dictate how you feel.

청소년들이 문화 창조의 주체로 성장해야 합니다.

Translation: Youth must grow into the main agents of cultural creation.

Finally, in the context of international relations, you will hear it when discussing '주권' (sovereignty). A nation is the '주체' of its own diplomatic decisions. If a country is heavily influenced by a superpower, critics might say it has lost its '주체성'. Thus, the word is inextricably linked to the concepts of freedom, power, and identity.

Because '주체' translates to 'subject' in English, many learners make the mistake of using it in contexts where other Korean words for 'subject' are more appropriate. English is a polysemous language where one word covers many bases, but Korean is more specific. The most frequent error is confusing 주체 with 주제 (Topic).

주체 vs. 주제 (Ju-che vs. Ju-je)
'주제' is the 'topic' or 'theme' of a book, movie, or conversation. '주체' is the 'person/agent' who acts. If you say '이 책의 주체는 사랑이다', you are saying 'Love is the agent that performs actions in this book', which sounds strange. You should say '이 책의 주제는 사랑이다' (The theme of this book is love).
주체 vs. 주어 (Ju-che vs. Ju-eo)
'주어' is the grammatical subject. In the sentence 'The wind blew', 'wind' is the '주어'. But '주체' is usually reserved for conscious agents with will. You wouldn't normally call the wind a '주체' unless you are personifying it in a poem.

틀린 예: 오늘 토론의 주체는 환경 오염입니다.

바른 예: 오늘 토론의 주제는 환경 오염입니다.

Note: The topic of the debate is pollution, not the 'agent'.

Another mistake is overusing '주체' in casual conversation. If you ask 'Who is the subject of this party?', it sounds like you are reading a sociology textbook. Instead, use '누가 주최해요?' (Who is hosting?) or '누가 주인공이에요?' (Who is the star/main person?). '주체' carries a level of abstraction that is out of place when talking about everyday events like dinners or small gatherings.

Lastly, be careful with '주체' in political contexts. While it is a standard academic term, using it excessively in certain ways might inadvertently sound like you are referencing North Korean ideology. In South Korea, it's perfectly safe to use '경제 주체' or '행위 주체', but avoid using '주체' as a standalone political slogan unless you are specifically discussing history or political science.

To truly master 주체, you must see where it sits in the constellation of related Korean terms. Depending on the context—whether it's a story, a legal document, or a casual chat—different words might be more appropriate. Here are the most common alternatives and how they differ from '주체'.

주인공 (Ju-in-gong)
This means 'protagonist' or 'hero'. While a 주인공 is usually the 주체 of a story, '주인공' focuses on the spotlight and the narrative role, while '주체' focuses on the agency and independence of the entity.
당사자 (Dang-sa-ja)
This means 'the party concerned'. It is used in legal or conflict situations. While a 주체 is someone who acts, a 당사자 is someone directly involved in a specific incident or contract.
본인 (Bon-in)
This is a formal way to say 'oneself'. It is used on forms and in official statements. It doesn't carry the philosophical weight of 'agency' that '주체' does.

영화의 주인공 vs. 역사의 주체

Difference: The protagonist of a movie vs. the driving agent of history.

In philosophy, the direct antonym is 객체 (Gaek-che), which means 'object'. If '주체' is the person looking, '객체' is the thing being looked at. Another related term is 대상 (Dae-sang), which means 'target' or 'object of study'. While '객체' is more philosophical, '대상' is used in research (e.g., 'the subjects of the experiment' are '실험 대상').

연구 대상을 선정하다.

Translation: To select the research subjects (objects).

In summary, choose '주체' when you want to emphasize independence, agency, or the central role in a large-scale social or philosophical context. It is the 'master' of the situation, the one who holds the steering wheel of destiny.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The character 體 (체) originally depicted bones (骨) and a vessel (豊), representing the physical structure of a body.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /tɕutɕʰe/
US /tɕutɕʰe/
Equal stress on both syllables.
Reimt sich auf
교체 (gyo-che) 정체 (jeong-che) 단체 (dan-che) 전체 (jeon-che) 물체 (mul-che) 매체 (mae-che) 형체 (hyeong-che) 사체 (sa-che)
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing the second 'ch' without enough air (aspiration).
  • Confusing the pronunciation with '주제' (ju-je).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Common in news and books, but requires Hanja knowledge for deep understanding.

Schreiben 5/5

Difficult to use correctly without confusing it with '주제' or '주어'.

Sprechen 3/5

Used in formal discussions, but the idiomatic '주체 못 하다' is common.

Hören 4/5

Can be confused with similar sounding words like '주제'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

주인 행동 사람 자기

Als Nächstes lernen

객체 대상 자아 독립 의지

Fortgeschritten

실재론 현상학 구조주의 탈근대 상호주체성

Wichtige Grammatik

-로서 (as/in the capacity of)

주체로서 책임을 집니다.

-적 (suffix for adjectives)

주체적 태도가 필요합니다.

-성 (suffix for qualities)

주체성이 강합니다.

-지 못하다 (cannot/unable to)

웃음을 주체하지 못해요.

의 (possessive)

행위의 주체.

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

나는 공부의 주체입니다.

I am the subject of study.

Simple N1은 N2입니다 structure.

2

누가 이 일의 주체예요?

Who is the main person for this work?

Interrogative '누가' with '주체'.

3

사람은 생각의 주체이다.

Humans are the subjects of thought.

General statement using -이다.

4

우리 주체적으로 해요.

Let's do it independently.

Adverbial form '주체적으로'.

5

그는 주체가 없어요.

He has no sense of self.

Using '없다' to show lack of agency.

6

주체는 바로 당신입니다.

The subject is exactly you.

Emphasis with '바로'.

7

아이들도 주체가 될 수 있어요.

Children can also be subjects.

Potential form -ㄹ 수 있다.

8

이것은 주체의 문제이다.

This is a problem of the subject.

Possessive '의'.

1

자기 삶의 주체가 되세요.

Become the subject of your own life.

Imperative -세요.

2

우리는 경제의 주체입니다.

We are the subjects of the economy.

Collective '우리는'.

3

주체적인 사람이 인기가 많아요.

Independent people are popular.

Adjective form '주체적인'.

4

선생님은 교육의 주체예요.

Teachers are the subjects of education.

Defining a role.

5

그는 주체성이 강한 학생이다.

He is a student with strong subjectivity.

Compound '주체성'.

6

누구나 행동의 주체가 되어야 한다.

Everyone should be the subject of their actions.

Necessity -어야 한다.

7

이 프로젝트의 주체는 누구입니까?

Who is the lead agent of this project?

Formal question.

8

자신의 주체를 잃지 마세요.

Don't lose your sense of self.

Prohibitive -지 마세요.

1

국민이 정치의 주체가 되어야 민주주의입니다.

Democracy is only when the people are the subjects of politics.

Conditional -어야.

2

그는 너무 기뻐서 웃음을 주체하지 못했다.

He was so happy he couldn't control his laughter.

Idiomatic '주체하지 못하다' meaning 'cannot control'.

3

사회 변화의 주체는 청년들이다.

The agents of social change are the youth.

Identifying a group as the agent.

4

기업은 생산의 주체로서 중요한 역할을 한다.

As the subject of production, corporations play an important role.

-로서 indicating status/role.

5

우리는 더 이상 객체가 아닌 주체로 살아야 한다.

We must no longer live as objects, but as subjects.

Contrast '객체' vs '주체'.

6

그 영화는 여성 주체의 서사를 다루고 있다.

That movie deals with a female-led narrative.

Describing a narrative focus.

7

주체적인 판단을 내리는 것이 중요합니다.

It is important to make independent judgments.

Gerund phrase '판단을 내리는 것'.

8

환경 보호의 주체는 바로 우리 자신입니다.

The subjects of environmental protection are ourselves.

Reflexive '우리 자신'.

1

근대 철학은 인간을 인식의 주체로 규정했다.

Modern philosophy defined humans as the subjects of perception.

Academic past tense.

2

그는 쏟아지는 눈물을 주체할 길 없었다.

He had no way to control the pouring tears.

Literary expression '주체할 길 없다'.

3

모든 인간은 법적 권리의 주체이다.

Every human is a subject of legal rights.

Legal definition.

4

소비자는 시장 경제를 움직이는 주체이다.

Consumers are the agents that move the market economy.

Economic context.

5

그녀는 주체성을 찾기 위해 여행을 떠났다.

She went on a trip to find her subjectivity.

Purpose -기 위해.

6

국가는 복지 정책의 주체로서 책임을 다해야 한다.

The state must fulfill its responsibility as the subject of welfare policy.

Formal duty.

7

그 작가는 역사의 주체로서의 개인을 그린다.

The author depicts the individual as a subject of history.

Literary analysis.

8

외세의 간섭 없이 우리 스스로가 주체가 되어야 한다.

We must become the subjects ourselves without foreign interference.

Political independence.

1

데카르트는 '생각하는 주체'로서의 자아를 강조했다.

Descartes emphasized the ego as a 'thinking subject'.

Philosophical quotation style.

2

디지털 시대에는 데이터 생산의 주체가 모호해지고 있다.

In the digital age, the subject of data production is becoming blurred.

Contemporary social analysis.

3

포스트모더니즘은 단일한 주체의 개념을 비판한다.

Postmodernism criticizes the concept of a unified subject.

Higher-level academic critique.

4

그는 넘치는 힘을 주체하지 못하고 사고를 쳤다.

Unable to control his overflowing energy, he caused an accident.

Idiomatic use for physical energy.

5

문화적 주체성을 지키는 것은 세계화 시대의 과제이다.

Maintaining cultural subjectivity is a task in the era of globalization.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

6

인공지능이 도덕적 주체가 될 수 있는지에 대한 논의가 활발하다.

There is active discussion on whether AI can become a moral agent.

Debate structure -는지에 대한 논의.

7

권력은 주체를 억압하기도 하지만 생성하기도 한다.

Power both oppresses and produces the subject.

Foucault-style sociological theory.

8

식민지 시대의 지식인들은 주체적 근대화를 갈망했다.

Intellectuals of the colonial era yearned for independent modernization.

Historical context.

1

주체와 객체의 이분법적 사고를 극복해야 한다.

We must overcome the dichotomous thinking of subject and object.

Advanced philosophical terminology.

2

그의 시에서 주체는 끊임없이 해체되고 재구성된다.

In his poetry, the subject is constantly deconstructed and reconstructed.

Literary theory.

3

국제법상 국가는 주권의 행사 주체로 인정받는다.

Under international law, the state is recognized as the agent of exercising sovereignty.

Legal/Diplomatic precision.

4

그는 밀려드는 고독을 주체할 길이 없어 밤새 거리를 헤맸다.

Unable to handle the surging loneliness, he wandered the streets all night.

High literary emotional expression.

5

담론이 주체를 형성한다는 푸코의 이론을 검토해보자.

Let's examine Foucault's theory that discourse forms the subject.

Academic proposal.

6

자본주의 사회에서 인간은 노동의 주체에서 소외되기도 한다.

In capitalist society, humans are sometimes alienated from being the subjects of labor.

Marxist sociological context.

7

예술가는 미적 가치를 창조하는 자율적 주체여야 한다.

An artist must be an autonomous subject who creates aesthetic value.

Aesthetic philosophy.

8

혁명의 주체로서 민중의 각성이 요구되는 시점이다.

It is a point in time when the awakening of the people as the subjects of revolution is required.

Political rhetoric.

Synonyme

본체 중심 행위자

Häufige Kollokationen

경제 주체
행위 주체
주체성 확립
권리의 주체
역사의 주체
주체적 태도
추진 주체
인식의 주체
문화 주체
주체를 못 하다

Häufige Phrasen

주체성을 가지다

— To have a sense of independence or subjectivity.

남의 말에 휘둘리지 말고 주체성을 가지세요.

주체적으로 행동하다

— To act independently and with agency.

자신의 일을 주체적으로 행동하는 사람이 멋지다.

주체가 되다

— To become the lead agent or main subject.

우리는 우리 운명의 주체가 되어야 한다.

주체를 잃다

— To lose one's sense of self or independence.

유행에만 따르다 보면 주체를 잃기 쉽다.

주체적 인간

— An independent person who thinks for themselves.

교육의 목표는 주체적 인간을 기르는 것이다.

법적 주체

— A legal entity that holds rights.

회사는 법인으로서 법적 주체이다.

주권을 가진 주체

— A subject possessing sovereignty.

모든 국가는 평등한 주권을 가진 주체이다.

변화의 주체

— The agent of change.

시민들이 변화의 주체로 나섰다.

주체할 수 없는

— Uncontrollable (usually emotions).

주체할 수 없는 슬픔에 잠겼다.

주체 파악

— Identifying the main agent or subject.

문제의 주체 파악이 먼저다.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

주체 vs 주제

Means 'Topic' or 'Theme'. Don't say 'The subject of the book is...' using 주체.

주체 vs 주어

Means 'Grammatical Subject'. Use this only when talking about sentence structure.

주체 vs 주인공

Means 'Protagonist'. Use this for movies and stories unless analyzing agency.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"주체를 못 하다"

— To be unable to handle or control (emotions, strength, or money).

돈이 너무 많아 주체를 못 한다.

Common
"주체할 길 없다"

— To have no way to control or contain something overwhelming.

밀려드는 감동을 주체할 길 없었다.

Literary
"주체성이 없다"

— To have no backbone or independent thought.

그는 주체성이 없어서 늘 남이 시키는 대로만 한다.

Common
"자기 주체가 뚜렷하다"

— To have a very clear and strong sense of self.

그녀는 자기 주체가 뚜렷한 예술가이다.

Neutral
"주체를 세우다"

— To establish one's independence or central role.

나라의 주체를 바로 세우는 일이 중요하다.

Formal
"주체 없이"

— Without a central agent or without thinking for oneself.

주체 없이 떠도는 소문들.

Neutral
"주체 노릇"

— Playing the role of the main agent.

그가 이번 모임에서 주체 노릇을 톡톡히 했다.

Neutral
"주체 파악을 하다"

— To know one's place or to identify the real power.

상황의 주체 파악을 잘 해야 성공한다.

Neutral
"주체적으로 살다"

— To live a life defined by one's own choices.

누구의 간섭도 받지 않고 주체적으로 살고 싶다.

Neutral
"주체와 객체가 전도되다"

— For the subject and object to be reversed (the tail wagging the dog).

수단이 목적이 되어 주체와 객체가 전도되었다.

Academic

Leicht verwechselbar

주체 vs 주제

Both translate to 'subject' in English.

주제 is the 'what' (topic), 주체 is the 'who' (agent).

토론 주제 (debate topic) vs 토론 주체 (debate organizer/agent).

주체 vs 주어

Both relate to the 'subject' role.

주어 is a linguistic category; 주체 is a philosophical/social category.

문장의 주어 (subject of sentence) vs 역사의 주체 (subject of history).

주체 vs 본체

Both mean 'main body'.

본체 is used for physical objects (like a PC tower); 주체 is for conscious entities.

컴퓨터 본체 (PC case) vs 행동 주체 (agent of action).

주체 vs 주역

Both mean 'main player'.

주역 focuses on the importance of the role played; 주체 focuses on the independence of the actor.

승리의 주역 (key player in victory) vs 권리의 주체 (subject of rights).

주체 vs 당사자

Both mean 'person involved'.

당사자 is a specific person in a specific event; 주체 is a general category of agency.

사건 당사자 (person in the accident) vs 법적 주체 (legal entity).

Satzmuster

A2

N은/는 삶의 주체이다

우리는 삶의 주체이다.

B1

N을/를 주체하지 못하다

슬픔을 주체하지 못했다.

B1

주체적인 N

주체적인 삶을 살아요.

B2

V-는 주체

변화를 이끄는 주체.

B2

N의 주체로서

행동의 주체로서 책임지다.

C1

주체와 객체의 N

주체와 객체의 관계.

C1

N 주체성 확립

자아 주체성 확립.

C2

주체로 호명되다

사회적 주체로 호명되다.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

주체성 (subjectivity/agency)
주체주의 (subjectivism)
주체사상 (Juche ideology)

Verben

주체하다 (to handle/control - usually negative/idiomatic)

Adjektive

주체적이다 (to be independent/autonomous)

Verwandt

주어 (grammatical subject)
주인 (owner)
객체 (object)
대상 (target)
자아 (ego)

So verwendest du es

frequency

High in written media and academic contexts; Medium in spoken Korean.

Häufige Fehler
  • 이 영화의 주체는 슬픔이다. 이 영화의 주제는 슬픔이다.

    You meant 'theme', so you must use '주제'.

  • 문장의 주체를 찾으세요. 문장의 주어를 찾으세요.

    In grammar, the term for subject is '주어'.

  • 나는 주체로 공부했다. 나는 주체적으로 공부했다.

    Use the adverbial form '주체적으로' to describe how you study.

  • 그는 돈을 주체했다. 그는 돈을 주체하지 못했다.

    The verb '주체하다' is almost always used in the negative to mean 'cannot handle/contain'.

  • 주체 과목이 뭐예요? 전공 과목이 뭐예요?

    To ask for a major or subject, use '전공' or '과목'.

Tipps

The Master Body

Remember the Hanja: 主 (Master) + 體 (Body). You are the master of your own body and actions.

Topic vs Agent

Always ask: Am I talking about 'what' we are talking about (주제) or 'who' is doing the action (주체)?

Unstoppable Emotions

Use '주체할 수 없는' when something is so big you can't handle it, like '주체할 수 없는 기쁨' (unstoppable joy).

The Particle -로서

주체 is frequently used with -로서 (as). Example: '행위의 주체로서' (as the agent of the action).

Philosophy Basics

In Korean philosophy essays, the pair '주체와 객체' (subject and object) is essential.

Suffix -성

Add -성 to make '주체성' (subjectivity). This is one of the most common ways the word appears in daily life.

Business Agency

In business, use '추진 주체' to specify which department is leading a project.

Legal Subject

Remember that in law, even a company can be a '주체' (legal entity).

The 'Ch' Sound

Focus on the strong aspiration in 'che'. It distinguishes it from 'je' in '주제'.

Sounding Sophisticated

Using '주체적으로' instead of '혼자' or '스스로' makes you sound more educated and professional.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

JU (Jewel) + CHE (Chest). You are the Jewel in the Chest of your life. You are the subject (주체) who owns the treasure.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person standing at the steering wheel of a giant ship labeled 'MY LIFE'. They are the 주체.

Word Web

Independence Agency Subject Master Self Action Responsibility Will

Herausforderung

Write three sentences about things you do '주체적으로' (independently) this week.

Wortherkunft

From Middle Chinese 主體 (t͡ɕɨo X tʰei X).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The main body, the master entity.

Sino-Korean (Hanja).

Kultureller Kontext

Be aware that using '주체' in a political context can be sensitive due to its association with North Korea, but in academic and everyday contexts, it is perfectly normal.

English speakers often use 'subject' for school topics, but Koreans use '과목' for that. '주체' is strictly for 'agency'.

Juche Ideology (North Korea) Descartes' 'Cogito, ergo sum' translated using '주체' Foucault's 'The Subject and Power' in Korean academia

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Economics

  • 경제 주체
  • 가계 주체
  • 시장 주체
  • 생산 주체

Philosophy

  • 인식의 주체
  • 도덕적 주체
  • 주체와 객체
  • 근대적 주체

Law

  • 권리의 주체
  • 법적 주체
  • 의무의 주체
  • 행위 주체

Daily Life (Idiom)

  • 주체를 못 하다
  • 주체할 수 없는 기쁨
  • 주체할 수 없는 힘
  • 눈물을 주체하다

Social Movements

  • 변화의 주체
  • 개혁의 주체
  • 민중 주체
  • 시민 주체

Gesprächseinstiege

"당신은 스스로가 삶의 주체라고 생각하시나요?"

"요즘 사회 변화를 이끄는 주체는 누구라고 보십니까?"

"주체성을 지키기 위해 가장 중요한 것은 무엇일까요?"

"너무 기뻐서 감정을 주체하지 못한 적이 있나요?"

"기업이 사회적 책임의 주체가 되어야 한다고 생각하세요?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

내가 내 삶의 주체로서 내린 가장 큰 결정에 대해 써보세요.

주체성을 잃어버렸다고 느꼈던 순간과 그 이유를 적어보세요.

우리 사회의 경제 주체 중 하나로서 나의 역할은 무엇인가요?

'주체할 수 없는 열정'을 느껴본 분야가 있나요?

타인의 시선에서 벗어나 주체적인 인간이 되는 방법은 무엇일까요?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No. For school subjects like Math or History, use '과목' (gwa-mok).

Yes, it is the name of their state ideology (Juche), but the word itself is a standard Korean word used in philosophy and law in South Korea too. Context is key.

주인공 is the 'hero' or 'protagonist' of a story. 주체 is the 'agent' or 'subject' in a more abstract or academic sense.

You can say '감정을 주체할 수 없어요'. This is a very common idiom.

독립성 (Independence) is the state of not being reliant on others. 주체성 (Subjectivity/Agency) is the internal quality of having your own will and identity.

Usually no. A 주체 requires consciousness or agency. However, in legal terms, a 'corporation' (법인) can be a 'legal subject' (법적 주체).

The most direct philosophical opposite is '객체' (gaek-che), meaning 'object'.

Use '주어' when you are talking about grammar, like identifying the word that comes before '-이/가'.

In news, books, and formal speeches, yes. In casual street talk, it's mostly used in the idiom '주체 못 하다'.

Usually, yes, as it implies independence. But in some contexts, it could imply being stubborn or ignoring others.

Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen

writing

'주체'를 사용하여 '우리는 우리 삶의 주인이다'라는 뜻의 문장을 만드세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체성'이라는 단어를 넣어 친구에게 조언하는 문장을 쓰세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체하지 못하다'를 사용하여 아주 기쁜 상황을 묘사하세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'경제 주체'라는 표현을 사용하여 한 문장을 쓰세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체적'이라는 형용사를 사용하여 자신의 성격을 설명하세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'역사의 주체'라는 표현을 사용하여 문장을 만드세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체'와 '객체'를 한 문장에 넣어 철학적인 문장을 쓰세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체할 수 없는 눈물'을 사용하여 슬픈 장면을 쓰세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

누가 이 일의 책임자인지 묻는 문장을 '주체'를 넣어 쓰세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체적으로 행동하다'를 사용하여 미래의 다짐을 쓰세요.

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writing

'법적 주체'를 사용하여 법률적인 문장을 만드세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체성 확립'을 목표로 하는 문장을 쓰세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

아이들에게 주체적인 태도를 가르쳐야 한다는 문장을 쓰세요.

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writing

'주체할 길 없다'를 사용하여 문학적인 문장을 쓰세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'변화의 주체'를 사용하여 사회적인 문장을 쓰세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

자신이 생각하는 '주체적 인간'에 대해 한 문장으로 정의하세요.

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writing

'인식의 주체'를 사용하여 문장을 만드세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

누가 이 모임의 주인인지 '주체'를 사용하여 물어보세요.

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Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing

'주체성'이 부족한 사람에 대해 쓰세요.

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writing

자유와 주체의 관계에 대해 한 문장 쓰세요.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking

'주체적으로'를 사용하여 자신이 공부하는 방식을 말해보세요.

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너무 기뻤던 순간을 '주체하지 못하다'를 넣어 설명해보세요.

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speaking

우리 삶의 주체가 누구인지 자신의 생각을 말해보세요.

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speaking

'주체성'이 왜 중요한지 간단히 말해보세요.

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speaking

사회를 변화시키는 주체가 누구라고 생각하는지 말해보세요.

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speaking

최근에 감정을 주체하지 못했던 경험을 말해보세요.

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'경제 주체'라는 말을 넣어 경제에 대해 한 마디 해보세요.

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주체적인 태도를 가진 사람에 대해 묘사해보세요.

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'주체할 수 없는 열정'에 대해 자신의 취미를 예로 들어 말해보세요.

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독립적인 삶과 주체성의 관계를 말해보세요.

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누가 프로젝트의 주체인지 묻고 답하는 대화를 해보세요.

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자신의 주체성을 지키는 방법을 말해보세요.

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역사의 주체에 대한 자신의 철학을 말해보세요.

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speaking

'주체할 길 없는' 그리움에 대해 말해보세요.

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아이들에게 주체성을 가르치는 법을 제안해보세요.

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법적 주체로서의 책임에 대해 말해보세요.

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주체와 객체의 차이를 설명해보세요.

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자신의 주체적인 결정을 한 사례를 말해보세요.

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주체성이 부족한 사회의 문제점을 말해보세요.

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speaking

앞으로 어떤 주체로 살고 싶은지 말해보세요.

Read this aloud:

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

대화에서 남자가 '주체하지 못했다'고 한 것은 무엇입니까? (남: 어제 영화 봤는데 너무 슬퍼서 눈물을 주체하지 못했어.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

뉴스에서 언급된 '경제 주체'는 누구입니까? (앵커: 오늘 경제 주체들이 모여 시장 활성화 방안을 논의했습니다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

교수가 강조하는 학생의 태도는? (교수: 여러분, 공부는 주체적으로 해야 합니다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

여자가 친구에게 조언하는 핵심은? (여: 남들이 뭐라든 네 주체성을 잃지 마.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

회의에서 결정하려고 하는 것은? (남: 이번 프로젝트의 수행 주체를 명확히 정합시다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

시에서 묘사하는 감정의 상태는? (낭독: 주체할 길 없는 고독이 밀려온다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

대화에서 '주체'가 누구라고 합니까? (여: 이 나라의 주체는 누구일까? 남: 당연히 국민이지.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

강연의 주제는 무엇입니까? (강사: 오늘은 역사의 주체로서의 민중의 역할에 대해 알아봅시다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

남자가 힘들어하는 이유는? (남: 돈이 너무 많이 들어오는데 주체를 못 하겠어.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

여자가 비판하는 행동은? (여: 넌 왜 그렇게 주체성 없이 남만 따라 하니?)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

법률 상담에서 언급된 단어는? (변호사: 법적 주체로서의 권리를 주장할 수 있습니다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

철학 강의의 주제는? (교수: 주체와 객체의 이분법을 넘어섭시다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

여자가 말하는 성공의 비결은? (여: 주체적으로 생각하는 습관이 저를 성공하게 했습니다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

다음 중 들리는 단어를 고르세요. (음성: 우리는 변화의 주체입니다.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening

대화의 분위기는? (남: 웃음을 주체할 수 없어서 혼났어.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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