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A1 pronoun #500 am häufigsten 8 Min. Lesezeit

그들

Top 500

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps 그들 in 30 Sekunden

Erklärung 그들 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '그들' is introduced as the basic plural form of '그' (he/that). You should learn it as the direct equivalent of 'they' or 'them'. At this stage, you will mostly see it in simple sentences in your textbook, such as '그들은 학생입니다' (They are students). It is important to recognize that while it means 'they', you won't hear it much in the classroom dialogue exercises, which prefer '학생들' or '친구들'. Focus on how it combines with basic particles like -은/는 (topic) and -이/가 (subject). Think of it as a formal building block for identifying groups of people you are talking about but who are not present in the conversation. You should also learn that it is gender-neutral, unlike '그녀' (she) which you might have seen. Even at A1, try to notice that '그들' is often replaced by the specific noun + '들' in real-life practice.

At the A2 level, you begin to use '그들' in more complex sentence structures, such as those involving direct objects and locations. You will learn to say '그들을 만났어요' (I met them) or '그들에게 줬어요' (I gave it to them). At this stage, you should start distinguishing between '그들' (they - far from speaker/listener) and '이들' (these people - near speaker). You will also encounter '그들' in simple reading passages or short stories. This is a good time to start noticing the 'translation style' (번역투) in Korean; if a sentence feels like it's from a book, it likely uses '그들'. You should also be introduced to the honorific alternative '그분들' to avoid sounding impolite when referring to older people. Understanding the difference between '그들' and '그분들' is a key milestone in A2 proficiency, as it shows you are becoming aware of Korean social hierarchy.

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By B1, you should be comfortable seeing '그들' in news articles, blog posts, and intermediate-level literature. You will notice that '그들' is often used to establish a collective subject in a narrative. For example, '그들은 힘을 합쳐 문제를 해결했다' (They joined forces and solved the problem). At this level, you should also understand the possessive form '그들의' (their) and how it functions to describe collective attributes or possessions. You will start to see '그들' used in more abstract ways, such as referring to 'the people of a certain era' or 'a specific social group'. You should also be able to identify when '그들' is being used to create a sense of 'othering' or distance in a text. Your writing should start to incorporate '그들' appropriately in formal essays, while you continue to use '그 사람들' or '그분들' in your spoken assessments to maintain a natural tone.

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At the B2 level, you should analyze the stylistic choices writers make when using '그들'. You will encounter it in more sophisticated contexts, such as editorials, documentaries, and literary criticism. You should understand how '그들' can be used to represent a generalized 'they' in sociological or psychological discussions. For instance, '그들이 느끼는 소외감' (The sense of alienation they feel). You will also learn about the history of the word and how it was influenced by the translation of Western literature into Korean. At this stage, you should be able to discuss the nuances between '그들', '그녀들', and '저들' in a literary context. You should also be proficient in using '그들' in formal presentations or debates where an objective, third-person perspective is required. Your ability to switch between '그들' (formal/written) and more colloquial plural forms (spoken) should be seamless.

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At the C1 level, you are expected to have a deep understanding of the rhetorical functions of '그들'. You will see it used in high-level academic papers, legal documents, and classic literature. You should be able to critique the use of '그들' in various texts, noting how it can sometimes sound artificial or 'translated' and how modern writers might intentionally use or avoid it to achieve a specific effect. You will study how '그들' functions in complex grammatical constructions, such as nested clauses or as the head of a relative clause. For example, '그들이 처한 환경이...' (The environment they are in...). You should also be aware of the subtle political or social implications of using '그들' to refer to certain groups, and how this choice can reflect the author's perspective. Your own writing should use '그들' with precision, employing it to maintain a consistent formal register in academic or professional outputs.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for the word '그들'. You understand its full historical trajectory from a neologism in the early 20th century to its current status in the Korean lexicon. You can engage in high-level discourse about the 'pronoun problem' in Korean—the fact that the language lacks a naturally occurring third-person plural pronoun for speech—and how '그들' fills that gap in the written domain. You can appreciate the poetic use of '그들' in contemporary literature and lyrics, where it might be used to evoke a sense of universality or existential distance. You are also capable of translating complex English texts into Korean, making sophisticated decisions about when to use '그들', when to use a more specific noun, and when to omit the pronoun entirely to preserve the natural rhythm of the Korean language. Your mastery includes an awareness of how '그들' interacts with various dialects and historical registers of Korean.

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그들 in 30 Sekunden

The standard Korean word for 'they' or 'them', primarily used in formal writing and literature.
Composed of '그' (that/he) and '-들' (plural marker), it is gender-neutral and objective.
Rarely used in casual speech; '그 사람들' or omitting the pronoun is more common in conversation.
Requires particles like -은/는, -이/가, or -을/를 to function grammatically in a sentence.

The Korean word 그들 (Geu-deul) is the standard third-person plural pronoun, translated as 'they' or 'them' in English. While it appears simple on the surface, its usage is deeply rooted in the evolution of modern Korean literature and translation practices. Unlike English, where 'they' is ubiquitous in daily speech, 그들 is primarily a written-style word. You will encounter it frequently in novels, news reports, academic essays, and translated scripts, but rarely in a casual conversation over coffee. In spoken Korean, referring to a group of people usually involves more specific terms like '그 사람들' (those people) or simply using the names of the individuals followed by the plural marker '-들'.

Morphological Breakdown: The word is composed of '그' (geu), a demonstrative meaning 'that' or 'he', and the suffix '-들' (deul), which functions as a plural marker for nouns and pronouns. Together, they literally mean 'those ones' or 'they'.
Sociolinguistic Context: In Korean culture, direct pronouns are often avoided to maintain politeness or social distance. Instead of saying 'they', Koreans often omit the subject entirely if it is understood from context, or use titles like '선생님들' (teachers) or '학생들' (students). Using '그들' can sometimes feel impersonal or detached, which is why it fits so well in objective reporting or narrative storytelling.

"그들은 서로를 깊이 신뢰하고 있었습니다."
— Translation: "They trusted each other deeply." (Commonly found in literature)

Historically, '그들' gained prominence during the early 20th century as Korean writers sought ways to translate Western literature accurately. Before this, Korean relied heavily on context or specific relational terms. The introduction of '그들' allowed for a direct equivalent to 'they', facilitating a more Westernized prose style known as '번역투' (translation style). Today, it is an indispensable part of the formal lexicon, used to describe groups in a neutral, objective manner. Whether you are reading a biography of a famous group or a sociological study on a specific demographic, '그들' serves as the anchor for collective identity in the third person.

Gender Neutrality: While '그녀들' (geu-nyeo-deul) specifically refers to a group of females, '그들' is generally gender-neutral and can refer to a group of men or a mixed-gender group. In modern usage, '그들' is increasingly used to refer to any group regardless of gender composition.

Using 그들 effectively requires an understanding of Korean particles. Since '그들' is a pronoun, it must be followed by a particle to indicate its grammatical role in the sentence. The most common particles used with '그들' are the topic marker '-은', the subject marker '-이', and the object marker '-을'. Understanding the nuance between these particles is key to mastering the word's application in various contexts.

Subjective Case: 그들이 vs. 그들은: Use 그들이 when you want to emphasize 'they' as the specific group performing an action, often in response to the question 'Who?'. Use 그들은 when 'they' is the topic of the sentence or when you are contrasting them with another group.

"그들은 내일 떠날 예정입니다."
— Translation: "(As for them) They are scheduled to leave tomorrow."

In the objective case, 그들을 is used when 'they' are the recipients of an action. This is very common in formal writing when discussing how a certain policy or event affects a group of people. For example, '정부는 그들을 지원하기로 결정했다' (The government decided to support them). Here, '그들을' clearly marks the group as the object of the verb '지원하다' (to support).

Possessive Case: 그들의: The possessive form 그들의 (their) is perhaps the most frequent way you will see this word used. It links the group to an object, idea, or characteristic. For example, '그들의 노력' (their effort) or '그들의 고향' (their hometown).

"그들의 목소리에 귀를 기울여야 합니다."
— Translation: "We must listen to their voices."

Another important usage is with the dative particles -에게 or -한테. '그들에게' means 'to them'. In formal writing, '-에게' is preferred. For example, '그들에게 기회를 주어야 합니다' (We must give them an opportunity). This structure is vital for expressing interactions between the subject and the group '그들'.

If you are walking down the streets of Seoul, you might not hear 그들 very often. However, the moment you turn on the news, open a book, or listen to a formal speech, it becomes ubiquitous. Understanding the specific domains where '그들' thrives is crucial for achieving a high level of Korean comprehension.

1. News and Journalism: News anchors and reporters use '그들' to refer to groups of people in a neutral, third-person perspective. Whether they are talking about 'protesters', 'refugees', or 'a winning sports team', '그들' provides a professional way to refer to the group without repeating their specific name constantly.
2. Literature and Webtoons: In narrative writing, '그들' is the standard way to refer to a group of characters. It helps maintain the flow of the story. In webtoons, while the dialogue is casual, the internal monologues or the narrator's descriptions often use '그들' to create a certain atmosphere or distance.

"그들만의 리그" (A league of their own)
— This is a common idiomatic expression used in media to describe an exclusive group.

You will also hear '그들' in documentary narrations. When a narrator describes the habits of a particular tribe or the behavior of a group of scientists, '그들' acts as a bridge between the viewer and the subjects of the documentary. It conveys a sense of observation and analysis. Similarly, in academic lectures, professors use '그들' to refer to historical figures or specific demographics being studied.

3. Formal Speeches and Presentations: In a business or political setting, '그들' is used to refer to competitors, stakeholders, or the public. It maintains a level of formality and objectivity that is required in professional discourse.

For English speakers, the most common mistake is overusing 그들 in daily conversation. Because 'they' is so natural in English, learners tend to translate it directly into Korean. However, this can make you sound unnatural or even slightly rude, depending on the context. Let's look at the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using '그들' for Elders: In Korean, you should never use '그들' to refer to a group of people who are older than you or in a higher social position (like your bosses or teachers). '그들' is neutral to slightly down-talking. Instead, use 그분들 (geu-bun-deul), which is the honorific version.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to Drop the Subject: Korean is a 'pro-drop' language, meaning pronouns are often omitted if the context is clear. If you have already mentioned 'the students', you don't need to say '그들' in the next sentence. Just proceed with the verb. Over-repeating '그들' sounds repetitive and 'translated'.

Incorrect: "제 친구들은 친절해요. 그들은 한국어를 공부해요."
Better: "제 친구들은 친절해요. (They) 한국어를 공부해요." (Omit the pronoun)

Another mistake is confusing '그들' with '그녀들'. While '그들' can include women, '그녀들' is strictly for a group of females. However, '그녀들' is even more literary and rare than '그들'. Using '그녀들' in speech is almost non-existent unless you are being very dramatic or poetic.

Mistake 3: Confusing with '저들' or '이들': '그들' refers to people not present or previously mentioned. '이들' (i-deul) refers to 'these people' (close to the speaker), and '저들' (jeo-deul) refers to 'those people over there' (far from both). Using '그들' for people standing right next to you is a spatial error.

To sound like a native speaker, you need to know when to use 그들 and when to reach for an alternative. Korean has a rich variety of ways to say 'they' depending on the level of formality and the relationship between the speaker and the subjects.

그분들 (Geu-bun-deul): The honorific version of '그들'. Use this when referring to elders, teachers, or anyone you wish to show respect to. It is much more common in polite speech than '그들'.
그 사람들 (Geu sa-ram-deul): Literally 'those people'. This is the most natural way to say 'they' in everyday conversation. It is neutral and safe to use in most situations.
걔네들 (Gyae-ne-deul): Very informal. Used among close friends to refer to a group of peers or younger people. It is a contraction of '그 아이들' (those children/kids).

Word	Register	Best Use Case
그들	Formal/Written	Novels, News, Essays
그분들	Polite/Honorific	Referring to elders
그 사람들	Neutral/Spoken	General conversation
걔네들	Casual/Slang	Talking about friends

In academic writing, you might also see 이들 (i-deul - these people) or 해당 인원 (hae-dang in-won - the relevant personnel). These terms are even more specific and formal than '그들'. Choosing the right word depends entirely on the 'distance' you want to maintain from the subject and the level of respect you need to convey. As a beginner, mastering '그 사람들' for speaking and '그들' for reading will set a strong foundation.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

Before the 20th century, Korean rarely used third-person pronouns. '그들' was popularized by writers like Kim Dong-in to translate the English 'they' in novels.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ɡɯ.dɯl/

US /ɡu.dʌl/

In Korean, stress is generally even across syllables, but a slight emphasis may fall on the first syllable '그'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as it appears frequently.

Schreiben 2/5

Easy to use, but requires knowledge of particles.

Sprechen 4/5

Difficult to use naturally because it's often replaced by other terms.

Hören 2/5

Easy to hear in formal contexts like news or documentaries.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

그 (He/That) 들 (Plural marker) 사람 (Person) 은/는 (Topic marker)

Als Nächstes lernen

그녀들 (They - female) 그분들 (They - honorific) 이들 (These people) 저들 (Those people)

Fortgeschritten

당사자 (The person concerned) 일행 (A group/party) 무리 (A crowd/group)

Wichtige Grammatik

Plural Marker -들

사람들 (People), 친구들 (Friends)

Topic Marker -은/는

그들은 학생입니다. (They are students.)

Subject Marker -이/가

그들이 왔어요. (They came.)

Possessive Marker -의

그들의 집 (Their house)

Dative Marker -에게

그들에게 물어보세요. (Ask them.)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

그들은 학생입니다.

They are students.

그들 (They) + 은 (Topic marker) + 학생 (Student) + 입니다 (is/are - formal).

그들은 친구예요.

They are friends.

Standard polite ending -예요 is used here.

그들은 한국에 살아요.

They live in Korea.

살아요 is the present tense of 'to live'.

그들은 사과를 좋아해요.

They like apples.

사과 (apple) + 를 (object marker).

그들은 지금 공부해요.

They are studying now.

지금 means 'now'.

그들은 어디에 있어요?

Where are they?

어디 (where) + 에 (location marker).

그들은 노래를 불러요.

They sing a song.

노래 (song) + 를 (object marker) + 불러요 (sing).

그들은 키가 커요.

They are tall.

키가 크다 is the expression for 'to be tall'.

그들은 어제 영화를 봤어요.

They watched a movie yesterday.

어제 (yesterday) + 봤어요 (past tense of 'to see/watch').

저는 그들을 공원에서 만났어요.

I met them at the park.

그들을 (them - object) + 공원에서 (at the park).

그들은 내일 바다에 갈 거예요.

They will go to the sea tomorrow.

갈 거예요 is the future tense.

그들은 한국 음식을 아주 잘 먹어요.

They eat Korean food very well.

아주 잘 (very well) + 먹어요 (eat).

그들에게 선물을 주었어요.

I gave them a gift.

그들에게 (to them) + 주었어요 (gave).

그들은 매일 아침 운동을 해요.

They exercise every morning.

매일 아침 (every morning).

그들은 서로 아주 친해요.

They are very close to each other.

서로 (each other) + 친하다 (to be close).

그들은 도서관에서 책을 읽고 있어요.

They are reading books in the library.

-고 있다 indicates continuous action.

그들은 새로운 프로젝트를 시작하기로 했어요.

They decided to start a new project.

-기로 하다 means 'to decide to'.

그들의 의견은 매우 중요합니다.

Their opinion is very important.

그들의 (their) + 의견 (opinion).

그들은 어려움을 극복하고 성공했습니다.

They overcame difficulties and succeeded.

극복하다 (to overcome) + 성공하다 (to succeed).

그들은 왜 그 결정을 내렸을까요?

Why did they make that decision?

-을까요? is used for wondering or asking for opinion.

그들은 환경 보호를 위해 노력하고 있습니다.

They are making efforts for environmental protection.

-를 위해 (for the sake of).

그들은 전통을 지키기 위해 애쓰고 있어요.

They are striving to preserve tradition.

애쓰다 (to strive/to make an effort).

그들은 마을의 발전을 위해 회의를 열었습니다.

They held a meeting for the development of the village.

회의를 열다 (to hold a meeting).

그들은 자신들의 꿈을 이루기 위해 노력합니다.

They work hard to achieve their dreams.

자신들 (themselves) often reinforces '그들'.

그들은 사회적 약자를 돕기 위해 단체를 설립했다.

They established an organization to help the socially disadvantaged.

Written style (plain form) is used here.

그들의 주장은 논리적으로 타당해 보입니다.

Their argument seems logically valid.

타당하다 (to be valid) + -어 보이다 (to seem).

그들은 과거의 실수를 되풀이하지 않으려 노력한다.

They try not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

-으려 노력하다 (try to/intend to).

그들은 기술 혁신을 통해 시장을 선도하고 있다.

They are leading the market through technological innovation.

-를 통해 (through/via).

그들은 서로의 차이를 인정하고 존중하기 시작했다.

They began to acknowledge and respect each other's differences.

인정하다 (acknowledge) + 존중하다 (respect).

그들은 예술을 통해 세상과 소통하고자 한다.

They wish to communicate with the world through art.

-고자 하다 (wish to/intend to - formal).

그들은 경제적 자립을 위해 새로운 기술을 배우고 있다.

They are learning new skills for economic independence.

자립 (independence/self-reliance).

그들은 지역 사회의 평화를 위해 헌신하고 있다.

They are dedicated to the peace of the local community.

헌신하다 (to be dedicated/devoted).

그들은 인간의 존엄성을 수호하기 위해 투쟁해 왔다.

They have been struggling to protect human dignity.

-해 왔다 indicates an action continuing from the past to the present.

그들의 작품은 시대적 아픔을 날카롭게 투영하고 있다.

Their works sharply reflect the pain of the era.

투영하다 (to project/reflect).

그들은 기존의 질서에 도전하며 새로운 가치를 창출했다.

They challenged the existing order and created new values.

창출하다 (to create/generate).

그들은 소외된 이웃들의 목소리를 대변하는 역할을 한다.

They play the role of representing the voices of marginalized neighbors.

대변하다 (to represent/speak for).

그들은 학문적 성취를 위해 평생을 바친 연구자들이다.

They are researchers who dedicated their entire lives to academic achievement.

바치다 (to dedicate/devote).

그들은 복잡한 이해관계를 조정하며 합의점을 찾아냈다.

They coordinated complex interests and found a point of agreement.

이해관계 (interests) + 조정하다 (coordinate/mediate).

그들은 기후 변화라는 인류 공동의 과제에 직면해 있다.

They are facing the common human task of climate change.

직면하다 (to face/confront).

그들은 보이지 않는 곳에서 묵묵히 자신의 소임을 다한다.

They silently fulfill their duties in unseen places.

소임을 다하다 (to fulfill one's duty).

그들은 포스트모더니즘의 해체적 담론을 적극적으로 수용했다.

They actively embraced the deconstructive discourse of postmodernism.

해체적 담론 (deconstructive discourse).

그들의 행보는 현대 사회의 구조적 모순을 적나라하게 드러낸다.

Their actions starkly reveal the structural contradictions of modern society.

적나라하게 (starkly/nakedly).

그들은 주체적인 삶을 영위하기 위해 끊임없이 성찰한다.

They constantly reflect in order to lead an independent and self-directed life.

영위하다 (to lead/maintain a life).

그들은 언어의 한계를 넘어서는 초월적 소통을 지향한다.

They aim for transcendental communication that goes beyond the limits of language.

지향하다 (to aim for/be oriented toward).

그들은 역사의 소용돌이 속에서도 인간성을 잃지 않았다.

They did not lose their humanity even in the whirlpool of history.

역사의 소용돌이 (whirlpool of history).

그들은 미학적 완성도를 추구하며 예술의 지평을 넓혔다.

They expanded the horizons of art by pursuing aesthetic perfection.

지평을 넓히다 (to expand horizons).

그들은 다원주의 사회에서 공존의 지혜를 모색하고 있다.

They are seeking the wisdom of coexistence in a pluralistic society.

다원주의 (pluralism) + 모색하다 (to seek/explore).

그들은 존재의 본질에 대한 근원적인 물음을 던진다.

They pose fundamental questions about the essence of existence.

근원적인 물음 (fundamental question).

Häufige Kollokationen

그들만의

그들 중

그들 사이의

그들에게는

그들 모두

그들 역시

그들 자신

그들 덕분에

그들 대신에

그들과 함께

Häufige Phrasen

그들은 누구인가?

— A common rhetorical question used in titles or documentaries meaning 'Who are they?'.

베일에 싸인 그들은 누구인가?

그들의 운명

— A dramatic phrase meaning 'their fate', often used in stories.

그들의 운명은 어떻게 될까요?

그들의 삶

— Meaning 'their lives', used when discussing the lifestyle or history of a group.

평범한 그들의 삶을 엿보다.

그들 보기에

— Meaning 'from their perspective' or 'in their eyes'.

그들 보기에 이 상황은 이상했다.

그들 나름대로

— Meaning 'in their own way'.

그들은 그들 나름대로 최선을 다했다.

그들뿐만 아니라

— Meaning 'not only them'.

그들뿐만 아니라 우리도 책임이 있다.

그들 말로는

— Meaning 'according to what they say'.

그들 말로는 아무 일도 없었대요.

그들 손에

— Meaning 'in their hands', often used figuratively regarding control.

모든 결정권은 그들 손에 있다.

그들 덕에

— A slightly more casual way of saying 'thanks to them'.

그들 덕에 즐거운 시간을 보냈다.

그들 위주로

— Meaning 'centered around them' or 'focusing on them'.

계획이 그들 위주로 짜여 있다.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

그들 vs 그녀들

Specifically for females. '그들' is mixed or neutral.

그들 vs 그분들

The honorific version. Use this for elders.

그들 vs 이들

Refers to people close to the speaker ('these people').

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"그들만의 리그"

— Refers to a situation where a specific group of people interact or compete only among themselves, excluding others.

그 파티는 그들만의 리그처럼 보였다.

Informal/Media

"그들이 가면 우리도 간다"

— A phrase expressing solidarity or following a group's lead.

그들이 가면 우리도 간다는 마음으로 함께합시다.

Neutral

"그들의 입맛에 맞추다"

— To cater to their specific tastes or preferences.

우리는 그들의 입맛에 맞추기 위해 메뉴를 바꿨다.

Neutral

"그들의 코를 납작하게 만들다"

— To humble them or take them down a peg (literally 'to flatten their noses').

이번 경기에서 그들의 코를 납작하게 만들어 주자.

Informal

"그들의 발목을 잡다"

— To hold them back or prevent them from succeeding.

부상이 그들의 발목을 잡았다.

Neutral

"그들의 눈 밖에 나다"

— To lose favor with them or be disliked by them.

그는 상사들(그들)의 눈 밖에 나고 말았다.

Neutral

"그들의 손을 들어주다"

— To side with them or declare them the winner.

심판은 결국 그들의 손을 들어주었다.

Neutral

"그들의 뒤통수를 치다"

— To betray them or catch them off guard from behind.

그는 믿었던 그들의 뒤통수를 쳤다.

Informal

"그들의 배를 불리다"

— To make them rich, often used in a critical or negative sense.

이 정책은 부자들(그들)의 배를 불릴 뿐이다.

Critical

"그들의 씨를 말리다"

— To completely eradicate them or their kind.

그들은 적들의 씨를 말리겠다고 다짐했다.

Strong/Literary

Leicht verwechselbar

그들 vs 그들

Direct translation of 'they'.

Used in formal writing and literature.

그들은 역사를 바꿨다.

그들 vs 그 사람들

Also means 'they'.

The standard way to say 'they' in speech.

그 사람들은 어디 갔어요?

그들 vs 걔네들

Also means 'they'.

Very casual, used for friends or younger people.

걔네들 진짜 웃겨.

그들 vs 저 사람들

Also means 'they'.

Refers to people far away from both speaker and listener.

저 사람들은 누구지?

그들 vs 이 사람들

Also means 'they'.

Refers to people near the speaker ('these people').

이 사람들은 제 동료예요.

Satzmuster

그들은 [Noun]입니다.

그들은 의사입니다.

그들은 [Verb]-고 있어요.

그들은 밥을 먹고 있어요.

그들은 [Verb]-기로 했어요.

그들은 여행을 가기로 했어요.

그들의 [Noun]은/는 [Adjective]합니다.

그들의 계획은 완벽합니다.

그들은 [Noun]을/를 위해 [Verb]-해 왔다.

그들은 평화를 위해 노력해 왔다.

그들은 [Noun]의 [Noun]을/를 [Verb]-하고자 한다.

그들은 사회의 모순을 해결하고자 한다.

All

그들 중 [Number] 명

그들 중 세 명

All

그들과 함께

그들과 함께 가요.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

그 (He/That)

그녀 (She)

그들 (They)

Verwandt

이들 (these people)

저들 (those people)

그분들 (they - honorific)

그녀들 (they - female)

자기들 (themselves)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high in written Korean; low to medium in spoken Korean.

Häufige Fehler

Using '그들' in casual speech with friends. → Use '그 사람들' or '걔네들'.
'그들' sounds like you are reading a book, which can be awkward in a casual setting.
Using '그들' for a group of teachers. → Use '그분들'.
'그들' is neutral and lacks the respect required for teachers or elders in Korean culture.
Translating 'They are...' as '그들은...입니다' every time. → Omit the subject if it's already known.
Korean is pro-drop; overusing pronouns makes the language feel clunky and non-native.
Confusing '그들' with '그녀들' for a mixed group. → Use '그들'.
'그녀들' is only for all-female groups. '그들' is the correct term for mixed-gender groups.
Using '그들' to refer to objects. → Use '그것들'.
'그들' is strictly for people. '그것들' is used for inanimate objects or sometimes animals.

Tipps

Stick to Writing

Use '그들' primarily when you are writing essays, reports, or stories. It sounds professional and clear in these formats.

Respect Elders

Always switch to '그분들' when the people you are talking about are older than you. This is a crucial part of Korean etiquette.

Omit When Possible

If the context makes it clear who you are talking about, don't use '그들'. Korean flows better when unnecessary pronouns are dropped.

Particle Precision

Pay close attention to particles. '그들에게' (to them), '그들로부터' (from them), and '그들만의' (only their) all change the meaning significantly.

Learn '이들' and '저들'

Expand your range by learning '이들' (these people) and '저들' (those people) to indicate spatial or psychological distance.

News Context

Listen to KBS or MBC news. You will hear '그들' used to refer to political groups or social demographics constantly.

Novel Practice

Read a translated novel (like Harry Potter in Korean). You will see '그들' used for 'they' on almost every page.

Poetic Use

In lyrics, '그들' can sound very emotional. It creates a sense of 'us vs. them' or 'the world out there'.

Don't Overuse

If you use '그들' three times in one paragraph, it's too much. Try to use the group's name (e.g., '학생들은') instead.

Group Identity

Use '그들' when you want to emphasize a group as a single entity with a shared purpose or characteristic.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Geu' (그) as 'Go' and 'Deul' (들) as 'Dull'. 'They' (그들) are 'Going' to a 'Dull' meeting.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a group of people standing far away. Point at them and say 'Geu-deul'. The '들' sound is like a group of people 'dulling' around.

Word Web

그 (He) 들 (Plural marker) 그들 (They) 그녀들 (They - female) 그분들 (They - polite) 그 사람들 (Those people) 걔네들 (Those kids) 이들 (These people)

Herausforderung

Try to find '그들' in a Korean news article today. Notice which particle is attached to it and why.

Wortherkunft

The word is a compound of the demonstrative pronoun '그' (that/he) and the plural suffix '-들'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Literally 'those ones' or 'that group'.

Koreanic

Kultureller Kontext

Avoid using '그들' for elders; it is considered disrespectful. Always use '그분들' in those cases.

English speakers use 'they' for almost everything. In Korean, you must learn to suppress this urge and use specific nouns or titles instead.

그들만의 리그 (A League of Their Own - Korean title for the movie) 그들이 사는 세상 (The World They Live In - a famous K-drama) 그들의 사랑 (Their Love - common song title theme)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

News Reporting

그들은 혐의를 부인했습니다.
그들은 현장에서 체포되었습니다.
그들은 구호 활동을 벌이고 있습니다.
그들은 새로운 정책에 반대합니다.

Storytelling/Novels

그들은 숲으로 들어갔다.
그들은 서로를 바라보았다.
그들은 운명적인 만남을 가졌다.
그들은 비밀을 공유했다.

Academic Writing

그들은 실험에 참여한 피험자들이다.
그들의 행동 양식은 다음과 같다.
그들은 특정 조건에서 반응했다.
그들의 데이터는 신뢰할 수 있다.

Business Meetings

그들의 제안을 검토해 봅시다.
그들과 협력할 기회가 있습니다.
그들의 시장 점유율이 높습니다.
그들은 경쟁사입니다.

Documentaries

그들은 매년 이곳을 찾습니다.
그들의 전통은 수백 년간 이어졌습니다.
그들은 자연과 공존하며 삽니다.
그들의 지혜는 놀랍습니다.

Gesprächseinstiege

"그들에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요? (What do you think about them?)"

"그들이 왜 그렇게 행동했을까요? (Why do you think they acted that way?)"

"그들의 성공 비결이 무엇일까요? (What is the secret to their success?)"

"그들과 함께 일해본 적이 있나요? (Have you ever worked with them?)"

"그들의 주장에 동의하시나요? (Do you agree with their argument?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

오늘 만난 사람들에 대해 써보세요. 그들은 당신에게 어떤 인상을 주었나요? (Write about the people you met today. What impression did they give you?)

당신이 존경하는 그룹이 있나요? 그들은 왜 특별한가요? (Is there a group you admire? Why are they special?)

역사 속의 한 그룹에 대해 써보세요. 그들은 세상을 어떻게 바꿨나요? (Write about a group in history. How did they change the world?)

미래의 인류는 어떤 모습일까요? 그들은 어떤 고민을 할까요? (What will future humans look like? What worries will they have?)

당신의 경쟁자들에 대해 써보세요. 그들은 당신을 어떻게 성장시키나요? (Write about your competitors. How do they make you grow?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, using '그들' for your parents or any elders is considered impolite. You should use '그분들' (geu-bun-deul) instead, which is the honorific form.

No, '그들' is gender-neutral. It can refer to a group of men, a mixed group, or even a group of women, although '그녀들' exists specifically for women.

K-dramas reflect spoken Korean, where '그들' is rare. Characters usually use names, titles, or '그 사람들' to sound more natural.

'그들이' focuses on 'they' as the specific subject of an action. '그들은' sets 'they' as the topic of the sentence or contrasts them with others.

Generally, '그들' is for humans. For animals, you would usually say '그 동물들' (those animals) or just '그것들' (those things), though in poetic writing, '그들' might be used.

You say '그들의' (geu-deul-ui). For example, '그들의 가방' means 'their bags'.

Yes, when followed by the object marker '-을', as in '그들을' (geu-deul-eul). Example: '그들을 초대했어요' (I invited them).

Yes, it became popular in the early 20th century due to the influence of Western literature translation. Traditional Korean used different ways to refer to groups.

Yes, '그들' is appropriate for formal business writing when referring to a third-party group like 'competitors' or 'clients' in an objective way.

Unlike '나의' (내) or '너의' (네), '그들의' does not have a common shortened form in standard Korean.

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