이것은 ~입니다.
1055
This is ~.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential way to formally identify or introduce an object right in front of you.
- Means: 'This (thing) is [Noun]' in a polite, formal setting.
- Used in: Business presentations, museum tours, and meeting elders.
- Don't confuse: 'Igeot' (this) with 'Geugeot' (that) or 'Jeogeot' (that over there).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Introducing or identifying a close object.
Contexte culturel
When using '이것은 ~입니다' to present a gift, it is common to say '약소하지만 이것은 제 선물입니다' (It's not much, but this is my gift). This shows the cultural value of humility. In a boardroom, using the full '이것은' instead of the contraction '이건' demonstrates that you are taking the situation seriously and showing respect to the participants. On Korean Instagram or blogs, you might see '이것은 ~인가 ~인가' (Is this A or B?) as a playful way to caption photos, showing that even formal structures can be used for humor. Teachers use this phrase constantly to define terms. It establishes a clear 'knower' and 'learner' dynamic, which is central to Confucian-influenced education.
The 'M' Rule
Always remember that '입니다' is pronounced 'IM-nida'. If you say 'IB-nida', it sounds very unnatural to native ears.
No People!
Never use '이것' for your friends or family. It makes them sound like furniture. Use '이분' or '이사람'.
Signification
Introducing or identifying a close object.
The 'M' Rule
Always remember that '입니다' is pronounced 'IM-nida'. If you say 'IB-nida', it sounds very unnatural to native ears.
No People!
Never use '이것' for your friends or family. It makes them sound like furniture. Use '이분' or '이사람'.
Two Hands
When saying '이것은 ~입니다' while giving something, use both hands to hold the object. It doubles the respect!
Contractions
Use '이건' in 90% of your spoken conversations. It makes you sound much more fluent and less like a textbook.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank to say 'This is a camera' in a formal way.
이것은 {카메라|카메라}____.
The formal declarative ending is '입니다'.
Which sentence is the most natural for a business meeting?
Introducing your company's catalog:
The full '이것은' and '입니다' ending is the most professional.
Complete the dialogue at the museum.
Tourist: 저게 뭐예요? Guide: _________.
The guide would use formal language to identify the object near them.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Phrase: '이것은 제 아내입니다' (Wait, is this right?)
Never use '이것' for people; it's for objects.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, you can use '이것' for animals, but many pet owners prefer '이 아이' (this child) or '우리 강아지' (our puppy) to show affection.
'이건' is just the shortened version of '이것은'. They mean the exact same thing, but '이건' is more common in speech.
Yes, '입니다' is the formal version of 'to be' and must follow a noun. You cannot use it directly after an adjective or verb.
You use '이것은 ~이/가 아닙니다'. For example: '이것은 사과가 아닙니다' (This is not an apple).
'이게' is the contraction of '이것이' (subject marker). It's used when you want to focus on the object itself rather than the topic.
Yes, but only if you are texting someone you need to be formal with, like a professor or a client. With friends, use '이야'.
In Korea, pointing with one finger can be seen as aggressive. It is better to gesture with an open palm toward the object.
You can ask '이것은 무엇입니까?' (What is this?) or '이게 뭐예요?' (What is this? - polite).
No! Korean verbs don't change for singular or plural. '이것은 책입니다' can mean 'This is a book' or 'These are books'.
Use '저것' (jeogeot) when the object is far away from both you and the person you are talking to.
Yes, the basic structure is the same, though the intonation and some vocabulary might differ.
Yes, when showing a photo on your phone, you can say '이것은 제 고향입니다' (This is my hometown).
Expressions liées
그것은 ~입니다
similarThat is ~ (near you)
저것은 ~입니다
similarThat is ~ (far away)
이분은 ~입니다
specialized formThis person is ~
이건 ~예요
similarThis is ~ (polite)
이게 뭐예요?
builds onWhat is this?
Où l'utiliser
Business Card Exchange
A: 만나서 반갑습니다. 이것은 제 명함입니다.
B: 아, 감사합니다. 제 명함도 여기 있습니다.
At the Airport Customs
Officer: 가방 안에 무엇이 있습니까?
Traveler: 이것은 {한약|韓藥}입니다. 건강을 위해서 가져왔습니다.
Museum Tour
Guide: 이것은 15세기에 만들어진 {도자기|陶瓷器}입니다.
Tourist: 정말 아름답네요!
Giving a Gift to an Elder
Student: 선생님, 이것은 작은 선물입니다. 받아 주세요.
Teacher: 고마워요. 잘 쓸게요.
Ordering at a Fancy Restaurant
Waiter: 이것은 오늘 추천하는 와인입니다.
Customer: 좋네요. 한 병 주세요.
Job Interview
Interviewer: 포트폴리오를 보여주세요.
Applicant: 네, 이것은 제가 작년에 완성한 프로젝트입니다.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'I-geot' as 'I got' this thing in my hand. 'Imnida' sounds like 'I'm neat-ah' because I'm being formal and polite.
Association visuelle
Imagine yourself wearing a tuxedo, holding a golden trophy with both hands, and presenting it to a crowd while saying 'Igeoseun...'
Rhyme
I-geot-eun, near my thumb. Imnida, formal fun!
Story
You are a secret agent. You find a mysterious device. You show it to your boss (the Director) and say '이것은 폭탄입니다' (This is a bomb). He nods because you used the correct formal level.
Word Web
Défi
Go around your room and name 5 objects using '이것은 [Noun]입니다'. For example: '이것은 침대입니다' (This is a bed).
In Other Languages
Esto es ~
Korean requires a politeness marker (입니다) which Spanish handles through verb endings or 'usted'.
C'est ~
Korean has three levels of distance (this, that, that over there), while French primarily uses one.
Das ist ~
Korean word order is Subject-Noun-Verb, while German is Subject-Verb-Noun.
これは ~ です (Kore wa ~ desu)
The sounds are different, but the 'soul' of the sentence is the same.
هذا هو ~ (Hada huwa ~)
Arabic often omits the verb 'to be' in the present tense, whereas Korean always requires the copula '이다'.
这是 ~ (Zhè shì ~)
Chinese lacks the complex honorific system found in the Korean '입니다' ending.
이거는 ~이라예 (Gyeongsang dialect)
The intonation is much more melodic and the ending is softer.
Isto é ~
Portuguese verbs conjugate for person/number, while Korean '입니다' stays the same for everyone.
Facile à confondre
Learners mix up the topic marker '은' and subject marker '이'.
Use '은' for general identification. Use '이' when you are specifically pointing out 'THIS one' as the answer to a question.
Learners use 'this thing' when they mean 'this place'.
Use '이것' for objects you can hold. Use '여기' for locations or places.
FAQ (12)
Yes, you can use '이것' for animals, but many pet owners prefer '이 아이' (this child) or '우리 강아지' (our puppy) to show affection.
'이건' is just the shortened version of '이것은'. They mean the exact same thing, but '이건' is more common in speech.
Yes, '입니다' is the formal version of 'to be' and must follow a noun. You cannot use it directly after an adjective or verb.
You use '이것은 ~이/가 아닙니다'. For example: '이것은 사과가 아닙니다' (This is not an apple).
'이게' is the contraction of '이것이' (subject marker). It's used when you want to focus on the object itself rather than the topic.
Yes, but only if you are texting someone you need to be formal with, like a professor or a client. With friends, use '이야'.
In Korea, pointing with one finger can be seen as aggressive. It is better to gesture with an open palm toward the object.
You can ask '이것은 무엇입니까?' (What is this?) or '이게 뭐예요?' (What is this? - polite).
No! Korean verbs don't change for singular or plural. '이것은 책입니다' can mean 'This is a book' or 'These are books'.
Use '저것' (jeogeot) when the object is far away from both you and the person you are talking to.
Yes, the basic structure is the same, though the intonation and some vocabulary might differ.
Yes, when showing a photo on your phone, you can say '이것은 제 고향입니다' (This is my hometown).
