~에게서

Hello, Korean learners! Today we're looking at the particle ~에게서 (~egeseo). This particle is all about indicating the source of an action or an item, specifically when that source is a person or an animal. Think of it as meaning 'from' in English.

§ What ~에게서 Means

DEFINITION

~에게서 (egeseo) is a particle that attaches to people or animals to indicate that something is coming 'from' them. It marks the origin or source of an action, gift, or information.

Let's look at some examples to make this clear.

§ Similar Words and When to Use ~에게서 vs. Alternatives

Korean has a few ways to express 'from', and knowing which one to use depends on the context. Let's compare ~에게서 with some other common particles.

• ~에게서 vs. ~에서 (~eseo)

  This is the most common point of confusion. While both can mean 'from', their usage is distinct.

  • ~에게서: Use this when the source is a person or an animal. It emphasizes the living being as the origin.

    동생에게서 편지가 왔어요. (A letter came from my younger sibling.)

  • ~에서: Use this when the source is a place or an inanimate object. It also indicates the location where an action takes place.

    저는 도서관에서 책을 빌렸어요. (I borrowed a book from the library.)

    서울에서 부산까지. (From Seoul to Busan.)

• ~께로부터 (~kkerobuteo) and ~에게서 (Honorific Form)

  When referring to a person of higher status or someone you want to show respect to, you can use the honorific form.

  • ~께로부터: This is the honorific equivalent of ~에게서. It's used when the person you are receiving something from is a senior or someone you need to show deference to.

    사장님께로부터 지시를 받았습니다. (I received instructions from the CEO.)

• ~한테서 (~hanteseo)

  This is a more colloquial and commonly used particle that is interchangeable with ~에게서 in most everyday situations, especially in spoken Korean. It's less formal.

  • ~한테서: Can be used for both people and animals, just like ~에게서, but it's generally considered less formal.

    친구한테서 연락이 왔어요. (I got a call from my friend.)

§ Key Takeaways

• Use ~에게서 when the 'from' source is a person or an animal.

• Use ~에서 when the 'from' source is a place or an inanimate object.

• Use ~한테서 for casual spoken Korean, interchangeable with ~에게서.

• Use ~께로부터 for honorific situations, showing respect to the person you received something from.

Keep practicing these distinctions, and you'll soon be using the correct 'from' particle naturally! Great job today. Happy studying!