To Someone (에게 / 한테)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 에게 or 한테 to indicate the recipient of an action, like 'to' in English.
- Use 에게 for formal or written contexts (e.g., 선생님에게).
- Use 한테 for casual, spoken conversations (e.g., 친구한테).
- Attach directly to the noun without a space (e.g., 엄마에게).
Overview
In Korean grammar, 에게 (ege), 한테 (hante), and 께 (kke) are crucial post-positional particles that denote the indirect object of a verb. They precisely identify the living recipient—whether a person or an animal—to whom or for whom an action is performed. These particles establish a clear directional flow for the verb, signifying that an action is being directed toward a conscious being.
Unlike English prepositions such as "to" or "for," which can apply broadly, Korean makes a distinct grammatical separation between actions targeting sentient entities and those directed toward inanimate objects or mere locations, which employ different particles. This inherent distinction reflects a profound Korean linguistic emphasis on human relationships and the nature of the recipient.
For you, as an A1 learner, accurately utilizing these particles is not merely a matter of grammatical precision; it is foundational for socially appropriate and effective basic communication. Your choice among 에게, 한테, and 께 directly communicates your perceived relationship with the recipient and your level of respect, making their mastery indispensable from the very beginning of your Korean language journey.
How This Grammar Works
에게, 한테, and 께 function as post-positional particles, meaning they are directly appended to the noun that represents the living recipient. They operate similarly to English prepositions but are placed after the noun phrase. The decision among these three particles is contingent upon the level of formality required by the context and the social relationship between you (the speaker) and the recipient.을/를) + Recipient Noun + Particle (에게/한테/께) + Verb. For instance, if you wish to express giving something to your younger sibling, you would construct the phrase using 동생 (younger sibling) followed by 한테 or 에게.저는 동생에게 편지를 썼어요.동생 (younger sibling) is the living recipient, marked by 에게, clearly indicating that the letter was written to them. The underlying principle is that the action of the verb—such as giving, writing, telling, or sending—is terminated at or directed toward a conscious being. This fundamental concept is paramount for you to grasp, as it differentiates these particles from those used for inanimate targets or locations.Formation Pattern
에게, 한테, and 께 is mechanically simple: you directly attach the chosen particle to the recipient noun. There are no phonological rules (like batchim considerations) that influence their attachment, which simplifies the process significantly. The true complexity, and where your learning must focus, lies in selecting the appropriate particle for a given social situation, as this choice profoundly influences the tone and politeness of your communication.
한테 | Casual, Spoken, Informal | This is the most common and versatile particle for everyday, informal conversations. It conveys familiarity and closeness. Often used with friends, peers, younger family members, or pets. It's your default choice when you're speaking casually and no special respect is required beyond general politeness. It's also often chosen for animals because it reflects a personal, informal bond. | 친구 (friend) | 친구한테 | chinguhante | to a friend |
동생 (younger sibling) | 동생한테 | dongsaeng-hante | to a younger sibling |
고양이 (cat) | 고양이한테 | goyang-ihante | to a cat |
에게 | Formal, Written, Polite Spoken | Grammatically interchangeable with 한테 in many contexts, but 에게 carries a more formal, neutral, or slightly elevated tone. It is ubiquitous in written materials (e.g., books, news articles, official documents) and academic contexts. In spoken language, it can be used to sound more refined or less intimate, particularly when addressing a group or in public speaking situations. It maintains a respectful distance without being honorific. | 학생 (student) | 학생에게 | haksaeng-ege | to a student |
부모님 (parents) | 부모님에게 | bumonim-ege | to parents (respectful but not honorific) |
국민 (citizens) | 국민에게 | gungmin-ege | to citizens |
께 | Honorific, Obligatory | This particle is mandatory when the recipient of the action is a person of significantly higher social status, age, or rank than you. It is a fundamental expression of deference and respect in Korean society. Failing to use 께 in these situations is considered impolite and a significant social blunder. 께 is never interchangeable with 에게 or 한테; it is their honorific replacement. It is often paired with honorific verbs (드리다, 뵙다, 말씀드리다) to further elevate the level of respect. | 선생님 (teacher) | 선생님께 | seonsaengnimkke | to a teacher |
교수님 (professor) | 교수님께 | gyosunimkke | to a professor |
할아버지 (grandfather) | 할아버지께 | harabeojikke | to a grandfather |
한테 is typically reserved for informal, close relationships and 에게 for more formal or written contexts, 께 stands as a distinct and obligatory marker of respect. You must internalize these distinctions early on. For example, 엄마한테 전화했어요. (I called Mom.) is natural and common, reflecting a casual relationship. However, 교수님께 이메일을 보냈습니다. (I sent an email to the professor.) uses 께 with the formal 보냈습니다 to convey appropriate respect for the professor's status.
When To Use It
- 1Verbs of Giving, Sending, and Delivering: Use these particles when transferring possession, information, or a physical item to someone.
- Common verbs:
주다(to give),드리다(honorific of주다),보내다(to send),전해주다(to deliver/pass on),선물하다(to present/gift).
해체):저는 제 친구한테 책을 줬어요.친구한테 highlights 친구 as the direct recipient of the 책 (book).합니다체):부모님께 용돈을 드렸습니다.부모님께 and the honorific verb 드렸습니다 (honorific form of 주다) is crucial for showing respect to parents, who are elders.- 1Verbs of Communication and Information Transfer: Whenever you convey information, speak, teach, ask, or report something to a person.
- Verbs:
말하다(to speak/tell),이야기하다(to talk),묻다/물어보다(to ask),가르치다(to teach),알리다(to inform),설명하다(to explain).
해체):선생님에게 질문이 있어요.선생님께 is more common and honorific, 선생님에게 is grammatically acceptable and can be heard in contexts where a formal-polite but not strictly honorific tone is used, or in some written forms.합니다체):교장선생님께 이 소식을 보고했습니다.교장선생님께 and 보고했습니다 (reported) uphold the high level of respect due to a principal.- 1Actions Directed Towards Animals/Pets: For pets and other animals,
한테is overwhelmingly preferred. This choice inherently reflects the informal, often affectionate, relationship you have with animals.
강아지한테 밥을 줬어요.강아지에게 is grammatically correct, it sounds less natural and potentially overly formal compared to the idiomatic 강아지한테. The use of 한테 here subtly conveys the personal bond.- 1General Address to Groups: When addressing a collective of people, the choice between
에게and께depends on the formality and the level of respect you intend to convey to the entire group.
에게):모든 팀원들에게 중요한 공지사항입니다.모든 팀원들에게 uses 에게 for a clear, formal, and inclusive address to a professional group.께):존경하는 국민 여러분께 호소드립니다.존경하는 국민 여러분 (respected citizens) with 께 and the honorific 호소드립니다 (to appeal) to convey utmost respect.에게, 한테, or 께 not only ensures grammatical accuracy but also demonstrates your sophisticated understanding of Korean social protocols and communication ethics. This cultural insight into how respect is encoded directly into grammar is a hallmark of advanced Korean fluency.When Not To Use It
에게, 한테, or 께 can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences, confusion, or, in the case of honorifics, social offense. The fundamental rule remains: these particles are exclusively for living, conscious recipients.- 1Inanimate Objects and Abstract Concepts: You must never use
에게,한테, or께with non-living things, places, or abstract concepts. These particles inherently imply a sentient receiver capable of consciously interacting with the action. For inanimate targets or locations, the particle에(e) is the correct choice.
저는 편지함한테 편지를 넣었어요. (X)저는 편지함에 편지를 넣었어요.편지함에 (in the mailbox) indicates a location or container, not a living recipient.저는 회사에게 서류를 보냈어요. (X)에게/한테/께.저는 회사에 서류를 보냈어요.회사에 here correctly marks the company as the destination or target of the action.- 1Locations or Destinations for Movement Verbs: When indicating the destination of movement (e.g., going to a place, arriving at a location), the particle
에is always correct. The location itself is not a
Particle Usage Table
| Recipient Type | Particle | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Friend
|
한테
|
Casual
|
친구한테
|
|
Friend
|
에게
|
Formal
|
친구에게
|
|
Teacher
|
께
|
Honorific
|
선생님께
|
|
Animal
|
에게
|
Neutral
|
강아지에게
|
|
Customer
|
에게
|
Formal
|
고객에게
|
|
Group
|
에게
|
Formal
|
사람들에게
|
Honorific Variation
| Base | Honorific |
|---|---|
|
에게/한테
|
께
|
Meanings
These particles mark the indirect object of a sentence, indicating the person or entity receiving an action or object.
Recipient
The person receiving something.
“동생에게 사탕을 줬어요.”
“선생님께 질문을 했어요.”
Target of action
The person toward whom an action is directed.
“그 사람한테 말하지 마세요.”
“친구에게 편지를 써요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + 에게
|
친구에게 줬어요
|
|
Negative
|
Noun + 에게 + 안 + Verb
|
친구에게 안 줬어요
|
|
Question
|
Noun + 에게 + Verb?
|
친구에게 줬어요?
|
|
Honorific
|
Noun + 께
|
선생님께 드렸어요
|
|
Casual
|
Noun + 한테
|
친구한테 줬어
|
|
Plural
|
Noun + 들 + 에게
|
친구들에게 줬어요
|
Formality Spectrum
그에게 주었습니다. (Giving a gift)
그에게 줬어요. (Giving a gift)
걔한테 줬어. (Giving a gift)
걔한테 줬음. (Giving a gift)
Recipient Particle Map
People
- 친구 friend
- 엄마 mom
Animals
- 강아지 puppy
- 고양이 cat
Examples by Level
친구한테 줘요.
Give it to a friend.
엄마에게 편지를 써요.
I write a letter to Mom.
동생에게 사탕을 줘요.
I give candy to my younger sibling.
누구한테 말해요?
Who are you talking to?
선생님께 질문이 있어요.
I have a question for the teacher.
그 사람한테 전화하지 마세요.
Don't call that person.
강아지에게 밥을 줬어요.
I fed the puppy.
누구에게 선물을 보낼까요?
Who should I send the gift to?
사장님께 보고서를 제출했습니다.
I submitted the report to the boss.
친구한테 빌린 돈을 갚았어요.
I paid back the money I borrowed from a friend.
고객님에게 안내 메일을 보냈습니다.
I sent an information email to the customer.
동료한테 도움을 요청했어요.
I asked a colleague for help.
부모님께 안부 전화를 드렸습니다.
I called my parents to ask how they are.
그녀에게 진실을 말해야 할 것 같아요.
I think I should tell her the truth.
아이들한테 동화책을 읽어주세요.
Please read a storybook to the children.
교수님께 이메일을 보냈는데 답장이 없네요.
I sent an email to the professor, but there is no reply.
그에게 모든 책임을 전가하는 것은 옳지 않습니다.
It is not right to shift all responsibility to him.
할머니께 정성껏 준비한 선물을 드렸습니다.
I gave the gift I prepared with care to my grandmother.
불특정 다수에게 정보를 공개하는 것은 위험합니다.
Disclosing information to an unspecified number of people is dangerous.
친구한테 털어놓으니 마음이 한결 가벼워졌어요.
I feel much lighter after confiding in my friend.
국민에게 약속한 바를 반드시 이행해야 합니다.
We must fulfill what we promised to the people.
스승님께 가르침을 구하는 것은 제자의 도리입니다.
Seeking wisdom from a mentor is the duty of a student.
그에게 닥친 시련은 이루 말할 수 없었습니다.
The trials that befell him were beyond words.
지인들에게 일일이 연락을 취하는 것이 쉽지 않았습니다.
It was not easy to contact all my acquaintances one by one.
Easily Confused
Both translate to 'to' in English.
Both mean 'to' a person.
Both mark a recipient.
Common Mistakes
학교에게 가요
학교에 가요
친구 에게 줘요
친구에게 줘요
선생님한테 줬어요
선생님께 드렸어요
나에게 줘요
저에게 줘요
집한테 가요
집에 가요
친구께 줬어요
친구에게 줬어요
누구에게 말해요?
누구한테 말해요?
사장에게 말했어요
사장님께 말씀드렸어요
회사한테 보냈어요
회사에 보냈어요
그에게 줬는데 안 받아요
그 사람에게 줬는데 안 받아요
국가에게 요청합니다
국가에 요청합니다
팀원께 말했어요
팀원에게 말했어요
그녀에게 줬어요
그 사람에게 줬어요
Sentence Patterns
저는 ___에게 선물을 줬어요.
___한테 전화했어요?
선생님께 ___을/를 여쭤봤어요.
그 사람한테 ___라고 말했어요.
Real World Usage
친구한테 카톡했어.
고객님께 메일을 보냅니다.
저한테 주세요.
팬들에게 감사해요.
면접관님께 질문을 드렸습니다.
직원한테 물어볼게요.
The 'Person' Rule
Don't use 께 for friends
Honorific Verbs
Casual vs Formal
Smart Tips
Always use 에게 or 께, never 한테.
Use 한테 to sound natural.
Use 에게 to show affection.
Use 께 for elders.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'e' sound in 에게 links smoothly to the next word.
Statement
친구에게 줬어요 ↘
Neutral declarative tone.
Question
친구에게 줬어요 ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'A-ge' as 'A-give' (to give).
Visual Association
Imagine handing a gift to a friend. The particle is the ribbon connecting your hand to theirs.
Rhyme
For a friend, use 한테, for a letter, use 에게.
Story
I bought a cake. I gave it to my friend (친구한테). My friend loved it. I felt happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today using '한테' for people you talk to.
Cultural Notes
In business, using the correct particle is a sign of respect. Always use 께 for superiors.
Using 에게 with close friends can sound cold or distant. Use 한테 instead.
Koreans treat pets as family, so using 에게 for pets is very common.
The particle 에게 evolved from a locative marker, originally meaning 'at' or 'in'.
Conversation Starters
누구한테 선물을 주고 싶어요?
선생님께 질문한 적이 있어요?
친구에게 고민을 말하는 편이에요?
부모님께 마지막으로 편지를 쓴 게 언제예요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
친구___ 선물을 줬어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
학교에게 가요.
줬어요 / 친구한테 / 선물을
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: 누구한테 말해요? B: ___한테 말해요.
친구에게 줬어요 -> 선생님___ 드렸어요.
Can you use 에게 for places?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises친구___ 선물을 줬어요.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
학교에게 가요.
줬어요 / 친구한테 / 선물을
Teacher -> ?
A: 누구한테 말해요? B: ___한테 말해요.
친구에게 줬어요 -> 선생님___ 드렸어요.
Can you use 에게 for places?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
5 exercises지수( ) 메시지를 보냈어요.
고양이한테 / 물을 / 줘요
I called my mom.
Choose the correct form for 'To the manager':
학교한테 책을 줬어요.
Score: /5
FAQ (8)
Yes, in meaning, but not in register. Use 한테 for casual speech and 에게 for formal writing.
You should use 께 for superiors. It's a sign of respect.
Yes, add 들 (e.g., 친구들에게).
Yes, pets are treated as animate recipients.
Use 들에게 or 들한테.
No, it stays the same.
No, it sounds sarcastic.
No, use 에 for time.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
a
Spanish 'a' is also used for direct objects (personal a), which Korean does not do.
à
French uses different pronouns for indirect objects, whereas Korean uses particles.
zu / Dative case
German changes the article (der/dem), while Korean adds a particle.
ni
Japanese 'ni' is also used for time and place, unlike Korean 에게.
给 (gěi)
Chinese '给' is a preposition, whereas Korean particles are suffixes.
li (لـ)
Arabic prefixes are attached to the word, similar to Korean particles.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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