은/는
eun/neun
Topic particle
이/가
i/ga
Subject particle
은/는 vs 이/가: Topic Particle vs Subject Particle in Korean
은/는 (eun/neun) is the topic marker that highlights what the sentence is about or contrasts information. 이/가 (i/ga) is the subject marker that identifies who or what performs the action, often introducing new information.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 은/는 (eun/neun) | 이/가 (i/ga) | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Marks the topic (what we're talking about) | Marks the subject (who/what does the action) |
| Information Type | Known / old information | New / focused information |
| Contrast | Used to contrast (A는 X, B는 Y) | Not used for contrast |
| After Consonant | 은 (eun) | 이 (i) |
| After Vowel | 는 (neun) | 가 (ga) |
Examples in Context
Introducing a general topic — using 은/는
한국어는 재미있어요.
Korean (as for Korean) is fun.
Answering 'who did it?' — using 이/가
제가 했어요.
I did it. (I'm the one who did it.)
Contrasting two things — using 은/는
커피는 좋아하는데, 차는 안 좋아해요.
I like coffee, but I don't like tea.
Describing something new that appeared — using 이/가
비가 와요.
It's raining. (Rain is coming.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Always using 는 because it feels 'safer' — 이/가 is essential when introducing new subjects or answering 'who/what' questions
- ✗Thinking 은/는 and 이/가 are interchangeable — 날씨가 좋아요 (the weather is nice, new info) vs 날씨는 좋아요 (the weather is nice, but... implying contrast)
- ✗Forgetting that 이/가 is needed after 뭐 (what) and 누구 (who) — 뭐가 좋아요? (What is good?) uses 가, not 는
- ✗Overusing 이/가 in every clause — Korean naturally shifts to 은/는 once the subject is established
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 은/는 and 이/가?
은/는 marks the topic — what the sentence is about, often something already known. 이/가 marks the grammatical subject, often introducing new or emphasized information. For example, 저는 학생이에요 (as for me, I'm a student) uses 는 for the known topic, while 제가 학생이에요 (I am the student) uses 가 to emphasize 'I' as the answer.
When should I use 이/가 instead of 은/는?
Use 이/가 when: (1) introducing new information (친구가 왔어요 — a friend came), (2) answering 'who/what' questions (제가 할게요 — I'll do it), (3) with 있다/없다 (시간이 있어요 — I have time), and (4) with descriptive verbs for specific observations (꽃이 예뻐요 — the flowers are pretty).
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