한테
hante
to/from a person (casual/spoken)
에게
ege
to/from a person (formal/written)
한테 vs 에게: Giving, Receiving, and Register in Korean
한테 (hante) and 에게 (ege) are functionally identical — both mean "to" or "from" a person — but 한테 is used in casual spoken Korean while 에게 is reserved for formal or written contexts.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 한테 (hante) | 에게 (ege) | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Casual, everyday spoken Korean | Formal, written Korean (essays, news, official documents) |
| Used With | Friends, family, peers in conversation | Professional writing, literature, respectful contexts |
| "From" Form | 한테서 (hanteseeo) — e.g., 친구한테서 받았어 | 에게서 (egeseeo) — e.g., 친구에게서 받았습니다 |
| Common In | Texting, casual speech, dramas | Novels, news articles, formal emails |
| Used With Animals/Objects | Sometimes used with pets informally | 에 is preferred for non-living things; 에게 strictly for people/animals |
Examples in Context
Telling a friend you gave them something — using 한테
나 너한테 선물 줬잖아.
I gave you a gift, remember.
Asking your friend if someone texted them — using 한테
오빠한테 연락 왔어?
Did you hear from your brother?
Formal letter or email opening — using 에게
담당자에게 문의해 주시기 바랍니다.
Please direct your inquiry to the person in charge.
Literary or news writing — using 에게
정부는 국민에게 사과했습니다.
The government apologized to the public.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Using 에게 in casual texting or conversation — it sounds stiff and unnatural; use 한테 instead
- ✗Using 한테 in formal writing or official documents — switch to 에게 for written formality
- ✗Forgetting the "from" variants: 한테서 (casual) and 에게서 (formal) — do not drop 서 when expressing origin
- ✗Applying 에게/한테 to inanimate objects — use 에 for non-living things (물에 넣다, not 물에게 넣다)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 한테 and 에게 completely interchangeable?
Grammatically yes — they mark the same relationship (recipient or source of action toward a person). The only real difference is register: 한테 for speech, 에게 for formal writing.
What about 께 (kke)?
께 is the honorific form of 에게, used when the recipient is someone you must show deep respect to, such as a grandparent, professor, or senior colleague. 선생님께 드렸습니다 (I gave it to the teacher).
Can I use 한테 in a job interview or formal email?
It is better to avoid it. Opt for 에게 in formal writing and 께 when addressing someone of higher status.
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