Direction and Target Particles¶
Quick Reference
으로/로 (direction, method, means)
- After consonant: 학교로, 오른쪽으로
- After vowel/ㄹ: 집으로, 서울로
- Direction, method, material, choice
에게/한테 (to person - giving/speaking)
- 친구에게 전화했어요 (called to friend)
- Interchangeable, 한테 more casual
에게서/한테서 (from person - receiving)
- 친구에게서 들었어요 (heard from friend)
으로/로 (Direction/Method/Means)¶
The particle 으로/로 has several related uses, all connected to the idea of direction or path.
Choosing 으로 vs 로¶
The rule is similar to other particles:
- 으로: After consonants (except ㄹ)
-
학교으로, 오른쪽으로, 이쪽으로
-
로: After vowels AND after ㄹ
- 집으로 (wrong!) → 집으로 has ㅂ, so 집으로
- Actually: 나라로, 서울로, 길로 (ㄹ ending)
- 여기로, 저기로, 어디로
Special note: After ㄹ, always use 로 (not 으로) - 서울로 (not 서울으로) - 길로 (not 길으로)
Use 1: Direction (toward)¶
When expressing general direction or which way to go:
- 오른쪽으로 가세요 (Go to the right)
- 왼쪽으로 도세요 (Turn to the left)
- 이쪽으로 오세요 (Come this way)
- 어디로 가요? (Where are you going? - which direction)
- 학교로 가요 (I'm going toward school)
Note: 으로/로 emphasizes direction/path, while 에 emphasizes destination/arrival point.
- 학교로 가요 (Going in the direction of school)
- 학교에 가요 (Going to school - will arrive there)
Use 2: Means/Method (by/with)¶
Expressing how something is done:
- 버스로 가요 (Go by bus)
- 지하철로 와요 (Come by subway)
- 택시로 갈까요? (Shall we go by taxi?)
- 한국어로 말해요 (Speak in/by Korean)
- 영어로 쓰세요 (Write in English)
- 카드로 계산해요 (Pay by card)
- 현금으로 살게요 (I'll buy with cash)
- 인터넷으로 예약했어요 (I reserved via internet)
Use 3: Material (made of)¶
What something is made from:
- 나무로 만들었어요 (Made of wood)
- 플라스틱으로 만들어요 (Made of plastic)
- 쇠로 만든 거예요 (It's made of metal)
Use 4: Choice/Selection (as)¶
Choosing or deciding on something:
- 뭐로 할까요? (What shall we have/choose?)
- 이거로 주세요 (Please give me this one)
- 치킨으로 시킬게요 (I'll order chicken)
- 김치찌개로 할게요 (I'll have kimchi stew)
Use 5: Change/Transformation (into)¶
Becoming or changing into:
- 의사가 되고 싶어요 (I want to become a doctor) - Note: 가 not 로
- 한국어 선생님으로 일해요 (Work as a Korean teacher)
에게/한테 (To a Person)¶
Use these particles when directing an action TOWARD a person.
When to use 에게/한테:¶
Both mean the same thing; 에게 is slightly more formal/written, 한테 is more casual/spoken.
- Giving to someone:
- 친구에게 선물을 줘요 (I give a gift to my friend)
-
동생한테 돈을 줬어요 (I gave money to my younger sibling)
-
Speaking/calling someone:
- 선생님에게 질문했어요 (I asked the teacher)
-
엄마한테 전화했어요 (I called my mom)
-
Asking someone:
- 친구에게 물어봤어요 (I asked my friend)
-
누구한테 물어볼까요? (Who should we ask?)
-
Telling someone:
- 친구한테 말했어요 (I told my friend)
- 선생님에게 이야기했어요 (I talked to the teacher)
Common verbs used with 에게/한테:¶
- 주다 (give): 친구에게 주다
- 전화하다 (call): 엄마한테 전화하다
- 말하다 (speak): 선생님에게 말하다
- 물어보다 (ask): 친구한테 물어보다
- 보내다 (send): 동생에게 보내다
- 가르치다 (teach): 학생에게 가르치다
Examples:¶
- 선생님에게 편지를 보냈어요 (I sent a letter to the teacher)
- 친구한테 책을 빌렸어요 (I borrowed a book from my friend)
- 누구한테 들었어요? (Who did you hear it from?)
- 동생에게 한국어를 가르쳐요 (I teach Korean to my younger sibling)
에게서/한테서 (From a Person)¶
Use these when receiving or getting something FROM a person.
When to use 에게서/한테서:¶
- Receiving from someone:
- 친구에게서 선물을 받았어요 (I received a gift from my friend)
-
언니한테서 연락이 왔어요 (I got contact from my older sister)
-
Hearing from someone:
- 선생님에게서 들었어요 (I heard it from the teacher)
-
친구한테서 소식을 들었어요 (I heard the news from my friend)
-
Getting/borrowing from someone:
- 동생한테서 빌렸어요 (I borrowed it from my younger sibling)
- 누구한테서 받았어요? (Who did you get it from?)
Common verbs with 에게서/한테서:¶
- 받다 (receive): 친구에게서 받다
- 듣다 (hear): 선생님한테서 듣다
- 빌리다 (borrow): 친구에게서 빌리다
- 오다 (come): 엄마한테서 전화가 오다
Examples:¶
- 친구한테서 이메일을 받았어요 (I received an email from my friend)
- 선생님에게서 좋은 조언을 들었어요 (I heard good advice from the teacher)
- 부모님에게서 용돈을 받아요 (I receive allowance from my parents)
Comparing Direction Particles¶
에 vs 으로/로¶
Both can indicate direction, but:
- 에: Specific destination/endpoint
- 집에 가요 (Going to home - will arrive)
-
서울에 가요 (Going to Seoul)
-
으로/로: General direction/path
- 이쪽으로 가요 (Going this way - direction)
- 오른쪽으로 가세요 (Go to the right)
Some places work with both: - 서울에 가요 (Going to Seoul - destination) - 서울로 가요 (Going toward Seoul - direction)
에게/한테 vs 에게서/한테서¶
The key difference is direction:
- 에게/한테: TO a person (giving direction)
-
친구에게 줘요 (Give to friend)
-
에게서/한테서: FROM a person (source/origin)
- 친구에게서 받아요 (Receive from friend)
Common Mistakes¶
Mistake 1: Using 으로 after ㄹ¶
- Wrong: 서울으로
- Right: 서울로 (after ㄹ, always use 로)
Mistake 2: Using 에게/한테 for non-humans¶
These particles are ONLY for people (and sometimes animals treated as persons).
- Wrong: 학교에게 가요
- Right: 학교에 가요 (use 에 for places)
Mistake 3: Confusing 에게 (to) and 에게서 (from)¶
- Wrong: 친구에게서 선물을 줘요 (can't "give to from")
- Right: 친구에게 선물을 줘요 (give TO friend)
Mistake 4: Using 으로/로 when 에 is needed¶
- Awkward: 집으로 있어요
- Right: 집에 있어요 (static location needs 에)
Practice¶
- Fill in: 오른쪽___ 가세요 (Turn right)
- Fill in: 버스___ 가요 (Go by bus)
- Fill in: 친구___ 전화했어요 (I called my friend)
- Fill in: 선생님___ 들었어요 (I heard from the teacher)
- Fill in: 한국어___ 말해요 (Speak in Korean)
- Choose: 서울(에/로) 가요 - when emphasizing you'll arrive there
- Choose: 친구(에게/에게서) 선물을 받았어요
- Choose: 누구(한테/한테서) 책을 빌렸어요?
- Fill in: 나무___ 만들었어요 (Made of wood)
- Translate: "I gave my younger sibling money by card" (힌트: 동생, 돈, 카드, 주다)