[Korean grammar] N에게/한테

Also Read

재준 씨가 캐럴 씨에게 선물을 줍니다.
Jae-jun gives a present to Carol.


선생님이 학생들에게 한국어를 가르칩니다.
The teacher teaches Korean to the students.


동생이 개한테 밥을 줘요.
My little sister feeds the dog.


Grammar Focus:
• 에게/한테 are added to nouns representing people or other living creatures and indicates that the noun is the recipient or target of an action. 한테 is more colloquial than 에게. 에게/한테 are only used when the preceding noun is a person or other living creature. Otherwise, (for plants, things, places, etc.) 에 is used.




• 에게/한테 cannot be used with all verbs. The limited number of verbs they can be used with include 주다 (to give), 선물하다 (to give a present), 던지다 (to throw), 보내다 (to send), 부치다 (to ship/send), 붙이다 (to attach), 쓰다 (to write), 전화하다 (to phone), 묻다 (to ask), 가르치다 (to teach), 말하다 (to speak), 팔다 (to sell), 가다 (to go), and 오다 (to come).

Conversation:
A: 누구한테 편지를 써요? Who are you writing a letter to?
B: 고향 친구한테 편지를 써요. I'm writing a letter to my friend back home.

A: 왜 꽃을 샀어요? Why did you buy flowers?
B: 여자 친구한테 선물할 거예요. I’m going to give them to my girlfriend as a present.

A: 선생님, 남산 도서관 전화번호가 몇 번이에요?
Teacher, what is the phone number for Namsan Library?
B: 미안해요. 잘몰라요. 114에 전화해 보세요.
I’m sorry, but I don't know. Please call (directory assistance at) 114.

Notes:
1. When giving or doing something for someone equal or lower in social status than the speaker, 에게 주다 is used. However, when the target of the action is someone of higher social status to whom the speaker must show respect, the honorific 께 is used in place of 에게/한테, and 드리다 is used in place of 주다.
• 나는 할아버지에게 선물을 주었습니다.
-> 나는 할아버지께 선물을 드렸습니다.
I gave a present to my Grandpa.

• 사장님에게 전화를 했습니다.
-> 사장님께 전화를 드렸습니다.
I made a call to the boss.

• 아버지에게 말했습니다.
-> 아버지께 말씀드렸습니다.
I told my father.

2. When receiving or learning something from another person, 에게서 받다/배우다 or 한테서 받다/배우 다 is used. 서 can also be omitted, in which case the expression becomes 에게 받다/배우다 or 한테 받 다/배우다. When the thing being received or learned comes from a person of higher social status, the honorific 께 is used in place of 에게서 and 한테서.
• 내 생일에 친구에게서 선물을 받았습니다.
= 내 생일에 친구에게 선물을 받았습니다.
I got a present from my friend on my birthday.
• 이정아 선생님한테서 한국말을 배웠습니다.
= 이정아 선생님한테 한국말을 배웠습니다.
I learned Korean from my teacher, Lee Jeonga.
• 어렸을 때 할아버지께 한자를 배웠습니다.
I learned Chinese characters from my grandfather when I was little.

Click below:
N이/가
N은/는
N을/를
N와/과, N(이)랑, N하고
N의
N에 ①
N에 ②
N에서
N에서 N까지, N부터 N까지
N에게/한테
N도
N만
N밖에
N(으)로
N(이)나①
N(이)나 ②
N쯤
N처럼, N같이
N보다
N마다

>> Full of 'Korean grammar in use - Beginner': Click here

Share this