을/를 - The Object Particle
을 and 를 are particles used to mark the object of an action in a Korean sentence.
The object is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb.
- 저는 커피를 마셔요.
I drink coffee. - 친구가 책을 읽어요.
My friend reads a book.
In these sentences, 커피 is what the speaker drinks, and 책 is what the friend reads.
Particles attach directly to nouns and show the role of those nouns in a sentence.
을 or 를?
The form depends on whether the noun ends in a final consonant or a vowel.
Use 을 after a final consonant
Noun + 을
- 책 + 을 → 책을
book - 밥 + 을 → 밥을
rice or meal - 음식 + 을 → 음식을
food
Use 를 after a vowel
Noun + 를
- 커피 + 를 → 커피를
coffee - 영화 + 를 → 영화를
movie - 친구 + 를 → 친구를
friend
Basic Sentence Structure
A common Korean action sentence follows this structure:
Topic or Subject + Object + Verb
The noun followed by 을/를 is the object of the action.
- 저는 커피를 마셔요.
Literal: As for me, coffee drink.
Natural: I drink coffee.
- 민수 씨가 한국어를 공부해요.
Literal: Minsu Korean studies.
Natural: Minsu studies Korean.
- 친구가 영화를 봐요.
Literal: My friend a movie watches.
Natural: My friend watches a movie.
The verb usually comes at the end of a Korean sentence.
The literal translation helps you see how the Korean sentence is organized. The natural translation shows how the same meaning is normally expressed in English.
Identifying the Object
을/를 shows what receives the action of the verb.
- 물을 마셔요.
I drink water. - 책을 읽어요.
I read a book. - 음악을 들어요.
I listen to music. - 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean. - 친구를 만나요.
I meet a friend.
The topic or subject is often omitted when it is already clear from the context.
- 커피를 마셔요.
I drink coffee. - 영화를 봐요.
I watch a movie.
The listener understands who performs the action from the situation.
Common Verbs Used with 을/를
Many action verbs can take an object marked with 을/를.
- 먹다
to eat - 밥을 먹어요.
I eat a meal. - 마시다
to drink - 물을 마셔요.
I drink water. - 읽다
to read - 책을 읽어요.
I read a book. - 보다
to see or watch - 영화를 봐요.
I watch a movie. - 공부하다
to study - 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean. - 좋아하다
to like - 한국 음식을 좋아해요.
I like Korean food. - 만나다
to meet - 친구를 만나요.
I meet a friend. - 사다
to buy - 가방을 사요.
I buy a bag.
More Examples
- 저는 아침을 먹어요.
I eat breakfast. - 수진 씨는 차를 마셔요.
Sujin drinks tea. - 학생이 숙제를 해요.
The student does homework. - 저는 매일 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean every day. - 주말에 친구를 만나요.
I meet a friend on the weekend. - 저녁에 텔레비전을 봐요.
I watch television in the evening. - 친구가 사진을 찍어요.
My friend takes a picture. - 저는 음악을 들어요.
I listen to music.
Using 을/를 in Questions
을/를 can also be used when asking what someone does, eats, drinks, studies, or likes.
- 뭐를 먹어요?
What do you eat? - 무슨 영화를 봐요?
What movie do you watch? - 한국어를 공부해요?
Do you study Korean? - 커피를 좋아해요?
Do you like coffee? - 누구를 만나요?
Who do you meet?
In everyday conversation, 뭐를 is often shortened to 뭘.
- 뭘 먹어요?
What do you eat? - 뭘 공부해요?
What do you study?
Both 뭐를 and 뭘 are correct, but 뭘 is very common in natural conversation.
좋아요 and 좋아해요
The English verb “to like” can be expressed in two common ways in Korean.
Noun + 이/가 + 좋아요
- 저는 커피가 좋아요.
I like coffee.
This structure literally means that coffee is good or pleasing to the speaker.
Noun + 을/를 + 좋아해요
- 저는 커피를 좋아해요.
I like coffee.
좋아하다 is an action verb, so the thing being liked is followed by 을/를.
Both sentences are natural, but they use different grammatical structures.
커피가 좋아요. ✓
커피를 좋아해요. ✓
커피를 좋아요. ✗
커피가 좋아해요. ✗
When 을/를 Is Not Used
Not every noun before a verb or adjective is an object.
Use 이/가 with 있어요 and 없어요.
- 책이 있어요. ✓
There is a book. - 책을 있어요. ✗
Use 이/가 with many descriptive adjectives.
- 음식이 맛있어요. ✓
The food is delicious. - 음식을 맛있어요. ✗
Use 에 for destinations.
- 학교에 가요. ✓
I go to school. - 학교를 가요. ✗
Different particles show different roles in the sentence.
Omitting 을/를 in Conversation
In casual conversation, 을/를 is sometimes omitted when the meaning is already clear.
- 커피를 마셔요.
I drink coffee. - 커피 마셔요.
I drink coffee. - 한국어를 공부해요.
I study Korean. - 한국어 공부해요.
I study Korean.
Both forms can be heard in conversation.
However, beginners should practice using 을/를 because it makes the sentence structure clear and helps prevent confusion.
Common Mistakes
Choosing the wrong form
Use 을 after a noun ending in a final consonant.
책을 ✓
책를 ✗
Use 를 after a noun ending in a vowel.
커피를 ✓
커피을 ✗
Adding a space before the particle
을 and 를 attach directly to the noun.
책을 읽어요. ✓
책 을 읽어요. ✗
커피를 마셔요. ✓
커피 를 마셔요. ✗
Using 을/를 with 있어요 or 없어요
The person or thing that exists is followed by 이/가.
책이 있어요. ✓
책을 있어요. ✗
시간이 없어요. ✓
시간을 없어요. ✗
Using 을/를 before an adjective
Descriptive adjectives usually use a subject marked with 이/가.
음식이 맛있어요. ✓
음식을 맛있어요. ✗
날씨가 좋아요. ✓
날씨를 좋아요. ✗
Using English word order
Korean verbs usually come at the end of the sentence.
저는 커피를 마셔요. ✓
저는 마셔요 커피를. ✗
Quick Practice
Choose 을 or 를.
- 책___ 읽어요.
- 커피___ 마셔요.
- 한국어___ 공부해요.
- 음악___ 들어요.
- 친구___ 만나요.
- 영화___ 봐요.
- 밥___ 먹어요.
- 가방___ 사요.
Answers
- 책을 읽어요.
- 커피를 마셔요.
- 한국어를 공부해요.
- 음악을 들어요.
- 친구를 만나요.
- 영화를 봐요.
- 밥을 먹어요.
- 가방을 사요.
Sentence Practice
Complete each sentence with your own information.
- 저는 __________을/를 먹어요.
- 저는 __________을/를 마셔요.
- 매일 __________을/를 공부해요.
- 주말에 __________을/를 봐요.
- 저는 __________을/를 좋아해요.
- 오늘 __________을/를 만나요.
Key Points
- Use 을 after a noun ending in a final consonant.
- Use 를 after a noun ending in a vowel.
- Attach 을/를 directly to the noun.
- 을/를 marks the object that receives an action.
- The verb usually comes at the end of a Korean sentence.
- Do not use 을/를 with 있어요 or 없어요.
- Korean adjectives commonly use 이/가 rather than 을/를.
- 을/를 may be omitted in conversation, but beginners should practice using it.
