Korean words for thing, stuff : 것, 거, 게, 건, 걸
Let’s learn Korean words for thing, stuff with BLACKPINK lyrics.
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것 is the most common dependent noun in Korean and means thing.
거 is shortened form of 것 and 게 is a shortened form of 것이(것+이(subject marker)).
건 is a shortened form of 것은(것+은(topic marker)) and 걸 is a shortened form of 것을(것+을(object marker)).
것 [geot] thing, stuff
마지막 사랑인 것처럼
ma-ji-mak sa-rang-in geot-cheo-reom
As if it’s our last love
*마지막(the last) +
사랑인(사랑(love) + 이다(be) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
것(thing) + 처럼(like)
거 [geo] thing, stuff
그게 당연한 거야
geu-ge dang-yeo-nan geo-ya
That’s a given
*그(that) + 게(것(thing) + 이(subject marker), =게) +
당연한(당연하다 + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
거야(것(thing) + 이야(be, =이다), =거야)
게 [ge] thing, stuff
그게 너다워
geu-ge neo-da-wo
That’s you
*그(that) + 게(것(thing) + 이(subject marker), =게) +
너(you) + 다워(be like)
건 [geon] thing, stuff
잃을 건 없잖아
il-eul geon eop-ja-ha
There’s nothing to lose
*잃을(잃다(lose) + 을(noun modifier for future tense verb)) +
건(것(thing)+은(topic marker), =건) +
없잖아(없다(don’t have) ~잖아(as you know))
(*~잖아(요) reminds the listener of something or rebukes the listener indirectly.
~잖아(요) is the same as ‘as you know’, ‘didn’t I say that~’ in English.)
걸 [geol] thing, stuff
지금 당장 많은 걸 바라는 게 아냐
ji-geum dang-jang ma-neun geol ba-ra-neun ge a-nya
I’m not expecting much at the moment
*지금(now) + 당장(right now) +
많은(많다(much) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
걸(것(thing)+을(object marker),=걸) +
바라는(바라다(want) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
게(것(thing) + 이(subject marker), =게) +
아냐(not)
(*This sentence has no subject.
It’s important to note that while English sentences require a subject, Korean sentences often omit the subject.
The omitted subject can be identified in the context of the dialogue or writing.)
Grammar Reference
것 is the most common dependent noun in Korean.
As the name ‘dependent noun’ suggests, it cannot be used alone, but always in conjunction with modifiers.
ex) 그게 당연한 거야 (O)
게 당연한 거야 (X)
To use 이, 그, and 저 as pronouns, 거/것 (thing) can be added after these words.
| 이 | 그 | 저 | |
| 것 | 이것 | 그것 | 저것 |
| 거 (=것) | 이거 | 그거 | 저거 |
| 게 (=것이) | 이게 | 그게 | 저게 |
| 건 (=것은) | 이건 | 그건 | 저건 |
| 걸 (=것을) | 이걸 | 그걸 | 저걸 |
이것(this thing), 그것(that thing), 저것(that thing) can also be combined with common Korean particles.
| 이/가 | 은/는 | 을/를 | |
| 이것 | 이것이 (=이게) | 이것은 (=이건) | 이것을 (=이걸) |
| 그것 | 그것이 (=그게) | 그것은 (=그건) | 그것을 (=그걸) |
| 저것 | 저것이 (=저게) | 저것은 (=저건) | 저것을 (=저걸) |