Tân Từ Hạt: 을/를

목표 (Mục Tiêu / Learning Objectives)

After this lesson, you will:

• Understand the object marker (을/를) shows who/what receives the action
• Use 을/를 correctly with different noun endings
• Write complete sentences with both subject (이/가) and object (을/를) markers

Tiếng Việt So Sánh (Vietnamese Comparison)

Vietnamese: Uses word order

• Tôi ăn cơm. → (I eat rice) — word order shows I do it, rice receives it

Korean: Uses particles

• 나가 밥을 먹어요. → I [subject marker] rice [object marker] eat

The particles 이/가 (subject) and 을/를 (object) are both essential. You cannot skip either one.

Khái Niệm (The Concept)

The object marker (을/를) marks the noun that receives the action of the verb.

Structure

Subject + 이/가 + Object + 을/를 + Verb

나가 밥을 먹어요.
I eat rice.

나 = I (subject)
가 = subject marker
밥 = rice (object)
을 = object marker
먹어요 = eat

Quy Tắc (Rules)

Rule 1: Choose based on final sound

• If noun ends in consonant: use 을
  • 책을 읽어요 (Read a book.)
• If noun ends in vowel: use 를
  • 밥을 먹어요 (Eat rice.) ← 밥 ends in consonant ㅂ
  • 물을 마셔요 (Drink water.) ← 물 ends in consonant ㄹ

Rule 2: Common pattern

책 (ends in consonant ㄱ) → 책을 읽어요
밥 (ends in consonant ㅂ) → 밥을 먹어요
사과 (ends in vowel ㅏ) → 사과를 먹어요
우유 (ends in vowel ㅠ) → 우유를 마셔요

예제 (Examples)

Example 1: Eating something

나는 밥을 먹어요.
I eat rice.

나 = I
는 = topic particle (different from 가, but often used)
밥 = rice
을 = object marker (밥 ends in consonant)
먹어요 = eat (casual polite)

Example 2: Reading a book

학생이 책을 읽어요.
A student reads a book.

학생 = student (ends in consonant ㄴ)
이 = subject marker
책 = book (ends in consonant ㄥ)
을 = object marker
읽어요 = read

Example 3: Drinking water

나는 물을 마셔요.
I drink water.

물 = water (ends in consonant ㄹ)
을 = object marker
마셔요 = drink

흔한 실수 (Common Errors for Vietnamese Learners)

❌ Mistake 1: Using 이/가 for both subject and object

• WRONG: 나가 밥이 먹어요. (nonsensical)
• CORRECT: 나가 밥을 먹어요. (I eat rice.)

❌ Mistake 2: Forgetting the object marker

• WRONG: 나는 밥 먹어요. (incomplete sounding to Korean speakers)
• CORRECT: 나는 밥을 먹어요.

❌ Mistake 3: Wrong particle choice

• WRONG: 책을 읽어요 should use 을 because 책 ends in consonant
• CORRECT: 책을 읽어요 ✓

어휘 (Vocabulary)

퀴즈 (Quiz)

요약 (Summary)

The object marker (을/를) is essential for marking what receives the action:

• Consonant ending: 을
• Vowel ending: 를

Every transitive verb (a verb that takes an object) requires this particle. Mastering subject (이/가) + object (을/를) gives you the foundation for 80% of Korean sentences.

Next lesson: We'll learn location and direction particles (에/에서).