Korean For All 1 Chapter 2: 저는 ~예요/이에요, 이/가 뭐예요, Basic Korean Words

February 17, 2025
Posted by Suhyun KIM

Learning Korean becomes exciting when you have the right tools at hand. In Chapter 2 of Korean For All 1, you'll build your foundation with everyday vocabulary and the grammar needed to introduce yourself and ask simple questions. This post covers all the key points and examples from the chapter, making it a handy guide for your studies.

Vocabulary Highlights

Before diving into grammar, the chapter familiarizes you with useful words for daily life. These include common nouns, people, and descriptors that you'll use in everyday conversations:

Basic Nouns:
- 사과 (apple)
- 의자 (chair)
- 물 (water)
- 불 (fire)
People & Descriptors:
- 선생님 (teacher)
- 오빠 (older brother – used in a friendly context)
- 보라 (purple)
- 오징어 (squid)
- Plus, names like 전정국 and 김지수 to personalize the lesson.

These words aren’t just for memorization; they're introduced interactively, urging you to test your recall and engage with the content. If you scored low, the chapter encourages you to revisit previous lessons—learning is always a step-by-step process!

Grammar Points: The Building Blocks of Communication

1. Introducing Yourself: 저는 ~예요/이에요

One of the most important patterns you’ll learn is how to say “I am …” using the structure 저는 ~예요/이에요. Here’s how it works:

저는 means “I am.”
예요 or 이에요 is added to the noun that follows, and your choice depends on whether the noun ends with a 받침 (final consonant).

When to Use 예요 (No 받침)

저는 의사예요. (I am a doctor.)
“의사” ends with “사,” which does not have a 받침.
저는 크리스티나예요. (I am Kristina.)
“크리스티나” ends with “나,” no 받침 present.

Additional examples:

저는 엔지니어예요. (I am an engineer.)
저는 프로그래머예요. (I am a programmer.)
저는 변호사예요. (I am a lawyer.)
저는 요리사예요. (I am a chef.)
저는 운동선수예요. (I am an athlete.)

When to Use 이에요 (With 받침)

저는 학생이에요. (I am a student.)
“학생” ends with “생,” which has a 받침.
저는 선생님이에요. (I am a teacher.)
“선생님” ends with “님,” with a 받침 present.

This simple rule makes it easy to correctly state your occupation, name, or any personal descriptor.

2. Asking Questions: 이/가 뭐예요?

Another essential grammar point is the question format 이/가 뭐예요?, which translates to “What is …?” This structure is key when asking for information about a person, object, or concept.

Rule Recap:

If the noun ends without a 받침, use 가 뭐예요?
- 취미가 뭐예요? (What’s your hobby?)
  “취미” ends in “미” (no 받침).
- 특기가 뭐예요? (What is your specialty?)
  “특기” ends in “기” (no 받침).
If the noun ends with a 받침, use 이 뭐예요?
- 이름이 뭐예요? (What is your name?)
  “이름” ends in “름” (with 받침).
- 전공이 뭐예요? (What is your major?)
  “전공” ends in “공” (with 받침).
- 사랑이 뭐예요? (What is love?)
  “사랑” ends in “랑” (with 받침).