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한테서 vs 에게서: Choosing the Natural Starting Point

한테서 (han-te-seo, hanteseo) · 에게서 (e-ge-seo, egeseo)

Both 한테서 and 에게서 mean 'from someone,' but 한테서 is more natural in spoken Korean, while 에게서 suits written or formal contexts.

Comparison of Korean particles 한테서 and 에게서 usage

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

한테서(han-te-seo, hanteseo)

Indicates receiving or something originating from a person, mainly used in spoken Korean

When to use

casual speech, friendly context, person as source

The nuance

Used in casual or friendly conversations to indicate a person as the source; mainly spoken language and rarely used with animals or objects.

에게서(e-ge-seo, egeseo)

Indicates receiving or something originating from a person or animal, suitable for written or formal contexts

When to use

written language, formal context, person and animal as source

The nuance

Used in written or formal speech; applicable to both people and animals; suitable for polite or official contexts.

Real-world examples

  • 친구한테서 선물을 받았어요.

    chin-gu-han-te-seo seon-mul-eul bat-ass-eo-yo., chin gu han te seo seon mul eul bat ass eo yo.

    Naturally expresses receiving from a person in casual conversation.

  • 친구에게서 선물을 받았어요.

    chin-gu-e-ge-seo seon-mul-eul bat-ass-eo-yo., chin gu e ge seo seon mul eul bat ass eo yo.

    Appropriate for written or formal contexts.

  • 강아지한테서 냄새가 나요.

    gang-a-ji-han-te-seo naem-sae-ga na-yo., gang a ji han te seo naem sae ga na yo.

    한테서 is mainly used for people; using it with animals sounds unnatural.

  • 강아지에게서 냄새가 나요.

    gang-a-ji-e-ge-seo naem-sae-ga na-yo., gang a ji e ge seo naem sae ga na yo.

    에게서 can be used with animals, making it natural here.

  • 선생님한테서 배웠어요.

    seon-saeng-nim-han-te-seo bae-woss-eo-yo., seon saeng nim han te seo bae woss eo yo.

    Natural expression in friendly or spoken contexts.

  • 선생님에게서 배웠어요.

    seon-saeng-nim-e-ge-seo bae-woss-eo-yo., seon saeng nim e ge seo bae woss eo yo.

    Suitable for formal writing or speech.

  • 어머니에게서 편지를 받았어요.

    eo-meo-ni-e-ge-seo pyeon-ji-reul bat-ass-eo-yo., eo meo ni e ge seo pyeon ji reul bat ass eo yo.

    Accurately expresses receiving from a person in written language.

  • 어머니한테서 편지를 받았어요.

    eo-meo-ni-han-te-seo pyeon-ji-reul bat-ass-eo-yo., eo meo ni han te seo pyeon ji reul bat ass eo yo.

    Natural expression in everyday conversation.

Quick quiz

  1. Friend에게서 vs 친구한테서: Which is appropriate in a formal email?

    친구에게서 vs 친구한테서: 공식적인 이메일에서 어떤 표현이 적절한가요?(chin-gu-e-ge-seovschin-gu-han-te-seo:gong-sik-jeok-ini-me-il-e-seoeo-tteonpyo-hyeon-ijeok-jeol-han-ga-yo?, chinguegeseovschinguhanteseo:gongsikjeokinimeileseoeotteonpyohyeonijeokjeolhangayo?)

  2. Which is correct when saying the smell comes from an animal?

    동물에게서 냄새가 난다고 할 때 어떤 표현이 맞나요?(dong-mul-e-ge-seonaem-sae-ganan-da-gohalttaeeo-tteonpyo-hyeon-imaj-na-yo?, dongmulegeseonaemsaeganandagohalttaeeotteonpyohyeonimajnayo?)

  3. The sentence '친구한테서 선물을 받았어요' fits which situation?

    친구한테서 선물을 받았어요. 이 문장은 어떤 상황에 적합한가요?(chin-gu-han-te-seoseon-mul-eulbat-ass-eo-yo.imun-jang-euneo-tteonsang-hwang-ejeok-hap-han-ga-yo?, chinguhanteseoseonmuleulbatasseoyo.imunjangeuneotteonsanghwangejeokhaphangayo?)

More comparisons to explore

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