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How to use 한테서 in Korean

한테서 (han-te-seo, hanteseo)

한테서 is a particle used when receiving or hearing something from a person or animal. It's common in daily conversation, so learn it well.

Korean grammar particle 한테서 usage

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

한테서(han-te-seo, hanteseo)

Indicates the source (person or animal) from which an action or object is received or heard.

When to use

Receiving a gift from someone, Hearing news from someone, Learning or receiving something from an animal

The nuance

1. '한테서' is mainly used to indicate the source when it is a living being such as a person or animal. 2. It is used with actions of receiving or hearing, and has the same meaning as '~에게서'. 3. It attaches after the source noun, indicating from whom something is received or heard. 4. Example: 친구한테서 편지를 받았어요. (I received a letter from a friend.) 5. '한테서' is more common in spoken Korean; '에게서' is preferred in formal contexts.

Real-world examples

  • 친구한테서 편지를 받았어요.

    chin-gu-han-te-seo pyeon-ji-reul bat-ass-eo-yo., chin gu han te seo pyeon ji reul bat ass eo yo.

    '친구' is a person, so using '한테서' to indicate the source is natural.

  • 고양이한테서 밥을 받았어요.

    go-yang-i-han-te-seo bap-eul bat-ass-eo-yo., go yang i han te seo bap eul bat ass eo yo.

    An animal like 'cat' can also use '한테서' to indicate the source.

  • 회사한테서 메일을 받았어요.

    hoe-sa-han-te-seo me-il-eul bat-ass-eo-yo., hoe sa han te seo me il eul bat ass eo yo.

    '회사' is an inanimate object, so '한테서' cannot be used; use '에서' instead.

  • 선생님한테서 숙제를 받았어요.

    seon-saeng-nim-han-te-seo suk-je-reul bat-ass-eo-yo., seon saeng nim han te seo suk je reul bat ass eo yo.

    Since 'teacher' is a person, using '한테서' for receiving is appropriate.

  • 친구한테서 소식을 들었어요.

    chin-gu-han-te-seo so-sik-eul deul-eoss-eo-yo., chin gu han te seo so sik eul deul eoss eo yo.

    Used with the verb 'to hear', '한테서' clearly indicates the source.

  • 나무한테서 편지를 받았어요.

    na-mu-han-te-seo pyeon-ji-reul bat-ass-eo-yo., na mu han te seo pyeon ji reul bat ass eo yo.

    'Tree' is inanimate, so '한테서' cannot be used.

Quick quiz

  1. What kind of source is '한테서' mainly used for?

    '한테서'는 주로 어떤 대상을 출처로 할 때 쓰이나요?('han-te-seo'neunju-roeo-tteondae-sang-eulchul-cheo-rohalttaesseu-i-na-yo?, 'hanteseo'neunjuroeotteondaesangeulchulcheorohalttaesseuinayo?)

  2. Which particle is appropriate when receiving something from an inanimate object like '회사'?

    '회사'와 같은 무생물에서 무언가를 받을 때 적절한 조사는?('hoe-sa'wagat-eunmu-saeng-mul-e-seomu-eon-ga-reulbat-eulttaejeok-jeol-hanjo-sa-neun?, 'hoesa'wagateunmusaengmuleseomueongareulbateulttaejeokjeolhanjosaneun?)

  3. Which sentence is correct?

    다음 문장 중 올바른 문장은?(da-eummun-jangjungol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, daeummunjangjungolbareunmunjangeun?)

More usage guides

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