Korean

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /n/, /l/
• Phonetic hangul: ㄴ, ㄹ

Letter

ㄴ • ‎(n)

1. 니은 (nieun, “nieun”), a jamo (letter) of hangeul; the alveolar nasal (/n/)

Usage notes

In the North Korean order, ㄴ (n) is the second jamo. In the South Korean order, it is the third.

See also

• Previous jamo: (South Korea) ㄲ (kk), (North Korea) ㄱ (g)
• Next jamo: ㄷ (d)
• Other nasals in Hangeul: ㅁ (m), ㅇ (ng)
• Other coronal consonants in Hangeul: ㄷ (d), ㄹ (r), ㅌ (t), ㄸ (tt)

Derived terms

• ㄷ (d) (in traditional account)

Etymology 2

Contraction of 은 (eun) / 는 (neun).

Particle

ㄴ • ‎(n)

1. a colloquial variant of 는 (neun).
   • 그건 아니지!‎

     Geugeon aniji!

     That's not (fair)!

Alternative forms

• 은 (eun) / 는 (neun)

Etymology 3

First attested in the Yongbi eocheonga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as ᄂᆞ (Yale: no).

Suffix

ㄴ • ‎(-n-)

1. a present tense suffix
   • 가다 (gada, “to go”) → 그녀도 간다. (Geunyeodo ganda, “She goes as well.”)

     → 나는 그녀도 간다는 소식을 들었다.‎

     Naneun geunyeodo gandaneun sosigeul deureotda.

     I heard the news that she goes as well.

Usage notes

The suffix ㄴ (-n-) is directly attached to the stem of a verb ending in a vowel or the consonant ㄹ (l), which drops out.

E.g. 살다 (salda, “to live”) →나는 강릉에 산다. (Naneun Gangneung-e sanda., “I live in Gangneung.”)

-는- ‎(-neun-) is used instead when the stem ends in a consonant other than ㄹ (l).

Alternative forms

• -는- (-neun-)

Derived terms

• ㄴ다 ‎(nda)
• ㄴ데 ‎(nde)
• ㄴ지 ‎(nji)
• ㄴ대 ‎(ndae)
• ㄴ다고 ‎(ndago)

See also

• -는 (-neun)

Etymology 4

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as ᄋᆞᆫ/은 (Yale: ^o/_un).

Suffix

ㄴ • ‎(-n)

1. a past tense suffix making a verb a determiner.
2. a present tense suffix making an adjective a determiner.

Usage notes

The suffix ㄴ (-n) is appended to the sequential form. If the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), it drops out.

E.g. 새벽 하늘이 아름답다. (아름다우니) (Saebyeok haneuri areumdapda. (areumdauni), “The sky at daybreak is beautiful.”) → 아름다운 새벽 하늘 (areumdaun saebyeok haneul, “the beautiful sky at daybreak”)

트럭에 목재를 싣다 (실으니) (teureoge mokjaereul sitda (sireuni), “to load a truck with wood”) → 목재를 실은 트럭 (mokjaereul sireun teureok, “a truck which sb had loaded with wood”)

비바람이 모질다. (모지니/모질면) (Bibarami mojilda. (mojini/mojilmyeon), “The storm is harsh.”) → 모진 비바람 (mojin bibaram, “the harsh storm”)

See also

• 는 (neun): present tense marker for a verb.
• 던 (deon): retrospect past tense marker
• ㄹ (l): future tense marker

Etymology 5

Contraction of 너라 (neora).

Suffix

ㄴ • ‎(-n)

1. a plain style imperative ending used only for 오다 (oda, “to come”); usually told to babies and pets, offering friendlier and softer sense.
   • 아가, 이리 온.‎

     Aga, iri on.

     Dear baby, come here!

Alternative forms

• 너라 (neora)