Example Sentences#

1. 앨리스: “하지만 저는 미친 사람들 사이에 가고 싶지 않아요,” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “But I don’t want to go among mad people,” said Alice.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
2. 저는 인류 전체를 사랑할수록 특정 사람을 덜 사랑하게 됩니다.²
   The more I love humanity, the less I come to love any particular person.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
3. “아니에요, 저는 그러지 않았어요.³
   “No, I didn’t do that.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
4. 저 벽 너머 텅 빈 세상 향해⁴
   Towards that empty world beyond the walls.
   • 저 means ‘that (over there)’.
5. 앨리스: “제가 미쳤다는 걸 어떻게 아세요?” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
   • 제 is the form of 저, a polite pronoun meaning ‘I’, used before the subject marker 가.
   • 가 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
6. 꿈속에서 저는 종종 인류를 위해 봉사할 계획을 세우곤 합니다.²
   In my dreams, I often make plans to serve humanity.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
7. 아마 실제로 십자가형을 당해야 하는 상황이 온다면, 저는 그것을 이겨낼 수 있을 것입니다.²
   Perhaps if a situation were to come where I had to actually be crucified, I would be able to overcome it.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
8. 하지만 저는 다른 사람과 함께 방 안에서 이틀 동안 지내는 것조차 견딜 수 없습니다.²
   But I can’t even endure staying with other people in a room for two days.
   • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
   • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
9. 경험에 따르면, 누군가 제 곁에 있으면 그 사람의 성격이 저를 방해하고 자유를 제한합니다.²
   In my experience, if someone is beside me, their personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom.
   • 제 is a contraction of 저의, meaning ‘my’. 저 means ‘I’ and 의 is a possessive marker.
10. 이십사 시간 안에 저는 최고의 사람도 미워하기 시작합니다.²
    Within twenty-four hours, I start to hate even the best of people:
    • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
    • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.
11. 사람들이 가까이 오면 저는 즉시 싫어하게 됩니다.²
    When people get close to me, I immediately start to dislike them.
    • 저 is the formal first-person pronoun meaning ‘I’.
    • 는 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.