Today’s Korean: Mastering Noun + 이에요/예요 (“is/are”)
Korean Grammar #3
Hello, this is Ayaka!
Let’s continue our Korean grammar series today.
Last time, we learned about noun + 입니다 (“to be”).
Today’s expression has the same meaning — “is/are” — but is more casual and natural in everyday conversation.
We’ll look at noun + 이에요/예요, a friendlier version compared to noun + 입니다.
As always, we’ll learn with a short skit so you can start using it right away!
1. Today’s Skit
Scene: Two K-pop fans talk about today’s concert.
Minji: 오늘은 서울에서 콘서트예요! (Oneureun Seoureseo konseoteu-yeyo!)
Jimin: 정말 기대돼요! (Jeongmal gidaedwaeyo!)
Minji: 잠실올림픽주경기장은 어디에 있어요? (Jamsil-ollimpik-ju-gyeonggijang-eun eodie isseoyo?)
Jimin:지하철 2호선 종합운동장역이에요. 같이 가요! (Jihacheol iho-seon jonghap-undongjang-yeog-ieyo. Gachi gayo!)
Vocabulary
오늘은 ~예요(oneureun ~yeyo) — Today is ~
서울에서(Seoureso) — at Seoul
콘서트(konseoteu) — concert
정말 기대돼요(jeongmal gidaedwaeyo) — I’m really excited
잠실올림픽주경기장(Jamsil-ollimpik-ju-gyeonggijango) — Jamsil Olympic Stadium
~은/는 어디에 있어요?(~eun/neun eodie isseoyo?) — Where is ~?
지하철 2호선이에요(jihacheol iho-seon-ieyo) — It’s on Subway Line 2
종합운동장역이에요(jonghap-undongjang-yeog-ieyo) — It’s Sports Complex Station
같이 가요(gachi gayo) — Let’s go together
*Jamsil Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Seoul. It’s a popular venue for K-POP concerts.
2. Skit Breakdown
Let’s go through the skit line by line.
Minji: 오늘은 서울에서 콘서트예요!
→ Today is the concert in Seoul!
Jimin: 정말 기대돼요!
→ I’m so excited!
Minji: 잠실올림픽주경기장은 어디에 있어요?
→ Where is the Jamsil Olympic Stadium?
Jimin: 지하철 2호선 종합운동장역이에요. 같이 가요!
→ It’s on Subway Line 2, at Sports Complex Station. Let’s go!
Today’s skit features phrases you can use when attending a concert in Seoul.
3. How to Make Statements and Questions with “Noun + 이에요/예요” (to be)
Making statements and questions with “Noun + 이에요/예요” is incredibly simple.
Before we look at examples, here’s the basic rule:
When to use 이에요 vs. 예요
Noun + 이에요 → when the noun ends with a final consonant (받침)
예: 학생 → 학생이에요Noun + 예요 → when the noun ends with a vowel (no 받침)
예: 사과 → 사과예요
This is the only difference. The meaning is the same (“is / am / are”).
If you want to review batchim (final consonants),check the batchim guide here.
What Is Batchim (받침) in Korean? Easy Guide to Reading and Pronunciation
Statements
Use a falling tone at the end of your sentence.
저는 한국인이에요.
(jeoneun hangugin-ieyo)
I am Korean.이것은 케이크예요.
(igeoseun keikeu-yeyo)
This is a cake.
Lowering the ending tone signals that you are making a regular statement.
Questions
To make a question, simply:
In writing: add “?”
In speaking: raise your intonation at the end
Let’s check some examples.
당신은 한국인이에요?
(dangshineun hangugin-ieyo?)
Are you Korean?이것은 케이크예요?
(igeoseun keikeu-yeyo?)
Is this a cake?
No word order change—intonation does all the work.
A small tip from my own experience
When I started learning Korean, I often raised my tone in statements.
My Korean teacher once said:
“Why do you always sound like you’re asking a question?
Lower your ending tone!”
So I always remember:
Statement → lower your tone
Question → raise your tone
4. Practice Exercises
A. Writing Practice
Make sentences using “Noun + 이에요/예요” / “~ is”
Hints are provided for each sentence.
My name is Yuna.
→ Write this in Korean using “Yuna.”
Hint: 이름 / 유나I am a student.
Hint: 학생This is coffee.
Hint: 이것 / 커피That is a book.
Hint: 저것 / 책My favorite (bias) is Lisa.
Hint: 제 최애 / 리사 (BLACKPINK)
B. Translation Practice (Korean → English)
저는 미국인이에요.
→ English:이것은 사과예요.
→ English:제 이름은 수아예요.
→ English:
5. Answers with Romanization
A. Writing Practice (Noun + 이에요/예요)
My name is Yuna.
제 이름은 유나예요.
(je ireumeun yuna-yeyo)I am a student.
저는 학생이에요.
(jeoneun hakssaeng-ieyo)This is coffee.
이것은 커피예요.
(igeoseun keopi-yeyo)That is a book.
저것은 책이에요.
(jeogeoseun chaeg-ieyo)My favorite (bias) is Lisa.
제 최애는 리사예요.
(je choe-aeneun lisa-yeyo)
B. Translation Practice
저는 미국인이에요.
(jeoneun migugin-ieyo)
→ I am American.이것은 사과예요.
(igeoseun sagwa-yeyo)
→ This is an apple.제 이름은 수아예요.
(je ireumeun sua-yeyo)
→ My name is Sua.
6. Summary
That’s it for today!
This week, we learned how to make statements and questions using “Noun + 이에요/예요.”
Once you get used to the intonation and the 이에요/예요 rule, your everyday Korean will sound much more natural.
Next week, we’ll move on to “아니에요 / 아닙니다” (not ~ / isn’t ~) and learn how to say “not ~” / “is not ~” / “am not ~” / “are not ~”
It’s a super useful pattern, so stay tuned!
See you next time! ✨