Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나 | na | [na̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 저 | jeo | [t͡ɕʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | humble |
The words 나 and 저 are used as personal pronouns to mean "I" or "me". While 나 is the most common and versatile way to say "I" in informal conversations, 저 is used to show respect to others.
Which one should you use?
The form 나 is used in casual settings, whereas 저 is used in formal settings or when speaking to elders and superiors to show respect. Additionally, while 나 is the standard informal pronoun, the form 내가 serves as a more emphatic informal version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
나 is an informal pronoun suitable for speaking to friends or people younger than you. In contrast, 저 is a humble and polite way to say "I" or "me", making it the appropriate choice for formal situations or when addressing someone of higher status.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms change depending on the grammatical role in a sentence. When using the informal 나 as a topic, it becomes 나는. When the subject marker 가 is added to the informal 나, it changes to the form 내가. Similarly, when the humble 저 is used with the subject marker 가, it changes to the form 제가.
How do you pronounce it?
na
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the informal pronoun 나 with polite verb endings (such as those ending in '-요'). This creates a linguistic mismatch between the informal pronoun and the polite verb.
Did you know?
- In Korean, referring to yourself in the third person or using your own name is often seen as more natural or cute than using the pronoun 나.
- In conversational Korean, it is extremely common to omit the word for 'I' entirely if the context makes it clear who is speaking.
- Some old dictionaries and literature mistakenly claimed that 저 came from the Chinese character for 'chopsticks', but the two words are unrelated.
Examples in context
- 나 좀 놀고 싶어.I want to have some fun.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to have fun using 나.Tatoeba #13761888 by qlTmalffk, translation #8045286 by CK
- 나는 톰을 잘 안다.I know Tom well.This sentence is useful for stating knowledge of someone using 나.Tatoeba #5526753 by raining211, translation #2376236 by CK
- 나 자러 가고 싶어.I want to go to sleep.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to sleep using 나.Tatoeba #8369708 by Eunhee, translation #2011674 by CK
- 저는 [your name]입니다I am [your name]
- 나는 피자를 좋아해I like pizza
- 내가 할 거야I will do it
- 815 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are talking about their weekend plans.
- 민준 Min-jun나 이번 주말에 바빠.na ibon jumare bappa.I am busy this weekend.
- 서연 Seo-yeon왜? 무슨 일 있어?wae? museun il isseo?Why? Is something going on?
- 민준 Min-jun나 친구 결혼식에 가야 해.na chingu gyeolhonsige gaya hae.I have to go to a friend's wedding.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그렇구나. 잘 다녀와!geureokuna. jal danyeowa!I see. Have a great time!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i” translations and entries 나, 저, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나, 저, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
