것
geot[kʌ̹t̚]
The Korean word for "thing" is 것 (geot).
Is it said differently in some regions?
Standard Korean is referred to as 서울말.
How does it change in a sentence?
When 것 is the subject of a sentence, it is often combined with the subject marker –이 to form 것이. When it is the object of a sentence, it is often combined with the object marker –을 to form 것을. In spoken Korean, the form 것 is frequently contracted to 거 when it is used as a subject or in a non-formal context.
How do you pronounce it?
geot
Did you know?
- While 것 is used for 'thing', Korean has a separate set of counters for objects based on their shape. You would use 개 for small round things and 장 for flat things like paper.
- Korean often uses 것 to avoid being too direct. Instead of saying 'I like this', speakers often say 'This is a thing that I like' to soften the tone.
- In Korean, the word '것' can be used to turn entire verbs into nouns, acting much like the English '-ing' suffix. This allows a speaker to talk about 'the act of doing' something as if it were a physical 'thing'.
Examples in context
- 이것은 제 것인가요?igeoseun je geos-ingayo?Is this thing mine?
- 할 것이 아주 많아요.hal geosi aju manh-ayo.I have many things to do.
- 먹을 것을 좀 샀어요.meogeul geoseul jom sasseoyo.I bought some things to eat.
Example conversation
Jieun and Dohyun are looking at an object in a store.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨, 이 것 보세요.Do-hyeon ssi, i geot bo-se-yo.Dohyun, look at this thing.
- 도현 Do-hyeon와, 정말 신기한 것이네요.wa, jeong-mal sin-gi-han geot-i-ne-yo.Wow, it is a really strange thing.
- 지은 Ji-eun이 것을 살까요?i geot-eul sal-kka-yo?Shall we buy this thing?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 같이 사요.ne, gat-i sa-yo.Yes, let's buy it together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 것, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
