Topic Marker 은[eun]/는[neun] vs.

Subject Marker 이[i]/가[ga]

Salah satu pertanyaan yang paling sering diajukan adalah perbedaan
antara penanda topik

은 [eun] / 는 [neun] and penanda subjek 이 [i] / 가 [ga]. As Karena

bahasa Inggris tidak memiliki konsep penanda ini, orang menjadi
mudah bingung. Penutur asli menggunakannya tanpa berpikir, tetapi
untuk orang asing, mereka benar-benar rumit dalam bahasa Korea.

Ketika saya ditanya tentang penanda ini di kelas pemula atau menengah
rendah, saya selalu mengatakan bahwa itu tidak perlu dipahami dengan
jelas. Jangan terlalu stres tentang poin tata bahasa ini! Meskipun Anda
membuat beberapa kesalahan atau hilangkan penandanya, orang Korea
tidak kesulitan memahami apa yang Anda maksud.)

Before breaking down the differences, let me explain to you the overall
meaning of them first.

Peran utama penanda topik adalah membiarkan orang lain

tahu apa yang Anda bicarakan atau akan bicarakan.
Basically, you can think of the topic markers 은/ 는 as meaning “about”
and “as for” (sebagai lawan dari sesuatu atau orang lain).

저는 학생이에요. As for me, I’m a student.

상민은 친절한 사람이야. As for Sangmin, he is a nice person.

Definitely awkward in English, but you could understand the

meaning of the sentences, right?

Peran penanda subjek relative sederhana dibandingkan dengan

penanda topik. 이 / 가 menunjukkan apa subjek dari kalimat
tersebut.

고향이 어디예요? [gohyang-i eodiyeyo]

Where is your hometown?

제주도가 제 고향이에요. [jejudoga je gohyang-ieyo]

Jeju Island is my hometown.

Still tricky, right? Let me explain in more detail.
1. Topic Marker 은/는: Old Information
Subject Marker 이/가: New Information
이 / 가 is used to ask about new information and 은 / 는 is used
to answer the question.
Q :이름이 뭐예요? [ireumi mwoyeyo]

What is your name?

A : 제 이름은 이민재예요. [je ireumeun iminjeyeyo]

My name is Minjae Lee.

Q : 오늘이 무슨 요일이에요? [oneu-li museun yoi-liyeyo]

What day is it today?

A : 오늘은 토요일이에요. [oneu-leun toyoi-li yeyo]

Today is Saturday.

Also, 이 / 가 dapat digunakan ketika sesuatu disebutkan

terlebih dahulu dan
은 / 는 digunakan untuk menunjukkan apa yang telah Anda
katakan.

테이블 위에 사과가 있어요. 그 사과는 맛있어 보여요. [teibeul

wie sagwaga isseoyo. geu sagwaneun mashisseo boyeoyo]

There is an apple on the table. The apple looks delicious.

2. Topic Marker 은/는: General or Factual
Statement

Subject Marker 이/가: Specific Statement

The topic marker 은 / 는 digunakan ketika membuat penyataan

umum atau fakta, sedangkan penanda subjek 이 / 가 tidak.

For example,

치타는 가장 빠른 동물이다.

Cheetah is the fastest animal.

However, if you saw a cheetah moving very slowly, you might

say,

치타가 느리다. [chitaga neu-lida]

(That) cheetah is slow.

3. Topic Marker 은/는: Contrast or Comparison

Subject Marker 이/가: X

은 / 는, tergantung pada konteksnya, dapat digunakan untuk

membandingkan atau membedakan dua hal.

지영은 사과를 좋아해요. 그런데 수지는 사과를 안 좋아해요. [jiyeong-eun

sagwa-leul joaheyo. geureonde sujineun sagwa-leul an joaheyo]
Jiyoung likes apples, but Suji doesn’t like apples.

혜미가 사과는 좋아해요. 그런데 바나나는 안 좋아해요.

Hyemi likes apples, but she doesn’t like bananas.

오늘은 일 안 해도 돼요. 그런데 내일은 일 해야 돼요.

Today I don’t have to work. However, tomorrow I have to work.

4. Topic Marker 은/는: Focus on

Description
Subject Marker 이/가: Fokus pada subjek

Seperti yang bisa anda tebak dari namanya, penanda subjek 이 / 가 focus
pada subjek and penanda topik 은 / 는 focus pada topik, dengan kata
lain, tindakan atau deskripsi subjek.

That’s why you always say “누가 [nuga] (who)? ” when you want to know
who has done something. (누가 adalah singkatan dari 누구 + 가.)

누가 아직 안 왔어? [nuga ajik an wasseo]

Who’s still not here?

Let’s see the difference with these conversations.

A : 누가 설거지 했어? [nuga seolgeoji hesseo]

Who did the dishes?

B : 수지가 했어. [sujiga hesseo]

Suji did.

Dalam percakapan pertama, orang A penasaran dengan orang

yang mencuci piring. Jadi, fokus jawabannya adalah subjeknya.

Itu sebabnya partikel subjek 가 is used twice, 누가 and 수지가.

A: 수지는 지금 뭐해요?

What is Suji doing now?

B: 수지는 지금 쇼핑하고 있어요.

Suji is shopping now.

Dalam percakapan kedua, orang A bertanya-tanya apa yang

sedang dilakukan Suji sekarang. Jadi, fokus jawabannya adalah
aksinya. Itu sebabnya partikel 는 digunakan. Seperti yang Anda
perhatikan, ada beberapa perbedaan. Saya harap ini membantu
kalian memahami penggunaannya dengan sempurna!