Animate / Inanimate Nouns

In the Korean language, nouns are divided into two groups: animate and inanimate nouns.

Animate nouns are words denoting persons and animals.

For example: 어머니 [omoni] ("mother"), 선생 [sonsaeng] ("teacher").

Inanimate nouns are words denoting objects.

For example: 집 [jip] ("house"), 편지 [phyonji] ("letter").

This grammar category is formally distinguished only by some case endings:

Animate: 어머니에게 ("to mother")

Inanimate: 집에 ("to the house")

See Also:

• Nouns
• Types of Nouns
• Gender of Nouns
• Number of Nouns
• Declension of Nouns
• Special Particles
• Auxiliary Nouns