#103: Korean Particles in Real Conversation: Why They Disappear (and Where They Hide)
Korean UnpackedShow Notes
In a textbook, it’s 저는 어제 친구를 만났어요. Between friends, it’s 나 어제 친구 만났어. So where did the particles go? In this episode of Korean Unpacked, Eliza shows what really happens to Korean particles in everyday conversation - when they disappear, when they shrink, and when they stay.
🎧 Episode Overview
You study particles carefully. Then you watch a drama or listen to Korean friends talking - and the particles seem to vanish, get shorter, or turn into something you don’t recognise. This episode closes our three-week particle series by looking at the gap between textbook Korean and the Korean people actually speak. Not to add more rules, but so that real Korean starts sounding a little more familiar. The idea to hold onto: in real conversation, particles may disappear, shrink, or stay - depending on how much work they need to do.
In this episode, you’ll explore: Why Korean often leaves particles out - in casual and polite speech Everyday exchanges where 을/를 and 이/가 quietly drop away Shortened forms you hear constantly in dramas and songs When particles stay, because they’re doing important work One conversation heard two ways: as friends say it, and with the particles put back A simple one-week listening exercise This episode is for learners at any level who can read Korean particles on the page, but lose them when Korean is spoken at real speed.
Korean Particles Workshop - Registration Open
Understanding particles and following them at real speed are two different things. Korean Particles in Context is a workshop where, instead of learning particles as isolated rules, we look at how they actually behave inside real Korean - including what happens when context makes them less visible. The first session is on October 20. Registration is now open. 👉 Details and registration: https://www.joaacademy.com/event/workshop
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🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/ 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 🎧 Podcast: Korean Unpacked - available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms 📝 Read this episode on Substack: @ Korean Joa Academy
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