目錄
When translated into Chinese, 「에게서」, 「한테서」, and 「에서」 are often all understood as “from” or “at/in,” but in actual Korean conversation, native speakers follow a very direct mental rule. The key is not the action itself, but whether the noun that comes before the particle refers to a “person” or a “place.” Once this dividing line becomes clear, many sentences that used to feel confusing start to make sense automatically, especially everyday expressions about receiving gifts, hearing news, and similar situations.
What Is the Difference Between Korean 「에게서」「한테서」 and 「에서」?
「에서」 is one of the most frequently used particles in Korean, and it serves two functions at the same time. First, it marks the place “where” an action takes place. Second, it marks the point “from which” something originates or comes when the source is non-living, such as a place, institution, or object. Because 「에서」 itself can mean “from,” many learners instinctively treat it as equivalent to 「에게서／한테서」, which can also be translated as “from,” and assume that the two can be used interchangeably.
In actual Korean, however, the language distinguishes very carefully between different types of sources. If the source is a “person or animal,” you must use 「에게서」 or 「한테서」. If the source is a non-living entity such as a “place, institution, or object,” you use 「에서」 instead and cannot use 「에게서／한테서」. This “animate vs. inanimate” distinction is the real key to understanding these two groups of particles.
How Are Korean 「에게서」「한테서」 Used? Core Functions Explained
「에게서」 and 「한테서」 have exactly the same grammatical function. The difference is register: 「에게서」 is more written and formal and often appears in articles or news reports, while 「한테서」 is more conversational and is heard more often in everyday speech. Both can only follow animate nouns such as people or animals and are used to indicate the source of an action or information.
Usage ① of 「에게서／한테서」｜Receiving Something “From” Someone
This usage commonly appears with verbs such as 「받다（收到）」 and 「얻다（獲得）」, indicating that a concrete or abstract thing is transferred from another person to the speaker or subject. In everyday conversation, 「서」 is often omitted, leaving only 「에게」 or 「한테」, while written Korean usually keeps the full form including 「서」.
- Example: 친구한테서 생일 선물을 받았어요.
Romanization: chin-gu-han-te-seo saeng-il seon-mul-eul ba-da-sseo-yo.
Translation: I received a birthday present from a friend.
This is one of the most typical conversational uses. In everyday speech, the 「서」 in 「한테서」 is also often omitted, resulting in 「친구한테」, without changing the meaning. - Example: 신입사원은 팀장에게서 소중한 조언을 얻었습니다.
Romanization: sin-ip-sa-won-eun tim-jang-e-ge-seo so-jung-han jo-eon-eul eo-deo-sseum-ni-da.
Translation: The new employee received valuable advice from the team leader.
「에게서」 is used here rather than 「한테서」 because the sentence has a more formal, written tone, making it suitable for workplace reports or formal documents. - Example: 할머니한테서 옛날이야기를 많이 들었어요.
Romanization: hal-meo-ni-han-te-seo yen-nal-i-ya-gi-reul man-i deu-reo-sseo-yo.
Translation: I heard many old stories from my grandmother.
「듣다（聽）」 is another verb that commonly appears with 「한테서／에게서」 when the source of the information is a specific person.
Usage ② of 「에게서／한테서」｜Hearing or Learning Information “From” Someone
In addition to concrete objects, 「에게서／한테서」 is also widely used for the transfer of abstract information, such as hearing news, learning knowledge, or receiving influence. The important point here is that the source of the information must clearly refer to “a particular person,” rather than a vague “place” or “channel.”
- Example: 그 소식은 동료한테서 처음 들었어요.
Romanization: geu so-sig-eun dong-nyo-han-te-seo cheo-eum deu-reo-sseo-yo.
Translation: I first heard that news from a colleague.
This emphasizes that the first-hand source of the news was the specific person “colleague,” rather than the news media or the internet. - Example: 유학생은 한국인 친구에게서 진짜 발음을 배우고 있어요.
Romanization: yu-hag-saeng-eun han-gug-in chin-gu-e-ge-seo jin-jja ba-reum-eul bae-u-go i-sseo-yo.
Translation: The international student is learning authentic pronunciation from a Korean friend.
Here, 「배우다（學習）」 is another typical verb used with these particles, and the source is likewise a person. - Example: 아이는 부모한테서 많은 영향을 받는다.
Romanization: a-i-neun bu-mo-han-te-seo man-eun yeong-hyang-eul ban-neun-da.
Translation: A child receives a great deal of influence from their parents.
「영향을 받다（受到影響）」 is somewhat more written in tone, but 「한테서」 is still possible here. This shows that spoken and written expressions can sometimes coexist, with the difference mainly being one of formality.
How Is Korean 「에서」 Used? Core Functions Explained
The core concept of 「에서」 is actually just one thing: it marks a “fixed point involving a non-living entity.” That fixed point can be the location where an action takes place (“at/in”), or it can be the point from which an action or thing originates (“from”). This “static vs. dynamic” distinction is also why 「에 vs 에서」 is so often discussed. In either use, the noun before 「에서」 is not a specific person or animal, but rather a place, institution, organization, object, or similar entity.
Usage ① of 「에서」｜Marking the Place Where an Action Happens
This is the most basic use of 「에서」 and one of the first meanings learners encounter. It indicates the place where an action actually takes place.
- Example: 저녁에는 집에서 요리를 해요.
Romanization: jeo-nyeog-e-neun jib-e-seo yo-ri-reul hae-yo.
Translation: I cook at home in the evening.
「집（家）」 is the physical place where the action occurs. Here, 「에서」 simply marks the location and does not carry the meaning of “source.” - Example: 회사에서 회의가 진행 중이에요.
Romanization: hoe-sa-e-seo hoe-ui-ga jin-haeng jung-i-e-yo.
Translation: A meeting is currently in progress at the company.
This is also a location use, emphasizing the space in which the meeting is taking place. - Example: 카페에서 두 시간 동안 공부했어요.
Romanization: ka-pe-e-seo du si-gan dong-an gong-bu-hae-sseo-yo.
Translation: I studied at a café for two hours.
Even when 「에서」 appears together with a duration of time, it still describes the setting in which the action occurs rather than a source.
Usage ② of 「에서」｜Marking a Non-Living “Source”
When 「에서」 means “from,” the noun before it must be a non-living source such as an institution, place, or object. In this use, 「에서」 is semantically very close to 「에게서／한테서」, but the two cannot be interchanged.
- Example: 은행에서 문자가 왔어요.
Romanization: eun-haeng-e-seo mun-ja-ga wa-sseo-yo.
Translation: A text message came from the bank.
「은행（銀行）」 is an institution rather than an individual person, so only 「에서」 can be used here. Using 「에게서」 would sound unnatural. - Example: 뉴스에서 이 소식을 처음 봤어요.
Romanization: nyu-seu-e-seo i so-sig-eul cheo-eum bwa-sseo-yo.
Translation: I first saw this news in the news media.
「뉴스（新聞）」 is a channel of communication rather than a person, so the source is again expressed with 「에서」. - Example: 이 향수는 프랑스에서 수입한 제품이에요.
Romanization: i hyang-su-neun peu-rang-seu-e-seo su-ip-han je-pum-i-e-yo.
Translation: This perfume is a product imported from France.
Countries and regions also belong to the category of non-living entities, so 「에서」 is used when indicating a product’s place of origin or source.
Comparison Table: 「에게서」「한테서」 vs 「에서」
| Comparison Item | 에게서／한테서 | 에서 |
| What it attaches to | People, animals | Places, institutions, objects |
| Core meaning | From “someone” | At/in a place; from “something” |
| Register difference | 에게서 is more written; 한테서 is more conversational | Used in both spoken and written Korean |
| Common verbs | 받다、듣다、배우다、얻다 | 오다、있다、하다、진행되다 |
| Common mistake | Using it with institutions or objects | Using it with a specific person |
| Correct example | 친구한테서 연락이 왔어요 | 학교에서 연락이 왔어요 |
▌Whether the Source Is a Person or an Institution Determines the Particle
❌ Unnatural: 학교에게서 문자가 왔어요.
(Treating the institution 「학교」 as a person and using 「에게서」 sounds strange to native speakers.)
✅ Correct: 학교에서 문자가 왔어요.
This sentence means “I received a text message from the school.” 「학교（學校）」 is an institution rather than a person, so only 「에서」 can be used. Even though the sentence structure is almost identical to 「친구한테서 연락이 왔어요」, the type of noun being marked determines which particle is chosen.
▌Even with the Same Verb “to Hear,” the Particle Can Be Completely Different
❌ Mixed usage: 라디오한테서 이 노래를 들었어요.
✅ Correct: 라디오에서 이 노래를 들었어요.
「라디오（收音機）」 is an object, not a person. Even though the verb is 「듣다（聽）」, which commonly appears with 「에게서」, the particle must change to 「에서」 if the source is not a person. This is exactly where learners often make mistakes with these particles.
How to Tell 「에게서／한테서」 and 「에서」 Apart in Korean Drama Dialogue
Everyday conversation and drama dialogue are some of the most direct materials for observing these two groups of particles. In particular, they reveal when 「서」 is omitted and how Korean speakers choose between conversational and written forms in real usage.
▌Situation ①｜Friends Talking About Receiving a Gift
A：생일 선물 받았어? 누구한테서 받은 거야?
saeng-il seon-mul ba-da-sseo? nu-gu-han-te-seo ba-deun geo-ya?
Did you get a birthday present? Who did you get it from?
B：어, 남자친구한테 받았어. 진짜 예쁘더라.
eo, nam-ja-chin-gu-han-te ba-da-sseo. jin-jja ye-ppeu-deo-ra.
Yeah, I got it from my boyfriend. It was really pretty.
📌 Grammar Point: In B’s reply, 「서」 is omitted from 「한테서」, leaving only 「한테」. This is extremely common in everyday conversation, and the meaning is completely unchanged. It is simply a natural conversational simplification.
▌Situation ②｜Receiving a Phone Call at the Office
A：방금 어디에서 전화 온 거예요?
bang-geum eo-di-e-seo jeon-hwa on geo-ye-yo?
Where did that call just come from?
B：거래처에서 왔어요. 내일 미팅 확인하려고요.
geo-rae-cheo-e-seo wa-sseo-yo. nae-il mi-ting hwa-gin-ha-ryeo-go-yo.
It was from a client company. They wanted to confirm tomorrow’s meeting.
📌 Grammar Point: Both sentences use 「에서」 because the sources are 「어디（哪裡）」 and 「거래처（客戶公司）」, both of which are treated as non-living entities. Even though the meaning involves an interpersonal action such as making a phone call, the choice of particle still depends on the noun the particle directly attaches to, not on whether there is a person behind the action.
Cultural Notes:
- Korean news reports almost never use 「한테서」. Instead, they use the more written-sounding 「에게서」 or directly use 「(으)로부터」. This is why 「한테서」 is rarely seen in formal documents or news copy. When the person involved is a senior or superior who requires respect, the honorific particle 「께」 may also be used. The logic behind this register shift is similar to the spoken-versus-written distinction between 「에게서／한테서」.
- In spoken Korean, it is very common to omit 「서」 from 「에게서／한테서」. Especially among younger speakers and in informal settings, using only 「에게」 or 「한테」 is perfectly understandable and is not considered grammatically incorrect.
- 「에서」 is one of the Korean particles that combines multiple functions, serving both as “at/in” and “from.” Which meaning is intended is usually determined from the verb and context rather than from the particle alone.
How Does Korean 「에게서／한테서」 Compare with Japanese 「から」?
In Japanese, the main particle used to express “from” is 「から」. The same particle is used whether the source is a person or a place, which is completely different from Korean, where “people” and “non-living entities” are clearly distinguished.
◆ Similar Grammar: から
Japanese 「から」 covers an even broader range than Korean 「에게서／한테서」 and 「에서」 combined. Whether the sentence is 「友達から手紙をもらった（received a letter from a friend）」 or 「学校から電話が来た（received a call from school）」, Japanese uses the same 「から」 and does not require an additional distinction based on whether the source is a person.
- Example: 友達から誕生日プレゼントをもらいました。
Kana: ともだちからたんじょうびプレゼントをもらいました。
Translation: I received a birthday present from a friend.
If this sentence were expressed in Korean, the source 「友達（friend）」 is a person, so 「친구한테서」 would be required and 「에서」 could not be used. - Example: 銀行からメッセージが来ました。
Kana: ぎんこうからメッセージがきました。
Translation: A message came from the bank.
If this sentence were expressed in Korean, the source 「銀行」 is an institution, so 「은행에서」 would be required and 「에게서」 could not be used.
◆ Core Difference from 「에게서／한테서」:
Japanese uses a single particle, 「から」, for both people and non-living sources. Korean, however, requires you to first determine whether the source is a person before deciding between 「에게서／한테서」 and 「에서」. This is also one of the easiest points to confuse when moving from Japanese to Korean.
Once the boundary between 「에게서」, 「한테서」, and 「에서」 becomes clear, the rest comes down to listening to how friends speak in Korean dramas and paying attention to differences in wording in news broadcasts. Once you get used to checking whether the source is a person, the choice becomes automatic, and you no longer have to stop and think through the grammar rule every time you speak.
FAQs
Both mean “from someone” and have exactly the same grammatical function. The only difference is register: 「에게서」 is more formal and written, while 「한테서」 is more conversational and commonly used in everyday speech. Which one you choose depends mainly on the situation rather than grammatical correctness.
The key is whether the noun before the particle is a “person or animal.” Use 「에게서／한테서」 with people or animals, and use 「에서」 with non-living sources such as places, institutions, or objects. They cannot be freely interchanged just because both can be translated as “from.”
The most common mistake is treating an institution or object like a person and using 「에게서」, for example saying 「학교에게서」 instead of 「학교에서」. This error comes from overlooking the strict animate/inanimate distinction in Korean particles.
In conversation, 「서」 is often omitted, leaving only 「한테」 or 「에게」 with no change in meaning. In written Korean or formal situations, the full form 「에게서」 is more often retained, and news reports in particular rarely use the more conversational 「한테서」.
The fastest method is to ask whether the source in the sentence is a specific “person.” If it is, use 「에게서」 or 「한테서」. If the source is a place, institution, or object, use 「에서」. This “animate or not” test covers almost every situation.