How To Use A Possessive Form In Korean?

Yours, mine, ours, and theirs are called as the possessive form. But, in our daily life, usually, we use this form for giving an indication that a noun belongs to something.

For example, Jakarta is one of the metropolitan cities in Indonesia, Mewrise is Mew's blog, the colour of this picture is dominated by red, he is Dora's friend, and so on.

Conversation

Let's check the short conversation below, and tap the play button on Sound Cloud to hear how I read.

👲: 도라 씨는 누구예요?
(Who is Mr Dora?)

👧: 도라 씨는 와티 씨의 남동생이에요.
(Mr Dora is Wati's younger brother.)

👲: 도라 씨는 야옹 씨의 친구예요?
(Ms Mew, is Mr Dora your friend?)

👧: 네, 도라 씨는 제 친구예요.
(Yes, Mr Dora is my friend.)

Learning information

Easily, in English, we have "of" to indicate the possession of a noun. Then, in Korean, we have the particle "의".

Noun은/는 Noun의 Noun이에요/예요

The particle "의" is used to make a possessive form in Korean. But, sometimes, it can be abandoned. The formula above basically uses the positive sentence in Korean grammar. For example:

도라 씨(의) 친구는 영국 사람이에요.
Mr Dora's friend is British.

그것은 도라 씨의 핸드폰이에요.
That is Mr Dora's cell phone.

자카르타는 인도네시아의 도시예요.
Jakarta is a city of Indonesia == Jakarta is an Indonesia's city.

저는 도라의 누나예요.
I am Dora's elder sister.

Glossaries

남동생 = younger brother
친구 = friend
제 = my
그것 = the thing
핸드폰 = handphone
자카르타 =  Jakarta
인도네시아 = Indonesia
도시 = city
누나 = elder sister