에 is a versatile particle marking static location, destination, and time.
Location (existence) — Where something is, with 있다/없다
Destination — Where you're going, with movement verbs (가다, 오다)
Time — When something happens (specific times, days)
Per/each — Rate or frequency (하루에 한 번)
에 marks where something is or where you're going to, not where actions happen (use 에서 for that).
See examples below for varied real-world usage.
에 vs 에서 — 에 = existence/destination, 에서 = where action happens
- ✅ 학교**에** 있어요 (I'm at school)
- ✅ 학교**에서** 공부해요 (I study at school)
Not for people — Use 에게/한테 for "to a person"
- ❌ 친구에 줬어요
- ✅ 친구**에게** 줬어요
Time expressions — Some don't need 에: 오늘, 내일, 지금, 언제
I live in Seoul.
I'm going to work.
Let's meet on Monday.
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