This That in Korean 2026: 이거 그거 저거 Essential Guide

Why 이거, 그거, 저거 Matter in Beginner Korean

If you are learning Korean for everyday conversation, the words 이거 igeo this thing, 그거 geugeo that thing, and 저거 jeogeo that thing over there are some of the first Korean pointing words you should learn. They appear in shopping, ordering food, asking questions, choosing items, talking about objects, and reacting to something you can see. These words are small, but they make Korean conversation feel much more natural.

English speakers often translate them as “this” and “that,” but Korean uses a clearer three-way distance system. Korean does not only ask whether something is near or far. It also asks who the object is closer to in the conversation. Is it near the speaker? Is it near the listener? Is it away from both people? That is why 이거, 그거, and 저거 deserve more attention than a simple word list.

They help you speak before you know every noun

Beginners often stop speaking because they do not know the exact Korean noun. But 이거, 그거, and 저거 let you keep the conversation moving. If you do not know the word for an item on a menu, you can point and say 이거 주세요 igeo juseyo Please give me this. If a friend is holding something and you want to ask about it, you can say 그거 뭐예요? geugeo mwoyeyo? What is that?. If something is across the room, you can ask 저거 뭐예요? jeogeo mwoyeyo? What is that over there?.

They appear in real speech more than textbook examples suggest

In real conversation, people often point, look, choose, and ask short questions. That means demonstratives appear again and again. A shop conversation may begin with 이거 얼마예요? igeo eolmayeyo? How much is this?. A cafe order may include 이거 하나 주세요 igeo hana juseyo Please give me one of these. A conversation with a friend may include 그거 좋아요? geugeo joayo? Is that good?. These short sentences sound simple, but they are practical and highly reusable.

They make distance easier to feel

The best way to understand these words is not to memorize a translation only. You need to feel the space between speaker, listener, and object. 이거 points to the speaker’s side. 그거 points to the listener’s side or to something already known in the conversation. 저거 points outward, toward something away from both people. This spatial feeling is the heart of the lesson.

The Core Distance Rule: Near Me, Near You, Over There

The easiest way to learn this that in Korean is to imagine a real conversation. You are standing with another person. There are objects around you. Korean chooses the word based on how the object relates to the speaker and listener. This is why a single English word “that” can become either 그거 or 저거 in Korean.

Use 이거 for something close to you

Use 이거 when the thing is close to you, in your hand, on your side of the table, on your screen, or directly in front of you. If you are holding a snack, you can say 이거 맛있어요 igeo masisseoyo This is delicious. If you are pointing to a word in your notebook, you can ask 이거 무슨 뜻이에요? igeo museun tteus-ieyo? What does this mean?.

Use 그거 for something close to the listener

Use 그거 when the thing is closer to the other person. If your friend is holding a drink, you may ask 그거 뭐예요? geugeo mwoyeyo? What is that?. If your friend is choosing a shirt, you may say 그거 예뻐요 geugeo yeppeoyo That is pretty. The word feels connected to the listener’s side of the situation.

Use 저거 for something away from both people

Use 저거 when the thing is visible but away from both speaker and listener. It may be across the room, outside the window, on a distant shelf, or on the other side of the street. You can say 저거 뭐예요? jeogeo mwoyeyo? What is that over there? or 저거 보여요? jeogeo boyeoyo? Can you see that over there?.

Use 그거 for shared context, not only physical distance

One important point is that 그거 is not only about an object near the listener. It can also refer to something already mentioned. If someone says, “I bought a new phone,” you can ask 그거 얼마였어요? geugeo eolmay-eosseoyo? How much was that?. The phone may not be visible, but it is already part of the conversation. In this case, 그거 means “that thing we are talking about.”

How to Use 이거 Naturally

The word 이거 igeo this thing is one of the most useful beginner Korean words because it lets you speak immediately. You can use it when pointing to food, clothes, a word, a product, a phone screen, a menu item, or anything close to you. It is especially useful when you do not yet know the exact noun.

Use 이거 when asking what something is

A basic beginner question is 이거 뭐예요? igeo mwoyeyo? What is this?. This question is short, polite enough for many everyday learning situations, and easy to reuse. You can ask it while looking at a menu, a sign, a new word, a product, or a photo. It is also a good sentence for classroom practice because it naturally connects pointing, curiosity, and vocabulary learning.

Use 이거 when ordering or choosing

When you want something near you or something you are pointing at, use 이거 주세요 igeo juseyo Please give me this. This sentence is very practical. You can use it at a bakery, market, cafe, restaurant, clothing store, stationery shop, or souvenir shop. If you want one item, say 이거 하나 주세요 igeo hana juseyo Please give me one of these.

Use 이거 when commenting on something near you

You can also use 이거 when you react to something close to you. If you taste food, you can say 이거 맛있어요 igeo masisseoyo This is delicious. If you are trying to lift something, you can say 이거 무거워요 igeo mugeowoyo This is heavy. If a Korean sentence is hard to understand, you can say 이거 어려워요 igeo eoryeowoyo This is difficult.

Use 이거 with learning questions

Korean learners can use 이거 as a study tool. When you see a new expression, ask 이거 어떻게 읽어요? igeo eotteoke ilgeoyo? How do you read this?. When you want the meaning, ask 이거 무슨 뜻이에요? igeo museun tteus-ieyo? What does this mean?. These sentences help you learn Korean in Korean, even at a beginner level.

How to Use 그거 Naturally

The word 그거 geugeo that thing is often harder for English speakers than 이거 because English usually uses “that” for many situations. In Korean, 그거 often points to the listener’s side or to something already known in the conversation. This makes it a bridge between physical distance and shared context.

Use 그거 for something near the listener

Imagine your friend is holding a book. The book is not near you; it is near your friend. In that situation, you can ask 그거 뭐예요? geugeo mwoyeyo? What is that?. If your friend is eating something, you can ask 그거 맛있어요? geugeo masisseoyo? Is that delicious?. The word 그거 respects the listener’s side of the space.

Use 그거 for something already mentioned

그거 is also common when the object is not visible but already part of the conversation. If someone says, 새 가방 샀어요 sae gabang sasseoyo I bought a new bag, you can ask 그거 비쌌어요? geugeo bissasseoyo? Was that expensive?. Here, 그거 means “that thing you just mentioned.”

Use 그거 when confirming a choice

If the listener chooses something, you can use 그거 to confirm the choice. A store worker may ask 그거 드릴까요? geugeo deurilkkayo? Shall I give you that?. A friend may ask 그거 살 거예요? geugeo sal geoyeyo? Are you going to buy that?. These sentences show that 그거 often connects to the listener’s decision.

Use 그거 carefully when the object is far away

If an object is far away from both people and clearly visible in the distance, 저거 is usually a better beginner choice. Use 그거 when the thing is close to the listener or already being discussed. Use 저거 when both speaker and listener are looking outward at something away from them. This contrast is one of the main points beginners need to practice.

How to Use 저거 Naturally

The word 저거 jeogeo that thing over there points to something away from both the speaker and the listener. It is useful when both people are looking at something in the distance. It can refer to an object across a room, a building outside, a sign down the street, a product on a far shelf, or something visible but not close to either person.

Use 저거 when both people look away from themselves

Imagine you and your friend are standing together, looking at a display across the store. You can point and ask 저거 뭐예요? jeogeo mwoyeyo? What is that over there?. The object is not in your hand. It is not near your friend. It is away from both of you. That distance is the natural space for 저거.

Use 저거 when noticing something far away

저거 is also useful when you suddenly notice something. You can say 저거 봐요 jeogeo bwayo Look at that over there. If you want to ask whether the other person can see it, say 저거 보여요? jeogeo boyeoyo? Can you see that over there?. These sentences are practical when traveling, walking outside, shopping, or looking at signs.

Use 저거 for distant choices

Sometimes you want to choose something that is far from both people. At a bakery, you may point to a bread item behind the counter and say 저거 주세요 jeogeo juseyo Please give me that one over there. At a store, you may ask 저거 얼마예요? jeogeo eolmayeyo? How much is that over there?. The distance makes 저거 feel more exact than 그거.

Use 저거 when you want to sound visually specific

저거 often sounds like the speaker is pointing to something visible. It is not usually the best choice for an idea that was only mentioned in conversation. If someone talked about a plan, a message, or a previous topic, use 그거 more naturally. If you can physically point to something away from both people, use 저거.

Polite Sentence Patterns with 이거, 그거, 저거

After learning the distance rule, the next step is to build useful sentences. The words 이거, 그거, and 저거 become much more powerful when you attach common polite endings. You do not need advanced grammar to start. A few simple patterns will cover many everyday situations.

Pattern 1: Asking what something is

Use 뭐예요? mwoyeyo? What is it? after the demonstrative. This creates three helpful questions: 이거 뭐예요? igeo mwoyeyo? What is this?, 그거 뭐예요? geugeo mwoyeyo? What is that?, and 저거 뭐예요? jeogeo mwoyeyo? What is that over there?. These are essential beginner Korean questions.

Pattern 2: Asking for something

Use 주세요 juseyo please give me when ordering or requesting. Say 이거 주세요 igeo juseyo Please give me this when the item is near you. Say 그거 주세요 geugeo juseyo Please give me that when the item is near the listener or already clear. Say 저거 주세요 jeogeo juseyo Please give me that one over there when pointing to something farther away.

Pattern 3: Asking the price

Use 얼마예요? eolmayeyo? How much is it? to ask about price. In a store, you can say 이거 얼마예요? igeo eolmayeyo? How much is this?. If the item is closer to the seller, you can ask 그거 얼마예요? geugeo eolmayeyo? How much is that?. If the item is on a far shelf, use 저거 얼마예요? jeogeo eolmayeyo? How much is that over there?.

Pattern 4: Describing how something feels

You can combine the demonstrative with adjectives. Say 이거 좋아요 igeo joayo This is good, 그거 비싸요 geugeo bissayo That is expensive, or 저거 커요 jeogeo keoyo That over there is big. These short sentences let beginners express opinions without needing a long sentence structure.

Common Beginner Mistakes with 이거, 그거, 저거

Many learners understand the basic meaning of 이거, 그거, and 저거 but still hesitate when speaking. The reason is usually not vocabulary. The reason is that real conversation moves quickly. You have to decide distance, listener position, shared context, and sentence ending at the same time. This section helps you avoid the most common mistakes.

Mistake 1: Translating English “that” too quickly

English uses “that” in many ways. Korean divides the idea more carefully. If the thing is near the listener, use 그거. If the thing is away from both people, use 저거. If you translate every “that” as 그거, your Korean may sound unclear when the object is physically far away. When you see distance, ask yourself: near you, near the listener, or over there?

Mistake 2: Using 저거 for a topic already mentioned

Learners sometimes use 저거 because the English sentence says “that.” But if the thing is already mentioned in conversation, and you are not pointing at a far-away object, 그거 is often more natural. If someone says, 한국어 시험 봤어요 hangugeo siheom bwasseoyo I took a Korean test, you can ask 그거 어려웠어요? geugeo eoryeowosseoyo? Was that difficult?. The test is a topic, not a distant visible object.

Mistake 3: Using 이거 for people

이거 means “this thing,” so it should not be used to refer to a person. For a person, use a noun such as 이 사람 i saram this person, 그 사람 geu saram that person, or 저 사람 jeo saram that person over there. This distinction matters because Korean sounds more respectful and clear when people are not treated like objects.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the polite ending

Words like 이거, 그거, and 저거 are useful, but they are not full polite sentences by themselves. In many everyday situations, especially with strangers, staff, teachers, or older people, add a polite ending. Instead of only saying 이거, say 이거 주세요 when requesting. Instead of only saying 저거, say 저거 뭐예요? when asking.

Mistake 5: Depending only on romanization

Romanization helps at the beginning, but your goal should be to recognize the Korean forms directly. Read the Hangul first: 이거, 그거, 저거. Then use igeo, geugeo, and jeogeo as pronunciation support. The more you connect the Korean spelling with real pointing actions, the faster the words will become automatic.

A Simple Practice Routine for 이거, 그거, 저거

The fastest way to learn Korean demonstratives is to practice them with real objects. Do not only read the words. Move your hand, look at an object, imagine the listener’s position, and say the sentence aloud. This physical practice helps your brain connect Korean words to space. That connection is exactly what you need for 이거, 그거, and 저거.

Step 1: Practice with objects near you

Choose three objects on your desk. Point to each one and say 이거 뭐예요? igeo mwoyeyo? What is this?. Then answer with a simple sentence if you know the word: 이거 책이에요 igeo chaeg-ieyo This is a book or 이거 펜이에요 igeo pen-ieyo This is a pen. If you do not know the noun, still practice the question.

Step 2: Practice with an imagined listener

Put one object on the other side of the table and imagine it is near your conversation partner. Ask 그거 뭐예요? geugeo mwoyeyo? What is that?. Then try 그거 좋아요? geugeo joayo? Is that good? and 그거 얼마예요? geugeo eolmayeyo? How much is that?. This trains your mind to connect 그거 with the listener’s side.

Step 3: Practice with distant objects

Look across the room or out the window. Pick something away from both you and an imagined listener. Say 저거 뭐예요? jeogeo mwoyeyo? What is that over there?. Then say 저거 보여요? jeogeo boyeoyo? Can you see that over there?. This helps you feel the visual distance that makes 저거 different from 그거.

Step 4: Rotate one sentence pattern

Choose one sentence pattern and rotate all three words. Start with 뭐예요?. Say 이거 뭐예요?, 그거 뭐예요?, and 저거 뭐예요?. Then choose 주세요. Say 이거 주세요, 그거 주세요, and 저거 주세요. This rotation makes the difference clear without adding too much grammar at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Build Korean Distance Sense One Sentence at a Time

Learning 이거, 그거, and 저거 gives you more than three new Korean words. It gives you a practical way to speak when you are choosing, asking, pointing, ordering, studying, or reacting to something in front of you. These words are small enough for beginners, but they are powerful enough to appear in real daily conversation again and again.

The key is to think in space. If the thing is near you, use 이거. If the thing is near the listener or already mentioned, use 그거. If the thing is visible but away from both people, use 저거. After that, attach simple patterns: 뭐예요?, 주세요, 얼마예요?, and 좋아요. With only a few combinations, you can create many useful beginner Korean sentences.