jeoneun haksaengieyo.

I am a student.

Breakdown of jeoneun haksaengieyo.

• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 학생: student
• 이다: to be

Questions & Answers about jeoneun haksaengieyo.

What does the particle -는 in 저는 indicate?

저 means “I,” and the attached particle -는 is the topic marker. It sets “I” as the topic of the sentence—literally “As for me, …” It can also imply contrast or emphasis (e.g., “I, specifically, …”).

What’s the difference between the topic marker -는 and the subject marker -이/가?

• The topic marker (-는/은) frames what you’re talking about or contrasts it with something else.
• The subject marker (-이/가) simply marks who or what is performing the action or being described.
  In 저는 학생이에요, you’re introducing yourself as a topic. If you said 제가 학생이에요, you’d be emphasizing that you (and not someone else) are the student.

What role does 이에요 play in 학생이에요?

이에요 is the polite informal form of the copula 이다 (“to be”). Since 학생 ends with a consonant, the copula combines as 학생 + 이 + 어요 = 학생이에요, meaning “(I) am a student.”

When do I use 이에요 versus 예요?

• Use 이에요 after a noun ending in a consonant.
• Use 예요 after a noun ending in a vowel.
  Examples:
  • 물(Consonant) → 물이에요
  • 의사(Vowel) → 의사예요

Why is there a space between 학생 and 이에요?

Korean spacing treats 학생 (a noun) and 이에요 (a verb ending/copula) as separate words. Always put a space between a content word (noun, verb stem) and its grammatical ending.

What level of politeness is 이에요 in 학생이에요?

It’s the polite informal level (sometimes called 존댓말). Use it with people you’re not extremely close to—strangers, coworkers, acquaintances—when you want to be polite but not overly formal.

How would I make this sentence more formal?

Replace 이에요 with the formal ending 입니다. The full formal sentence is:
저는 학생입니다.

How would I say the same thing in casual speech?

You can drop 저는 if the context is clear, and use the casual copula -이야:
나는 학생이야.
Or simply 학생이야 among very close friends or younger people.

Can I omit 저는 in this sentence?

Yes. Korean often omits topic/subject pronouns when context makes them obvious. So you can just say 학생이에요 (polite) or 학생이야 (casual).

How do I ask “Are you a student?” based on this sentence?

Turn the statement into a question by using a rising intonation or adding a question mark:
• 학생이에요?
Optionally include a topic:
• 너는 학생이에요? (informal)
• 당신은 학생이에요? (very formal/polite, though rarely used colloquially)