jeoneun undongeul johahaeyo.

I like exercise.

Breakdown of jeoneun undongeul johahaeyo.

• ~을: object particle
• 저: I
• ~는: topic particle
• 좋아하다: to like
• 운동: exercise

Questions & Answers about jeoneun undongeul johahaeyo.

What does 저는 mean?

저는 combines 저 (the polite pronoun “I”) with the topic particle 는, so it literally means “as for me.” It sets “I” as the topic of the sentence.

What is the function of the particle 는?

The particle 는 marks the topic of a sentence. It tells the listener what or who you’re talking about (“as for…”). It can also imply contrast, but here it simply highlights “me” as the topic.

What role does 을 play in 운동을?

The particle 을 is the direct-object marker. By attaching 을 to 운동 (“exercise”), it indicates that 운동 is what you like—the object of the verb.

How is 좋아해요 formed from 좋아하다?

좋아하다 is a 하다-verb meaning “to like.” To make the polite present form, you:

1. Drop -다 from 좋아하다, leaving the stem 좋아하.
2. Change 하 to its polite form 해, then add 요.
   So 좋아하다 → 좋아해
   • 요 = 좋아해요.

Why use 좋아하다 and not just 좋다?

좋다 is a descriptive verb (adjective) meaning “to be good” or “to be pleasing.” When you want to express “to like” something (an active feeling), you need 좋아하다, which turns that descriptive quality into an action verb.

What level of politeness does -요 in 좋아해요 convey?

The -요 ending creates the polite informal style (called 해요체). It’s polite enough for most everyday situations—friends you’re comfortable with, coworkers, or people older than you whom you don’t know well.

Can 저는 be omitted in this sentence?

Yes. In Korean, you can drop the topic or subject if it’s clear from context. So 운동을 좋아해요 by itself still means “(I) like exercise.” You’d only include 저는 if you need to emphasize or clarify that it’s you who likes exercise.

Why is 운동 placed before the verb 좋아해요?

Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. The verb usually comes at the end, so the object (운동을) naturally precedes the verb (좋아해요).