Breakdown of jeoneun maeil du sigan dongan hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo.
~를~reul
object particle
저jeo
I
~는~neun
topic particle
공부하다gongbuhada
to study
한국어hangugeo
Korean language
매일maeil
every day
둘dul
two
동안dongan
for
시간sigan
hour
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Questions & Answers about jeoneun maeil du sigan dongan hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo.
Why is it 저는 and not 제가 or 나는?
- 저는 uses the topic marker -는, making “as for me” the frame of the sentence. It’s neutral and common when stating regular habits.
- 제가 uses the subject marker -가, often used when emphasizing that it is specifically “I” (not someone else) who does the action: 제가 한국어를 공부해요.
- 나는 is the casual (non-polite) version of 저는. Use 나/나는 with friends or younger people; use 저/저는 in polite/formal contexts.
Do I have to say 저는, or can I drop it?
You can drop it if the subject is clear from context. Very natural: 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부해요. Keep 저는 when you want to introduce yourself as the topic or make a contrast (e.g., 저는 …, 친구는 …).
What does 를 do in 한국어를, and can I omit it?
- -를/-을 marks the direct object. 한국어를 = “Korean (language) as the object.”
- In casual speech, particles sometimes drop, but beginners should keep them. With flexible Korean word order, particles help prevent ambiguity.
Is 한국어 the only way to say “Korean (language)”?
No. 한국어 is the formal/standard term; 한국말 is more colloquial. Both are fine:
- 한국어를 공부해요.
- 한국말을 공부해요.
Where does 매일 go? Can I say 매일에 or 매일 동안?
- 매일 is an adverb; don’t add 에 or 동안 to it. Not: ✗ 매일에, ✗ 매일 동안.
- Common placements:
- 저는 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부해요.
- 저는 한국어를 매일 두 시간 동안 공부해요.
- 매일 저는 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부해요.
- Synonyms: 날마다, 하루에. Note 매일마다 is often heard but considered redundant in careful writing.
Do I need 동안 after 두 시간?
It’s optional here. Both are natural:
- 두 시간 동안 공부해요 (explicitly “for the duration of two hours”)
- 두 시간 공부해요 (still means “for two hours” in this context) Using 동안 adds a clear “span-of-time” feel but doesn’t change the core meaning.
Why is it 두 시간 and not 이 시간?
- For counters like 시간 (hours), Korean uses native numbers: 한, 두, 세, 네… so “two hours” = 두 시간.
- 이 시간 means “this time/this hour,” not “two hours.”
- Minutes/seconds use Sino-Korean numbers: 20분, 30초.
What’s the difference between 두 시 and 두 시간?
- 두 시 = “two o’clock” (a clock time), often with 에: 두 시에.
- 두 시간 = “two hours” (a duration). With 동안 it’s extra explicit: 두 시간 동안.
Can I say 두 시간을 공부해요?
- You can make a duration the object: 두 시간을 공부해요 = “I study for two hours.”
- But you should not have two separate -를/-을 objects together. So avoid: ✗ 두 시간을 한국어를 공부해요.
Instead say:- 한국어를 두 시간(동안) 공부해요.
- or 두 시간을 공부해요 (without another object).
Is the word order fixed?
Korean is flexible, but a common order is Subject + Time + Duration + Object + Verb. Natural variants:
- 저는 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부해요.
- 저는 한국어를 매일 두 시간 동안 공부해요.
- 매일 두 시간 동안 저는 한국어를 공부해요. Less natural: 두 시간 매일 (the usual flow is “every day two hours” rather than “two hours every day”).
What politeness level is 공부해요? How does it compare to 공부합니다 or 공부해?
- 공부해요 = polite, friendly (해요체). Default in most situations.
- 공부합니다 = formal polite (합니다체). Use in presentations, news, formal writing.
- 공부해 = casual (해체). Use with close friends, younger people.
What’s the difference between 공부해요 and 배워요?
- 공부하다 = to study (self-driven effort, doing exercises, reviewing).
- 배우다 = to learn (being taught, acquiring a skill/knowledge).
Both can work: - 한국어를 공부해요 (I study Korean)
- 한국어를 배워요 (I’m learning Korean, often implying lessons/classes)
Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- 한국어를 is pronounced with liaison: roughly [한구거를] (hangugeoreul).
- 두 시간: [두 시간] (the ㅅ sounds like “s” before ㅣ).
- 동안: [동안].
Whole sentence (roughly): jeo-neun mae-il du si-gan dong-an han-gu-geo-reul gong-bu-hae-yo.
How do I say “two hours per day” more explicitly?
Use 하루에 or 씩:
- 하루에 두 시간 공부해요. (two hours per day)
- 매일 두 시간씩 공부해요. (two hours each day; 씩 emphasizes “each”)
How can I say “only two hours” or “at least two hours”?
- Only: 두 시간만 공부해요. / With a negative: 두 시간밖에 공부 안 해요.
- At least: 적어도 두 시간 공부해요. / 최소 두 시간 공부해요.
How do I put it in the past or future?
- Past: 저는 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부했어요.
- Future/intention: 저는 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부할 거예요.
Can I use 공부하고 있어요 here?
- 공부하고 있어요 stresses an action in progress or a current ongoing state.
- With 매일, you’d use it when talking about your current routine trend:
요즘 매일 두 시간 동안 한국어를 공부하고 있어요.
Any spacing/spelling points to watch?
- Put a space between number and counter: 두 시간 (not ✗두시간). Writing 2시간 is fine informally.
- 공부해요 is one word (from 공부하다).
- Don’t split 한국어를 (not ✗한국 어를).
Is 전 okay instead of 저는?
전 is a common contraction of 저는 in texting/informal writing. It’s fine in casual contexts, but write 저는 in formal or careful writing.
Can I start with 한국어는 for emphasis?
Yes. 한국어는 매일 두 시간 동안 공부해요.
Here -는 topicalizes 한국어, implying contrast or focus (e.g., “As for Korean (at least), I study it two hours every day,” possibly contrasting with other subjects).