Beginner Estimated read: 3 mins

에서 (Action Location)

Attached to a place noun to indicate the location where a dynamic action takes place. It can also mean 'from' when indicating the starting point of an action.

Summary

Equivalent

At / In / From (Action Location)

Example

We drink coffee at the cafe.

우리는 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.

Grammar rules

  • Use with most action verbs like 먹다 (to eat), 자다 (to sleep), 공부하다 (to study).
  • Unlike '에' which shows static existence, '에서' shows an action happening within a place.
  • When meaning 'from', it is used with verbs like 오다 (to come), 출발하다 (to depart), etc.

    미국에서 왔어요. (I came from America.)

Patterns

1

All Nouns (Places)

N/A · Place Noun + 에서

Example sentences

All Nouns (Places) · N/A · Place Noun + 에서

We drink coffee at the cafe.

우리는 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.

All Nouns (Places) · N/A · Place Noun + 에서

I bought pretty clothes at the department store.

백화점에서 예쁜 옷을 샀어요.

All Nouns (Places) · N/A · Place Noun + 에서

Where did you learn Korean?

어디에서 한국어를 배웠어요?

Conversation

A: Where did you exercise yesterday?

어제 어디에서 운동했어요?

B: I exercised at the park near my house.

집 근처 공원에서 운동했어요.

Practice

Fill in the blank

Select the correct particle for action location.

Studying.

Eating out.