59. 누구 vs 누가: How to Use Korean “Who” Words + First-Person Pronouns (나, 저, 내, 제)

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In this Korean lesson, we break down the difference between 누구 and 누가—two essential Korean question words that both translate to “who,” but are used differently depending on the sentence structure and particles.

You’ll learn how 누가 is used to ask for the subject or doer of an action, while 누구 is used with particles like 하고, 를, and 는 to form questions such as “with whom” or “whom.”

This lesson also includes a practical review of first-person pronouns in Korean—나, 내, 저, and 제—and how they change depending on particles like 이/가, 은/는, 도, and 하고. Through guided repetition and dialogue practice, you’ll see how particles shape meaning, emphasis, and nuance in real Korean sentences.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

•  Understand the difference between 누구 and 누가 
•  Ask and answer “who” questions naturally in Korean 
•  Use first-person pronouns (나, 저, 내, 제) correctly with particles 
•  Recognize how particles like 이/가 and 은/는 affect meaning and focus 

This episode is designed to help you move beyond simple translation and begin understanding how Korean actually works in context.

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Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com!