LEARN + KOREAN / Note 16 TOPIK I

With a Friend (하고)

하고 does two jobs. Stuck between two nouns, it means “and”: 빵하고 과자 is “bread and snacks.” Stuck after a person, it means “with”: 친구하고 is “with a friend.” Same particle, and context always makes clear which job it’s doing.

친구하고 놀아요.

chinguhago norayo.

I play with a friend.

In Real Life

놀다 covers adults hanging out just as much as kids playing. 친구하고 놀아요 is a completely normal thing for a grown adult to say about getting a drink with friends. English “play” sounds childish in that context; Korean 놀다 doesn’t.

These pair naturally with 에서, the location-of-action particle, since where you do something and who you’re with usually show up in the same sentence.

집에서 드라마를 봐요.

jibeseo deuramareul bwayo.

I watch dramas at home.

공원에서 자전거를 타요.

gongwoneseo jajeongeoreul tayo.

I ride a bike at the park.

도서관에서 책을 읽어요.

doseogwaneseo chaegeul ilgeoyo.

I read a book at the library.

백화점에서 쇼핑해요.

baekhwajeomeseo syopinghaeyo.

I shop at the department store.

빵하고 과자를 먹어요.

ppanghago gwajareul meogeoyo.

I eat bread and snacks.

친구하고 카페에서 커피를 마셔요.

chinguhago kapeeseo keopireul masyeoyo.

I drink coffee at a cafe with a friend.

In Real Life

하고 is the spoken choice. Open a book, an essay, or anything formally written, and 와/과 shows up doing the same job instead. You’ll understand it fine by context, but 하고 is what to reach for when you’re actually talking.

Vocabulary

Korean	English
집 jip	house, home
학교 hakgyo	school
회사 hoesa	company, office
마트 mateu	mart, small grocery store
공원 gongwon	park
백화점 baekhwajeom	department store
병원 byeongwon	hospital
수영장 suyeongjang	swimming pool
노래방 noraebang	karaoke room
피시방 pisibang	internet cafe (PC room)
동네 dongne	neighborhood
헬스장 helseujang	gym
술집 suljip	pub, bar
놀이터 noriteo	playground
시장 sijang	market
은행 eunhaeng	bank
우체국 ucheguk	post office
미용실 miyongsil	hair salon
편의점 pyeonuijeom	convenience store
서점 seojeom	bookstore