Looking up...
것
geot
thing
이것은 무엇입니까?
What is this thing?
formal
An inanimate object or item; a thing.
저것은 책입니다.
That is a book.
이것은 무엇입니까?
What is this thing?
저는 새로운 것을 사고 싶어요.
I want to buy a new thing.
것 is a general term for inanimate objects. It is often used with demonstratives (이것, 저것, 그것) or as a suffix in compound nouns.
formal
A fact, matter, or situation; used to refer to an abstract concept or state.
이것은 중요합니다.
This thing is important.
저는 그 사실을 알고 있습니다.
I know that fact.
것 can refer to abstract matters or situations, often with demonstratives or in fixed expressions.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use with demonstratives
것 is often paired with demonstratives to specify the thing being referred to. Remember: 이것 (this), 저것 (that over there), 그것 (that near you).
Gold Rule
것 as a suffix
것 can be used as a suffix to form compound nouns, such as '먹는 것' (something to eat) or '보는 것' (something to see).
Word Origin
것 is a native Korean word. It is related to the Middle Korean '것' and Old Korean '것' (것ᄋᆞᆺ), which also meant 'thing' or 'object'.
Usage Notes
것 is a very common and versatile word in Korean. It is often used in casual speech and writing, but can also appear in formal contexts. It is frequently combined with demonstratives (이, 저, 그) to form '이것' (this thing), '저것' (that thing over there), and '그것' (that thing near you).
Word Breakdown
것
thing
root한영사전