To mark contrast using topic particle.

Guess what you about to learn?..hehe TOPIC PARTICLE...again...yippie

For this entry we will continue on discussing the use of topic particle in a sentence.

Another Topic particle (은~는) function is TO MARK CONTRAST.

For example:

1. 김 선생님은 의산이에요. 그렇지만 나는 엔지니어예요.
[Kim seonsaengnim-eun uisan-ieyo. geureohjiman na-neun enjinieo-yeyo].
{Mr Kim is a doctor. But (me) I'm an engineer}.
선생님 = Mr
의산 [uisan] = doctor.
그렇지만 [geureohjiman] = But.
나[na] = me.

As you can see, the topic particle (은/는) are attached to 'Mr Kim' and 'me'. Which is
to mark the contrast between the two in this sentence.

2. 김 선생님은 한국사람이에요. 그렇지만 나는 멜레이시아사람이에요.
[Kim seonsaengnim-eun hanguk-saram-ieyo. geureohjiman na-neun Mellesia-saram-ieyo]
{Mr Kim is a Korean. But I'm a Malaysian}.

한국사람이에요 [hanguk-saram-ieyo] = 'hanguk' means 'korea'. 'saram' means 'people/person' while '-ieyo' is the copula used (read copula entry to learn more). So when combined 'hanguk-saram' means 'korean'. This is similar to 'Mellesia-saram' which means 'Malaysian' except that in hangul 'Malaysia' is sounded as 'Mellesia'.

Now you should try create your own sentences and play around with topic particle and subject particle just to get familiar with it..

One of the ways to get familiar with it, i suggest, is to watch korean variety shows without sub! enjoi