에 vs 에서

Beginner · TOPIK I

에 marks a destination, the place where something exists, or a point in time; 에서 marks the place where an action happens, or a starting point ('from').

에A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding statement refers to a certain place or space.에서A postpositional particle used to indicate that the preceding word refers to a place where a certain action is being done.

Rules of thumb

With movement verbs 가다/오다/다니다, use 에 for the destination (학교에 가요).
With 있다/없다 (to be somewhere / to have), use 에 (책상 위에 있어요).
For activities done at a place (study, eat, work…), use 에서 (도서관에서 공부해요).
For 'from (a place)', use 에서 (부산에서 왔어요).
살다 'to live' works with both: 서울에 살아요 = 서울에서 살아요.

Example sentences

에
I'm going to the library tomorrow.
에서
I study with a friend at the library.
도서관에 공부해요.
Incorrect
I study at the library. [Wrong: studying is an activity done at a place, so it needs the 'eseo' particle, not 'e']
에
The cat is on the sofa.
에서
I'm from Hanoi.
Both work
I live in Seoul now.

Often confused with

← All confused pairs