The differences between of 에, 에서 and (으)로

⭐ 1. “에” — location or destination (at / in / to)

This particle mainly expresses existence at a place or arrival at a destination.

Think of it as a point — like marking a dot on a map.

✔ Basic meaning

Where something is located
Where someone goes (arrival)

⚠ It does not describe the action happening inside the place.

👉 Rough English equivalents: at, in, to

✔ Korean examples

새가 나무 위에 있어요.
→ The bird is on the tree.

☑ 저는 서울에 살아요.
→ I live in Seoul.

★Just one exception: The verb살다 can be used with 에/에서 both. (When the nuance highlights WHERE to live, “에서” used more for it.)

저는 오늘 미용실에 갔어요.
→ I went to the hair salon today.

저는 집에 방금 도착했어요.
→ I just arrived at home.

고아원에 책을 기부를 했어요.
→ I donated books to the orphanage.

👉 Learners can imagine:
“에 = being there or reaching there.”

⭐ 2. “에서” — place where an action happens (at / in)

This particle indicates the stage or background where an action takes place.

Imagine a movie stage where the activity is performed.

✔ Usage rules

Used with action verbs.
Not used with pure movement verbs such as go, come, leave.

👉 Rough English equivalents: at, in depending on context.

👉 Easy idea:
“에서 = where something is happening.”

✔ Korean examples

저는 집에서 일해요.
→ I work from home.

저는 수영장에서 수영했어요
→ I swam in the pool today.

☑ 그 C.E.O.는 비버리힐즈에서 살아요.
→ The C.E.O. lives in Beverly Hills.

▶ There's a nuance that slightly emphasizes where the C.E.O. lives is "Beverly Hills."

그 C.E.O.가 사는 곳이 “비버리힐즈”임을 강조하는 뉘앙스가 있음.

카페에서 두쫀쿠를 먹었어요.
→ I ate Dubai chewy cookies in the cafe.

공연장에서 하루종일 남편과 남동생이랑 연습했어요.
→ I practiced at the concert hall with my husband and my younger brother all day.

창가에서 책을 읽어요.
→ I read books by the window.

⚠ Important contrast:

카페에 갔어요 (I went to a cafe → destination)
카페에서 공부했어요 (I worked at a cafe → action location)

⭐ 3. “(으)로” — direction, route, or means (toward / by / via)

This particle expresses movement direction or method.

Think of it as an arrow showing a path.

✔ Direction (toward)

Used when moving toward a place.

Similar to English toward or sometimes to.

👉The rule:

The noun ending in Vowel + 로

The noun ending in Consonant + 으로

✔ Korean examples

3시까지 회의실로 가야 해요.
→ I have to go toward the meeting room by 3pm.

1년 뒤에 한국으로 돌아가요.
→ I'm gonna go back to Korea in a year.

내일 LA로 출발해요.
→ I depart toward LA, tomorrow.

강아지가 정원으로 뛰어 갔어요.
→ The puppy ran to the garden.

고양이가 위로 점프했어요.
→ The cat jumped (toward) up.

👉 “(으)로 = route or road”

✔ Means or method (by / with / via)

Used to express how something is done.

English equivalents can be:

by bus
in Korean
by hand
via email

✔ Korean examples

약속 장소에 택시로 갔어요.
→ I went to the appointment place by taxi.

같이 한국어로 말해요.
→ Let’s speak in Korean.

오늘 점심은 토마토로 만들었어요.
→ As for today’s lunch, I cooked it with tomatoes.

파일을 왓츠앱으로 보내 주세요.
→ Please send the file via Whatsapp.

운동으로 하루를 시작해요.

→ I start a day with exercising.

⭐ Super simple learner memory trick

에 → “I am there. / I go (toward) there.”
에서 → “I do something ”there”.”
(으)로 → “I move toward or use something.”

☑ Just one exception : the verb 살다 can be used with 에, 에서 both!

에 vs 에서 vs (으)로

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