Basics of Korean word spacing

Article 2 of the Korean Spelling Rules states that each word in a sentence is, in principle, written separately. So you leave spaces between words, much like English. The big exception is particles: even though they count as words, they attach directly to the word before them. Remember "space between words, but particles stick," and you are off to a good start.

Particles cannot stand alone; they add meaning to the word in front of them, so Korean Spelling Rules Article 41 says to write them attached. Examples include 저는 (jeoneun), 친구가 (chinguga), 학교에서 (hakgyoeseo) and 꽃마저 (kkonmajeo). Even when several particles stack up, they all stay attached: 학교에서만 (hakgyoeseoman), "only at school."

수 (su) is a dependent noun. Dependent nouns cannot stand alone, but they are still separate words, so Korean Spelling Rules Article 42 says to space them from the word before. Write 할 수 있다 (hal su itda, "can do"), 먹을 것 (meogeul geot, "something to eat"), 아는 척 and 온 지 3년. You say them smoothly, but you write them with spaces.

Yes. Counters and units are, in principle, spaced from the number before them under Korean Spelling Rules Article 43: 한 개 (han gae, one item), 두 마리 (du mari, two animals), 열 살 (yeol sal, ten years old). However, when they show order or follow Arabic numerals, you may write them together, as in 2시간 (two hours), 3개 or 제1과 (Lesson 1).

Under Korean Spelling Rules Article 44, numbers are spaced in units of 만 (man, ten thousand). Write 12억 3456만 7898, or in Hangul 십이억 삼천사백오십육만 칠천팔백구십팔. Korean groups big numbers by four digits rather than three, so this rule also helps you read large figures like view counts and album sales.

Yes. Under Korean Spelling Rules Article 48, the surname and given name are written together, while titles and forms of address that follow are spaced: 김민수 씨 (Kim Minsu ssi), 최 과장 (Manager Choi), 이수진 선생님 (teacher Lee Sujin). When it is necessary to make the surname clear, you may separate it, as in 남궁 억.

Yes. When -하다 attaches to a noun to form one verb, write it together: 공부하다 (gongbuhada, to study), 운동하다 (undonghada, to exercise). If a particle comes in between, the noun and 하다 become separate words, so write 공부를 하다 and 운동을 하다 with a space. Both forms are correct and mean nearly the same thing.

Both are acceptable. Auxiliary verbs such as 보다 (boda, try), 주다 and 싶다 are spaced in principle, but writing them together is also allowed under Korean Spelling Rules Article 47. So 먹어 보다 and 먹어보다 are both fine. Some combinations, like 도와주다 (dowajuda, to help), have become single words, so check the dictionary when unsure.

Yes, the spacing changes the meaning. 잘못하다 (jalmotada) means to make a mistake or do something wrong, while 잘 못하다 (jal motada) means not being good at something. 제가 잘못했어요 (jega jalmotaesseoyo) is an apology, "I was wrong," but 노래를 잘 못해요 means "I'm not good at singing."

When counting times, write 한 번 (han beon) with a space. When it means "give it a try" or "sometime," write 한번 (hanbeon) as one word. Test it: if 두 번 (twice) also makes sense, use 한 번. So 딱 한 번만 더, "just one more time," is spaced, while 한번 먹어 봐, "try it," and 언제 한번 놀러 와, "come over sometime," are joined.

Yes. 것 (geot) is a dependent noun and 같다 (gatda) is an adjective, so write 올 것 같아요 (ol geot gatayo), "It looks like it'll come," and 맛있을 것 같아요, "It looks delicious," with spaces. You pronounce it smoothly as one chunk, but in writing there are two spaces. It is extremely common in conversation and fan comments.

만 meaning "only" is a particle, so it attaches: 너만 (neoman, only you), 하나만 (hanaman, just one). 만 marking elapsed time is a dependent noun, so it is spaced: 10년 만에 (sip nyeon mane, after ten years), 사흘 만에. The common headline phrase 2년 만의 컴백, "comeback after two years," is correctly spaced too.

In 가는데 (ganeunde), -는데 is a connecting ending, so it attaches: 학교에 가는데 비가 왔어요, "I was going to school, and it rained." In 가는 데, 데 is a dependent noun meaning a place, task or case, so it is spaced: 가는 데 1시간 걸려요, "It takes an hour to get there." If 곳 (place) or 일 (task) fits, use a space.

Yes. After a noun they are particles and attach: 너대로 해 (neodaero hae, "do it your way"), 너뿐이야 (neoppuniya, "only you"). After a modifying verb form ending in -ㄴ or -ㄹ, they are dependent nouns and are spaced: 말한 대로 했어요, "I did as I said," and 웃을 뿐이에요, "I can only smile."

The classic one is 아버지가방에들어가신다 written without spaces. Spaced as 아버지가 방에 들어가신다, it means "Father enters the room." Spaced as 아버지 가방에 들어가신다, it becomes "Father goes into the bag," which is absurd. Korean teachers love this sentence because it shows exactly why spacing matters.

Yes. Proper nouns other than personal names are spaced word by word in principle, but writing them as units is also allowed under Korean Spelling Rules Article 49. So both 서울 대학교 and 서울대학교 are acceptable. For companies and institutions, following the name they officially use is usually the most natural choice.

Yes. 안 (an) and 못 (mot) before a verb are adverbs, so write 안 가요 (an gayo) and 못 가요 (mot gayo) with spaces. 안 means you will not, while 못 means you cannot even if you want to. Watch out for words that fused into new meanings, such as 안되다 (pitiful) and 못되다 (mean, nasty).

In casual chats with friends, skipping some spaces is usually fine as long as the meaning is clear. Hashtags break at spaces, so they are typically written together, as in #오늘의코디 (#today's outfit). For emails, applications and official posts, however, it is better to follow the spacing rules carefully.

Yes. Technical terms are spaced word by word in principle, but writing them together is also allowed under Korean Spelling Rules Article 50. For example, both 무역 수지 and 무역수지 (trade balance) are acceptable. Remembering this helps when you meet long compound terms in economic or medical news articles.

Search the National Institute of Korean Language's Standard Korean Language Dictionary. If it appears as a headword, it is one word and is written together. For example, 잘하다 (jalhada, to do well), 한번 and 도와주다 are dictionary entries. If it is not listed, write the parts separately. Keeping a list of words you often get wrong helps a lot.