Learn Korean: 자기 + Noun

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 자기 + Noun. We use this to express one's own in second and third person, but only when the subject or topic of the sentence is the person himself. For example, in the sentence Why do (you) hate / (your) father?, you is the subject and the father is the subject’s father. It doesn’t work in the sentence (He) hates your father, because the father is not the subject’s father. The second part of the sentence is expressed through 자기. 자기 아버지 means one’s own father. The actual sentence is 자기 아버지 왜 싫어해(요)? This is very casual and must be used appropriately.

자기 생일도 몰라?

He doesn’t even know his own birthday?

자기 오빠가 가면 안 된다고 했어요.

His brother said he is not allowed to go.

자기 이름 쓰지마.

Don’t write your own name.