In course bg-29, you learned that when doing something for an honored elder (like parents or teachers), you use the honorific particle 께 (*선생님께 편지를 드렸어요*).
Now, what about friends, coworkers, siblings, and ordinary people?
You use 에게 or 한테 (*“to / towards someone”*)!
- Giving a gift: *“친구한테 선물을 줬어요.”* *(I gave a gift to my friend.)* - Sending a message: *“동생에게 문자를 보냈어요.”* *(I sent a text to my younger sibling.)*
Both mean exactly the same thing grammatically. The only difference is style and register!
Written vs. Spoken Register:
- 에게: Written / Formal register (문어체). Common in literature, news articles, formal business emails, and official notices. - 한테: Everyday Spoken register (구어체). What native speakers use 99% of the time in daily conversation with friends, family, and colleagues!
Both attach directly to the person noun without any batchim changes: - 친구 + 한테 = 친구한테 - 동생 + 에게 = 동생에게 - 민수 + 한테 = 민수한테