-어 오다Korean expression · TOPIK 3

-eo oda

An expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is continued as a certain set point of time is approaching.

형태Forms

-어 오다-아 오다-여 오다

Which one you use is decided by what comes in front of it — see the usage rule under each meaning below.

An expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is continued as a certain set point of time is approaching.

앞말이 나타내는 행동이나 상태가 어떤 기준점으로 가까워지면서 계속 진행됨을 나타내는 표현.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after verbs whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ.

끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

승규는 내일 오랫동안 꿈꿔 오던 배낭여행을 떠난다.

Seunggyu leaves tomorrow for the backpacking trip he's been dreaming of for a long time.

나는 우리 팀이 우승하는 이 날을 삼 년 동안 기다려 왔다.

I've been waiting for this day when our team wins for three years.

이 다리는 무려 칠백여 년 동안이나 강한 물살과 비바람에도 끄떡없이 견뎌 왔다.

This bridge has withstood strong currents and storms without budging for as long as seven hundred years.

대화In conversation

숨겨 왔던 내 요리 실력을 보여 줄게!

I'll show you the cooking skills I've been hiding!

그래. 그러고 보니 네가 만든 요리를 먹어 본 적이 없네.

Yeah. Come to think of it, I've never actually tasted anything you've made.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other expressions you will meet alongside this one.

-게 하다 -ge hada An expression used to order someone to do a certain thing or to make something work. TOPIK 3 -고 나다 -go nada An expression used to indicate that the act denoted in the preceding statement has finished. TOPIK 3 -고 말다 -go malda An expression used to state that it is regrettable that the act mentioned in the preceding statement finally occurred. TOPIK 3 -고 싶어 하다 -go sipeo hada An expression used to indicate that the speaker wants to do an action or fall into the state mentioned in the preceding statement. TOPIK 3 -기 위해 -gi wihaeseo -기 위해서 · -기 위한 · 을 위해 An expression used to indicate the intention, which is the goal for doing a certain thing. TOPIK 3 -기는 -gineun -긴 · -기는요 · -긴요 A sentence-final ending used when gently denying or refuting the other person's statement. TOPIK 3

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -어 오다 mean in Korean?

-어 오다 is a expression introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). An expression used to indicate that the act or state mentioned in the preceding statement is continued as a certain set point of time is approaching.

When do you use -어 오다?

Attaches after verbs whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -아 오다, -여 오다 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -어 오다 and -아 오다?

None in meaning — they are two shapes of the same expression, and which one appears is decided by the sound in front of it, not by what you want to say.

What TOPIK level is -어 오다?

3급 — TOPIK 3, lower intermediate. It is one of 67 grammar points at that level.

Definition, usage note, examples and dialogue from the 국립국어원 한국어기초사전, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.