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-어야Korean connective · TOPIK 3

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TOPIK 3 3급Connectives 연결 어미2 senses

One connective with 2 distinct uses in the dictionary. Each is below with its own usage rule and examples.

형태Forms

-어야-아야-여야-어야만-아야만-여야만

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

A connective ending used when the preceding statement is an essential condition for the following statement.

앞에 오는 말이 뒤에 오는 말에 대한 필수적인 조건임을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs and adjectives whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ.

‘이다’, 끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사와 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

스트레스가 적어야 건강하다.

You have to have low stress to be healthy.

이 바위는 너무 무거워서 힘이 세어야 들 수 있겠다.

This rock is so heavy that you need to be strong to lift it.

김치는 중간 크기의 배추로 만들어야 아삭하고 맛있다.

Kimchi has to be made with medium-sized cabbages to be crunchy and delicious.

대화In conversation

언제 만날까?

When should we meet?

여섯 시는 되어야 퇴근할 수 있으니까 여섯 시 반 이후에 만나자.

I can't leave work until six, so let's meet after six thirty.

A connective ending used when the preceding assumption has no influence in the end.

앞에서 가정한 것이 결국에는 아무 영향이 없음을 나타내는 연결 어미.

쓰임Usage

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs and adjectives whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ.

‘이다’, 끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사와 형용사 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

예문Examples

네가 아무리 울어야 소용없다!

No matter how much you cry, it's useless!

승규는 요새 너무 바빠 길어야 다섯 시간밖에 자지 못한다.

Seunggyu is so busy these days that he can sleep at most five hours.

대화In conversation

살찔까 봐 못 먹게 하는데도 민준이가 자꾸 먹어요.

I try to stop Minjun from eating because he might gain weight, but he keeps eating.

애가 먹어야 얼마나 먹겠어요? 성장기이니 많이 먹게 둡시다.

How much can a kid eat? He's growing, so let him eat as much as he wants.

관련 문법Related grammar

Other connectives you will meet alongside this one.

-거든 -geodeun 거들랑 A connective ending used to convey the meaning, "if something is true or turns out to be true." TOPIK 3 -느라고 -neurago -느라 A connective ending used when the action of the preceding statement is the purpose or cause of the following statement. TOPIK 3 -는다거나 -neundageona -ㄴ다거나 · -다거나 · -라거나 An expression used to explain something by listing some behaviors as examples. TOPIK 3 -는다고 -neundago -다고 · -라고 · -으라고 A connective ending used when implying the purpose or intention of a certain action, or the reason or cause of a certain situation. TOPIK 3 -다가 -daga -다 · 다가도 A connective ending used when an action or state, etc., is stopped and changed to another action or state. TOPIK 3 -도록 -dorok A connective ending used when the preceding statement is the purpose, result, method, amount, etc., of something mentioned in the following statement. TOPIK 3

자주 묻는 질문Common questions

What does -어야 mean in Korean?

-어야 is a connective introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). A connective ending used when the preceding statement is an essential condition for the following statement. It has 2 distinct senses, all listed on this page.

When do you use -어야?

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs and adjectives whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -아야, -여야, -어야만, -아야만, -여야만 — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -어야 and -아야?

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

What TOPIK level is -어야?

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.