-어야겠-Korean expression · TOPIK 3

-eoyaget-

An expression used to indicate a strong will for the act mentioned in the preceding statement, or to guess that doing the act may be necessary.

형태Forms

-어야겠--아야겠--여야겠-

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 a strong will for the act mentioned in the preceding statement, or to guess that doing the act may be necessary.

앞말이 나타내는 행동에 대한 강한 의지를 나타내거나 그 행동을 할 필요가 있음을 완곡하게 말할 때 쓰는 표현.

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

올해는 정말 담배를 끊어야겠다.

This year, I really need to quit smoking.

식구가 늘어나니 집은 지금보다 넓어야겠군요.

With the family growing, we'll need a bigger house than this.

남은 반찬이 많으니 점심은 비빔밥을 해 먹어야겠어.

There's a lot of leftover side dishes, so I guess I'll make bibimbap for lunch.

대화In conversation

내일 회사 사람들을 집으로 초대했어.

I invited my coworkers over tomorrow.

그래요? 손님 맞을 준비를 해 두어야겠네요.

Really? Then we'd better get ready to host them.

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 -어야겠- mean in Korean?

-어야겠- is a expression introduced at 3급 (TOPIK 3). An expression used to indicate a strong will for the act mentioned in the preceding statement, or to guess that doing the act may be necessary.

When do you use -어야겠-?

Attaches after the copula 이다 or verbs and adjectives whose final vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ. The other shape is -아야겠-, -여야겠- — same point, different environment.

What is the difference between -어야겠- and -아야겠-?

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 -어야겠-?

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.