There is and having
있다 and 없다.
있다 means that something exists or is in a place, and also "to have". 없다 is its opposite, "there isn't" or "not to have".
- doni isseoyo.I have money.
- sigani eopseoyo.I don't have time.
- hwajangsiri eodie isseoyo?Where's the bathroom?
- geuncheoe pyeonuijeomi isseoyo.There's a convenience store nearby.
| 있다 | 없다 | |
|---|---|---|
| Polite | 있어요 isseoyo | 없어요 eopseoyo |
| Formal | 있습니다 itseumnida | 없습니다 eopseumnida |
| Casual | 있어 isseo | 없어 eopseo |
| Past | 있었어요 isseosseoyo | 없었어요 eopseosseoyo |
Where something is
The place takes 에, and the thing takes 이/가 (or 은/는 when it is already the topic):
- goyangiga sopa wie isseoyo.The cat is on the sofa.
- eommaneun bueoke isseoyo.Mom is in the kitchen.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 위 wi | on, above |
| 아래, 밑 arae, mit | under, below |
| 앞 ap | in front of |
| 뒤 dwi | behind |
| 옆 yeop | next to |
| 안 an | inside |
| 밖 bak | outside |
| 사이 sai | between |
- eunhaengeun ucheguk yeope isseoyo.The bank is next to the post office.
Having
"I have" is said "as for me, there is": the owner takes 은/는 (or 한테 "to") and the thing had takes 이/가.
- jeoneun eonniga du myeong isseoyo.I have two older sisters.
- chaga eopseoyo.I don't have a car.
Words made with 있다 and 없다
| With 있다 | With 없다 |
|---|---|
| 재미있다 jaemiitda to be fun | 재미없다 jaemieopda to be boring |
| 맛있다 masitda to be tasty | 맛없다 madeopda to taste bad |
| 멋있다 meositda to be cool | 멋없다 meodeopda to be dull |
| 관심(이) 있다 to be interested | 관심(이) 없다 not to be interested |
People you honour
For someone you speak of with respect, "is (somewhere)" is 계시다: 선생님이 교실에 계세요 "the teacher is in the classroom". "Has" stays 있다 with the honorific -(으)시-: 시간 있으세요? "do you have time?" (Honorifics).
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and sentences cards.
What does 있어요 mean in 돈이 있어요?
I have (money).
How do you say 'I don't have time' with 시간 (time)?
시간이 없어요.
How do you ask 'Where is the bathroom?' with 화장실 (bathroom)?
화장실이 어디에 있어요?
How do you say 'The cat is on the sofa' with 소파 (sofa) and 위 (top)?
고양이가 소파 위에 있어요.
Which word means 'next to' in 우체국 옆에 (next to the post office)?
옆 (yeop).
How do you say 'I have two older sisters' (a woman speaking), with 언니 and 두 명?
저는 언니가 두 명 있어요.
What's the opposite of 재미있다 (to be fun)?
재미없다 (to be boring).
How do you say 'It's delicious' with 맛 (taste)?
맛있어요 (masisseoyo).
What replaces 있다 to say where a person you honour is?
계시다: 선생님이 교실에 계세요.