Welcome to the fascinating world of Korean grammar, where every phrase and particle plays a pivotal role in shaping the subtleties of communication. Today, we dive deep into two essential expressions that every Korean language learner must grasp: “아/어/여야 되다” and “아/어/여야 하다.” These grammatical constructs are crucial for articulating necessity and obligation—fundamental aspects of daily conversation that reflect one’s responsibilities and duties.
In this post, we’ll unravel these structures, explore their uses, and clarify common confusions, so you can communicate with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re discussing deadlines at work, making plans with friends, or setting personal goals, understanding when and how to use these expressions will elevate your Korean language skills to new heights.
Ready to master the nuances of necessity in Korean? Let’s get started with an in-depth look at these indispensable grammatical tools!
Conjugation
The endings are as per below
-아야 돼요
-어야 돼요
-여야 돼요
To know which of the above you need to use, follow the rules below;
- If the last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아야 돼요
- If the last vowel is not one of the above, add 어여 돼요
- Only 하 is followed by 여야 돼요 and becomes 해야 돼요 (always the case)
Every single verb ends with 다. To conjugate them:
- Take a verb i.e. 가다
- Remove “다” 가다 –> 가
- Determine which of the above rules to use. In this case, the last vowel is ㅏ so we add 아야 돼요 (가 + 아야 돼요 –> 가아야 돼요), which to make it sound more natural becomes just 가야돼요. You will notice below but when the last consonant is a vowel, we either get rid of one (if they are the same) or we combine them together.
The below list summarises the rules on this conjugation.
- ㅏ+ㅏ= ㅏ (i.e. 자다. 자다 –> 자 + 아야 돼요 –> 자아야 돼요 –> 자야 돼요)
- ㅓ+ㅓ=ㅓ (i.e. 서다. 서다 –> 서 + 어여 돼요 –> 서어야 돼요 –> 서야 돼요)
- ㅗ+ㅏ =ㅘ (i.e. 오다. 오다 –> 오 + 아야 돼요 –> 오아야 돼요 –>와야 돼요)
- ㅜ+ㅓ=ㅝ (i.e. 주다. 주다 –> 주 + 어야 돼요 –> 주어야 돼요 –> 줘야 돼요)
- ㅕ+ㅓ=ㅕ (i.e. 켜다. 켜다–> 켜 + 어애 돼요 –> 켜어야 돼요 –> 켜야 돼요)
- ㅣ+ㅓ=ㅕ (i.e. 가지다. 가지다 –>가지 + 어야 돼요 –> 가지어야 돼요 –>가져야 돼요)
- ㅐ+ㅓ=ㅐ (i.e. 내다. 내다 –> 내 + 어야 돼요 –> 내어야 돼요 –> 내야 돼요)
- ㅔ+ㅓ=ㅔ (i.e. 세다. 세다 –> 세 + 어야 돼요 –> 세어야 돼요 –> 세야 돼요)
I am sure you have noticed by now that another way to think about the conjugation is to first make the verb into a present tense and then simply add -야 돼요.
Usage
The -야 돼요 verb ending is used to express obligations, requirements, or the need to do something. It implies a sense of duty or necessity. When attached to the stem of a verb, it transforms the statement into a polite form, suitable for conversing with strangers, acquaintances, or superiors.
For instance, consider the verb “가다” (ga-da), meaning “to go.” When combined with -야 돼요, it becomes “가야 돼요” (ga-ya dwae-yo), which translates to “I have to go” or “I need to go.” Here, the verb ending emphasizes the requirement or obligation to perform the action of going.
Furthermore, the -야 돼요 verb ending is commonly used to give advice or make suggestions in a polite manner. For example, if you want to recommend someone to study, you can say “공부해야 돼요” (gongbu-hae-ya dwae-yo), meaning “You should study” or “It is necessary for you to study.” This construction highlights the importance or necessity of the action.
Cultural significance
The use of -야 돼요 reflects the respect and politeness embedded within Korean culture. Korean society places great emphasis on hierarchy and social harmony, which is reflected in the language. By utilizing -야 돼요, speakers adhere to the cultural norms of showing respect and deference to others.
Moreover, the verb ending aligns with the Korean value of responsibility and dedication. It conveys the notion that individuals have obligations and duties to fulfil in various aspects of life, such as education, work, and relationships. By using -야 돼요, speakers acknowledge their responsibilities and recognize the importance of fulfilling them.
Difference between -야 돼요 and 야 해요
There is no difference between 야 돼요 and 야 해요. They can be used interchangeably. The only real difference between these two is that -야 돼요 is more commonly used in spoken Korean than -야 해요.
Examples
- 내일 친구랑 같이 가야 돼요. – I have to go together with my friend tomorrow.
- 지금 먹어야 돼요? – Do I have to eat now?
- 조금 이따가 나가야 돼요. – I have to go out in a bit.
- 선생님 만나야 돼요. – I have to meet my teacher.
- 주말에 공부해야 돼요. – I have to study on the weekend.
Activity 1
Complete the below sentences using the appropriate form.
- 언제 ______________? (When do you have to wake up?)
- 오늘까지 다 _________. (I have to learn all of this by today.)
- 내일 꼭 __________. (You definitely have to come tomorrow.)
- 못 가요. 여기 계속 ____________. (I cannot go. I have to stay here.)
- 무조건 ___________. (I have to find it no matter what.)
- 새로운 컴푸터를 __________. (I have to buy a new computer.)
- 시간이 있는지 ________. (I have to see if I have time.)
- 빨리 __________. (I have to quickly get ready.)
Activity 1 Answers
- 언제 일어나야 돼요? (When do you have to wake up?)
- 오늘까지 다 배워야 돼요. (I have to learn all of this by today.)
- 내일 꼭 와야 돼요. (You definitely have to come tomorrow.)
- 못 가요. 여기 계속 있어야 돼요. (I cannot go. I have to stay here.)
- 무조건 찾아야 돼요. (I have to find it no matter what.)
- 새로운 컴푸터를 사야 돼요. (I have to buy a new computer.)
- 시간이 있는지 봐야 돼요. (I have to see if I have time.)
- 빨리 준비해야 돼요. (I have to quickly get ready.)