What does 있어 mean?

있어 (iss-eo, isseo)

'있어' is a fundamental Korean word expressing existence, location, or possession.

Korean word 있어 meaning existence, location, or possession

Definition & nuance

Core meaning and shades learners miss.

있어(iss-eo, isseo)

'있어' is the informal form of the verb '있다', meaning to exist, to be located, or to have/possess something.

Nuances

  • Can express both existence and location
  • Used only in informal contexts with close relations
  • Indicates possession as 'I have ~'
  • Formal speech uses '있습니다' instead

When to use

Talking with friends, Asking location of things, Expressing possession

In context

'있어' is used in informal speech as the predicate of a sentence, indicating existence, location, or possession depending on the subject.

Real-world examples

  • 책이 책상 위에 있어.

    chaek-i chaek-sang wi-e iss-eo., chaek i chaek sang wi e iss eo.

    Correctly expresses existence and location.

  • 나는 친구가 있어.

    na-neun chin-gu-ga iss-eo., na neun chin gu ga iss eo.

    Natural expression indicating possession.

  • 저 사람은 학교에 있어.

    jeo sa-ram-eun hak-gyo-e iss-eo., jeo sa ram eun hak gyo e iss eo.

    Correct sentence indicating existence and location.

  • 있어 나는 사과.

    iss-eo na-neun sa-gwa., iss eo na neun sa gwa.

    '있어' must be at the end; word order is incorrect.

  • 너는 돈 있어?

    neo-neun don iss-eo?, neo neun don iss eo?

    Natural informal question form.

  • 있어 책상 위에.

    iss-eo chaek-sang wi-e., iss eo chaek sang wi e.

    Word order is unnatural and grammatically incorrect.

Quick quiz

  1. What meaning does '있어' have?

    '있어'는 어떤 의미를 가지고 있나요?('iss-eo'neuneo-tteonui-mi-reulga-ji-goiss-na-yo?, 'isseo'neuneotteonuimireulgajigoissnayo?)
  2. Which sentence correctly uses '있어'?

    '있어'를 사용할 때 올바른 문장은?('iss-eo'reulsa-yong-halttaeol-ba-reunmun-jang-eun?, 'isseo'reulsayonghalttaeolbareunmunjangeun?)
  3. In which situation is '있어' mainly used?

    '있어'는 어떤 상황에서 주로 사용되나요?('iss-eo'neuneo-tteonsang-hwang-e-seoju-rosa-yong-doe-na-yo?, 'isseo'neuneotteonsanghwangeseojurosayongdoenayo?)

More meaning guides

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