How to use 아야 하다/어야 하다 in Korean

Pattern: -(아/어)야 하다

-(아/어)야 하다 (-(a, (a, eo)yaha-da, eo)yahada)

-(아/어)야 하다 expresses obligation or necessity in Korean. It's common in daily and formal speech.

Korean grammar -(아/어)야 하다 usage guide

Usage guide

When and how native speakers actually use it.

-(아/어)야 하다(-(a, (a, eo)yaha-da, eo)yahada)

Expression of obligation or necessity

When to use

Expressing obligation, Giving advice, Explaining rules

The nuance

Attach -(아/어)야 하다 to the verb stem to express 'must' or 'have to'. Past tense is -(아/어)야 했다, and negation is -(아/어)야 하지 않다 or -(아/어)야 안 되다.

Real-world examples

  • 내일까지 숙제를 해야 해.

    nae-il-kka-ji suk-je-reul hae-ya hae., nae il kka ji suk je reul hae ya hae.

    Correctly attaches '-야 하다' to '하다' to express obligation.

  • 지금 가야 해요.

    ji-geum ga-ya hae-yo., ji geum ga ya hae yo.

    Correct use of '-야 하다' with verb stem '가' to express necessity.

  • 너는 공부해야 해요.

    neo-neun gong-bu-hae-ya hae-yo., neo neun gong bu hae ya hae yo.

    Correct form attaching '-야 하다' to stem '공부하-'.

  • 밥 먹어야 하지 않아.

    bap meok-eo-ya ha-ji an-a., bap meok eo ya ha ji an a.

    Negation form '-아/어야 하지 않다' is used correctly.

  • 내일 일찍 일어나야 했다.

    nae-il il-jjik il-eo-na-ya haess-da., nae il il jjik il eo na ya haess da.

    Past tense with future time expression is semantically incorrect.

  • 운동해야 해요.

    un-dong-hae-ya hae-yo., un dong hae ya hae yo.

    Correct obligation expression with '-야 하다'.

  • 영화를 봐야 하다.

    yeong-hwa-reul bwa-ya ha-da., yeong hwa reul bwa ya ha da.

    Correct use of '-야 하다' with verb stem '봐-'.

  • 책을 읽어야 한다.

    chaek-eul ik-eo-ya han-da., chaek eul ik eo ya han da.

    Correct obligation expression attaching '-어야 하다'.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence correctly uses -(아/어)야 하다?

    다음 중 -(아/어)야 하다를 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung-(a, daeumjung(a, eo)yaha-da-reulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, eo)yahadareulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
  2. How do you attach -(아/어)야 하다 to the verb ‘먹다’?

    ‘먹다’ 동사에 -(아/어)야 하다를 붙이면?(‘meok-da’dong-sa-e-(a, ‘meokda’dongsae(a, eo)yaha-da-reulbut-i-myeon?, eo)yahadareulbutimyeon?)
  3. Which is the correct negative form?

    부정형으로 맞는 문장은?(bu-jeong-hyeong-eu-romaj-neunmun-jang-eun?, bujeonghyeongeuromajneunmunjangeun?)

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