KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -아/어야 하다
Korean Grammar “-아/어야 하다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 봐야 하다 | bwaya hada |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽어야 하다 | ilgeoya hada |
| 하다 | to do | 해야 하다 | haeya hada |
| 열다 | to open | 열어야 하다 | yeoreoya hada |
What changes
- -아/어 follows the last vowel of the stem: 아 after ㅏ or ㅗ, 어 after other vowels (읽 → 읽어, 열 → 열어). When the stem ends in a vowel, the two vowels merge (보 + 아 → 봐), and 하다 becomes 해.
Explanation
내일 시험이 있어서 오늘 공부해야 해요.
“-아/어야 하다” expresses obligation or necessity, “must / have to ~.” The sentence means “I have an exam tomorrow, so I have to study today.” It looks similar to “-아/어도 되다” (may ~), but the meaning is completely different, so keep them apart.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 내일 시험이 있어서 오늘 공부해야 해요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 내일 | ||
| 내 | ㄴ+ㅐ | nae |
| 일 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㄹ | il |
| 시험이 | ||
| 시 | ㅅ+ㅣ | si |
| 험 | ㅎ+ㅓ+ㅁ | [허] heo |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [미] mi |
| 있어서 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 서 | ㅅ+ㅓ | seo |
| 오늘 | ||
| 오 | ㅇ+ㅗ | o |
| 늘 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄹ | neul |
| 공부해야 | ||
| 공 | ㄱ+ㅗ+ㅇ | gong |
| 부 | ㅂ+ㅜ | bu |
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 야 | ㅇ+ㅑ | ya |
| 해요 | ||
| 해 | ㅎ+ㅐ | hae |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 험이 → [허미]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
| 하다 | verb | to do | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 내일 시험이 있어서 오늘 공부해____ 해요.
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Answer: 내일 시험이 있어서 오늘 공부해야 해요.
Question 2 Which is the correct form of 읽다 + -아/어야 하다?
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Answer: 읽어야 하다
Question 3 Which is the correct form of 하다 + -아/어야 하다?
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Answer: 해야 하다
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