LESSON 28

Expressing “May” and “Must”

The infinitive plus do means even though. Sometimes this is similar to the meaning of -jiman = but.

Don-i eopseodo haengbok haeyo.

돈이 없어도 행복해요.

Even though I have no money I am happy.

Don-i eopjiman, haengbok haeyo.

돈이 없지만 행복해요.

I have no money, but I am happy.

Usually you use a present infinitive in front of do even if the meaning is past, because the sentence makes this clear.

Chaek-i eopseodo, hakgyo-e gasseoyo.

책이 없어도 학교에 갔어요.

I went to school even though I didn’t have my book.

Geu yeonghwa jaemi eopseosseodo, jip-e doragaji anasseoyo.

그 영화 재미 없었어도 집에 돌아 가지 않았어요.

Even though the movie was no good, I didn’t go home.

This construction is used in asking or giving PERMISSION. To say may I, can I, will you let me, is it OK to the Korean says something like even if I do it, is it all right? or even though I do it, does it make any difference? The word for “all right” is joayo = is good or gwaen chanayo = makes no difference.

Iljik wado gwaen chanayo?

일찍 와도 괜찮아요?

Is it all right if I come early?

Oneul bangmun haedo joayo?

오늘 방문해도 좋아요?

Can I visit you today?

Naeil jechul haedo gwaen chanayo.

내일 제출해도 괜찮아요.

You can (I can) hand in the report tomorrow.

I bang an-e gyesyeodo joayo.

이 방안에 계셔도 좋아요.

You may stay in this room.

Yeogi anjado gwaen chanayo.

여기 앉아도 괜찮아요.

You can sit here.

To express OBLIGATION, you use the infinitive (or the honorific infinitive) plus -ya haeyo which means something like has to, must, has got to. The particle ya has a meaning something like only if you do and the haeyo means (then) it will do. In other words, only if you...will it do = you have to....

Oneul bam iljjik dorawaya haeyo.

오늘 밤 일찍 돌아와야 해.

You have to come back early tonight.

Yeolsimhi gongbu haeya haeyo.

열심히 공부해야 해요.

I have to study hard (or well).

Hakgyo-e gaya haeyo?

학교에 가야 해요?

Do I have to go to school?

Don-eul naeya haeyo?

돈을 내야 해요?

Do I have to pay the money?

Na-neun i chaek-eul ilgeoya haeyo.

나는이 책을 읽어야 해요.

I’ve got to read this book.

Yeogi anjaya haeyo?

여기 앉아야 해요?

Do I have to sit here?

Eoje mueot-eul haeya haesseoyo?

어제 무엇을 해야 했어요?

What did I have to do yesterday?

Sae pen-eul saya haeyo.

새 펜을 사야 해요.

I have to buy a new pen.

Jigeum je-ga mueo-seul haeya haeyo?

지금 제가 무엇을 해야 해요?

What do I have to do now?

To deny obligation—you don’t have to, you need not—you say something like it’s all right even if you don’t: -ji anado joa yo or -ji anado gwaen chanayo, -ji anado dweyo.

Iljjik doraoji anado gwaen chanayo.

일찍 돌아 오지 않아도 괜찮아요.

You don’t have to come back early.

Hakgyo-e angado dweyo.

학교에 안가도 돼요.

You don’t have to go to school.

I chaek-eul boji anado gwaen chanayo.

이 책을 보지 않아도 괜찮아요.

I don’t have to read this book.

Geogi anjji anado dweyo.

거기 앉지 않아도 돼요.

You don’t have to sit there. (It’s OK if you don’t sit there.)

Sae pen-eul saji anado dweyo.

새 펜을 사지 않아도 돼요.

You don’t have to buy a new pen.

Geu chaek-eun jigeum ilji anado dweyo.

그 책은지금 읽지 않아도 돼요.

That book doesn’t have to be read now.

Geu imeil-eun jigeum sseuji anado dwejiman i imeil-eun kkok sseoya haeyo.

그 이메일은 지금 쓰지 않아도 되지만 이메일은 꼭 써야 해요.

That email doesn’t have to be written now, but this email I have to write for sure (kkok).