살아있어?
saraisseo?
The English phrase "are you alive" is expressed in Korean as 살아있어? (saraisseo?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone is still living or to check if they are responding.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 살아있어? is composed of the verb 살다 (to live) and the auxiliary verb 있다 (to exist/be), which literally means "to be living".
Which one should you use?
Other forms include the polite version 살아있어요? and several formal options such as 살아있습니까? or the even more specialized 생존하셨습니까?, which can mean "Have you survived?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the question changes based on the desired level of politeness: 살아있어? is informal, 살아있어요? is polite and 살아있습니까? is the formal way to ask the question.
How do you pronounce it?
saraisseo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this question in a casual setting, a common way to respond is 살아있어, meaning "I'm alive".
Did you know?
- In modern Korean slang, 살아있다 is used to describe something that is 'vibrant' or 'full of flavor'. If a piece of food or a performance is described as 살아있어, it means it is exceptionally fresh or exciting.
- If you have been too busy to text your friends for a long time, you might send what is playfully called a 생존신고. While it translates to 'survival report', it is actually a common, humorous way to say 'I am still alive and haven't forgotten you'.
- The phrase 살아있어? is often used sarcastically to ask a friend who has been ignoring messages or disappearing from social circles if they are still 'alive'.
Examples in context
- 영수 씨, 살아계세요?Mr. Yeongsu, are you alive?
- 대통령님, 살아계십니까?Mr./Madam President, are you alive?
- 귀하 생존하셨습니까?Have you survived, sir/madam?
- 다니엘, 살아있니?Daniel, are you alive?
- 너 아직 살아있어?neo ajik saraisseo?Are you still alive?
- 거기 살아있어?geogi saraisseo?Are you alive there?
- 정신 차려, 살아있어?jeongsin charyeo, saraisseo?Wake up, are you alive?
Example conversation
Seoyeon calls Hyunwoo after he hasn't answered his phone for a long time.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우야, 너 살아있어?Hyunwoo-ya, neo saraisseo?Hyunwoo, are you alive?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo응, 그냥 자고 있었어.eung, geunyang jago isseosseo.Yeah, I was just sleeping.
- 서연 Seo-yeon전화 왜 안 받아?jeonhwa wae an bada?Why aren't you answering your phone?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo미안해, 깜빡 졸았어.mianhae, kkamppak jora-sseo.Sorry, I dozed off.
