얻다
eotda[ˈɘ(ː)t̚t͈a̠]
The English verb 'get' (to obtain) is expressed in Korean as 얻다 (eotda).
얻다 is used when you acquire or obtain something, often implying a sense of effort or an active process of getting it.
Meaning: to obtain (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use 얻다 when there is an implication of effort involved in the acquisition. In contrast, use 받다, which means 'to receive', when something is simply given to you by another person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 얻다 is 얻었다 (obtained / got). To modify a noun to indicate an ongoing or habitual action of obtaining, use the adnominal form 얻는 (obtaining / that which is obtained).
How do you pronounce it?
eotda
Did you know?
- If you 'get' a prize in a competition, you would use 타다 (meaning 'to ride' or 'to win') rather than 얻다.
- When referring to getting a husband or wife in older contexts, 얻다 was used to imply the act of gaining a spouse through a formal process.
- The verb 얻다 is strictly a native Korean word and does not originate from Chinese characters, unlike many formal Korean verbs.
Examples in context
- 선물을 받다To receive a gift
- 지식을 얻다To acquire knowledge
- 도움을 구하다To seek help
- 경험을 얻었어I got some experience
- 선물을 받았어요I received a gift
- 지식을 얻으면 좋겠어요It would be nice to gain knowledge
- 도움을 구할 수 있는 곳을 찾아보세요Try to find a place where you can get help
- 새로운 자전거를 가지고 싶어요I want to get a new bicycle (to have it)
- 좋은 정보를 얻다.joeun jeongboreul eotda.To get good information.
- 결과를 얻다.gyeolgwaleul eotda.To obtain a result.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get” translations and entries 얻다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
