이미 먹었어요
imi meogeosseoyo
In Korean, "I already ate" is expressed as 이미 먹었어요 (imi meogeosseoyo).
The phrase is used to inform someone that you have already consumed a meal, often serving as a polite way to decline an offer of food or an invitation to eat. In natural conversation, it is very common to substitute the verb 먹었어요 with 밥 먹었어요 (literally: "ate rice/meal") to mean "I ate". You might also hear the expression 아이고, 배터지게 먹었어요 to say "Oh, I ate a lot."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 이미, meaning "already" and the past tense verb 먹었어요, meaning "ate".
Which one should you use?
You can use 나 이미 식사했어 or 식사를 이미 했어 for casual, informal situations. For very polite or formal contexts, 저는 이미 식사하였습니다 is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can adjust the formality of the phrase by changing the verb endings. The polite -어요 ending in 이미 먹었어요 can be replaced with the more formal -습니다 ending (as in 이미 먹었습니다) for professional or highly respectful settings.
How do you pronounce it?
imi meogeosseoyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, asking 밥 먹었어요? ('Did you eat rice?') is often used as a warm way to say 'How are you?' rather than a literal inquiry into your hunger.
- If you want to emphasize that you are extremely full, you can use the hyperbolic phrase 배터지게 먹었어요, which literally translates to 'I ate until my stomach burst'.
- The adverb 이미 was recorded in the 1517 text Beonyeok nogeoldae as 이믜, a Middle Korean form used to teach the language to Chinese traders.
Examples in context
- 나는 비빔밥을 이미 먹었어요I already ate bibimbap
- 저는 이미 먹었어요.jeoneun imi meogeosseoyo.I already ate.
- 아까 이미 먹었어요.akka imi meogeosseoyo.I already ate a while ago.
- 아니요, 이미 먹었어요.aniyo, imi meogeosseoyo.No, I already ate.
Example conversation
At the office, a colleague offers lunch.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 같이 점심 먹으러 갈까요?hyeonu ssi, gatchi jeomsim meogeureo galkkayo?Hyunwoo, shall we go eat lunch together?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo미안해요, 지은 씨. 저는 이미 먹었어요.mianhaeyo, jieun ssi. jeoneun imi meogeosseoyo.I'm sorry, Jieun. I already ate.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말요? 벌써 드셨어요?jeongmallyo? beolsseo deusyeosseoyo?Really? You already ate?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 아까 일찍 먹었어요.ne, akka iljjik meogeosseoyo.Yes, I ate early a while ago.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 이미, CC BY-SA 4.0.
