다 했어요
da haesseoyo
The English phrase "I am done" is expressed in Korean as 다 했어요 (da haesseoyo).
This phrase is used to indicate the completion of a task, such as finishing homework, a meal or a project.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 다, meaning all or completely and 했어요, meaning did or have done.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the phrase 다 했어요 informal by removing the 요 at the end to get 다 했어, which is used with friends or those younger than you. To increase the formality of 다 했어요, you can use 다 했습니다 instead.
How do you pronounce it?
da haesseoyo
Did you know?
- In a restaurant, if you want to say you are 'done' with your meal to signal the waiter, saying 다 했어요 might sound like you are describing a completed task rather than a finished appetite. It is often more natural to use expressions related to being 'full' or 'finished' with the food itself.
- The word 다 is not just a functional adverb but is also the third syllable in the standard ordering of the Hangul alphabet. It is as foundational to the Korean writing system as the letter 'C' is to the Latin alphabet.
- Because 다 is also a Sino-Korean word derived from the Chinese character 多, it can also mean 'many' or 'much' depending on the context of the sentence. This allows it to function as both an adverb for 'completely' and an adjective for 'plentiful'.
Examples in context
- 발표를 끝냈습니다.I finished the presentation.
- 숙제 다 했어요.sukje da haesseoyo.I am done with my homework.
- 준비 다 했어요.junbi da haesseoyo.I am done preparing.
- 이제 다 했어요.ije da haesseoyo.I am done now.
Example conversation
Subin and Jihoon are cleaning the living room together.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 청소 다 했어요?Jihoon ssi, cheongso da haesseoyo?Jihoon, are you done cleaning?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 저는 다 했어요.ne, jeoneun da haesseoyo.Yes, I am done.
- 수빈 Su-bin그럼 이제 쉴까요?geureom ije swilkkayo?Then shall we rest now?
- 지훈 Ji-hun좋아요. 같이 쉬어요.joayo. gachi swieoyo.Sounds good. Let's rest together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
