가지고 있다
gajigo itda
In Korean, "I have" is expressed as 가지고 있다 (gajigo itda).
The phrase 가지고 있다 is used to state that someone possesses or owns something.
Which one should you use?
While 가지고 있다 emphasizes the act of possessing/holding, native speakers frequently use the simpler verb 있다 to mean "I have" in most casual contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
In daily conversation, the dictionary form 가지고 있다 is almost always conjugated to 가지고 있어요 to be polite to the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
gajigo itda
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use 가지고 있다 for abstract concepts like "I have an idea" or "I have a feeling", but in Korean, it is much more natural to use 있다 for these abstract states.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'I have time', using 가지고 있다 might sound like you are physically clutching time in your hands, whereas 시간이 있다 is the standard way to express availability.
- In Korean, you might say 'I have a brother' using a structure that literally translates to 'A brother exists to me'.
- The phrase 가지고 있다 literally describes the action of 'holding' something, combining the verb for 'take' with an auxiliary verb for 'continuing state'.
Examples in context
- 나는 고양이 두 마리를 가지고 있다.I have two cats.Tatoeba #3081414 by cueyayotl, translation #2412739 by fjrjdk
- 나는 참고서가 있어.I have a reference book.
- 내가 컴퓨터가 있어.I have a computer.
- 동생은 자전거를 가지고 있다.dongsaeng-eun jajeongeo-reul gajigo itda.My younger sibling has a bicycle.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their belongings.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 혹시 여분 펜 가지고 있다?jihun ssi, hoksi yeobun pen gajigo itda?Jihoon, do you happen to have an extra pen?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 저는 지금 펜이 없어요.aniyo, jeoneun jigeum peni eopseoyo.No, I don't have a pen right now.
- 수빈 Su-bin그럼 제가 하나 더 가지고 있다가 빌려줄게요.geureom jega hana deo gajigoitdaga billyeojulgeyo.Then I will keep another one and lend it to you.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 고마워요, 수빈 씨.jeongmal gomawoyo, subin ssi.Thank you so much, Subin.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
