What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 아직 안 먹었어요 is composed of 아직 (still/yet), 안 (not) and 먹었어요 (ate).
Which one should you use?
You can change the meaning of the phrase by replacing the negation: replacing it with 못 (cannot/unable to) in 아직 못 먹었어요 implies you wanted to eat but were unable to due to circumstances. Additionally, the form 아직 먹지 않았어요 is also a polite option.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Korean uses different levels of formality depending on who you are speaking to. For a polite or formal tone, you can use 아직 안 먹었어요, the polite form 아직 먹지 않았어요 or the highly formal 아직 식사를 하지 않았습니다 (which means "haven't had a meal"). In professional settings or when speaking to elders, the version 아직 안 먹었습니다 is also appropriate. For casual or informal situations with close friends or people younger than you, you can drop the 요 at the end to say 아직 안 먹었어 or use the very casual 밥 안 먹었어.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, subject pronouns like "I" or "you" are often omitted from the sentence if they can be understood from the context. In the casual expression 밥 안 먹었어, the phrase literally translates to "haven't eaten rice" but is commonly used to mean "haven't eaten" or "haven't had a meal".
How do you pronounce it?
ajik an meogeosseoyo
Did you know?
- Asking someone if they have eaten is often used as a greeting like 'how are you' rather than a literal question about food. In this context, answering 아직 안 먹었어요 can be a subtle way of suggesting you are open to an invitation to eat.
- The word 아직 has been documented in Korean literature since at least 1459, appearing in the Middle Korean text 월인석보.
- The word 밥, meaning 'rice' and used in the phrase 밥 안 먹었어, is used as a general term for any meal regardless of what is actually being eaten. It represents the concept of sustenance and care in Korean culture.
Examples in context
- 선생님, 아직 먹지 않았어요.Teacher, I haven't eaten yet.
- 존경하는 대통령님, 아직 식사를 하지 않았습니다.Respected President, I haven't had a meal yet.
- 오늘 늦게 일어났더니 밥 안 먹었어.I woke up late today, so I haven't had a meal.
- 아직 안 먹었어요.ajik an meogeosseoyo.I haven't eaten yet.
- 아침을 아직 안 먹었어요.achimeul ajik an meogeosseoyo.I haven't eaten breakfast yet.
Example conversation
Minji and Jihun are talking in the office about lunch.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 점심 먹었어요?Jihun ssi, jeomsim meogeosseoyo?Jihun, did you eat lunch?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 아직 안 먹었어요.aniyo, ajik an meogeosseoyo.No, I haven't eaten yet.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 같이 먹으러 가요.geureom gachi meogeureo gayo.Then let's go eat together.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 좋아요.ne, joayo.Yes, that sounds good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아직, 안, CC BY-SA 4.0.
