돈이 필요해요
The English phrase 'I need money' is expressed in Korean as 돈이 필요해요.
In Korean, the subject 'I' (나/저) is often omitted in this phrase because it is implied by context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 돈 (money), the subject marker 이 and the verb 필요해요 (to be needed/to need).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can be adapted through different endings: * Dropping the 요 at the end of 돈이 필요해요 to make it 돈이 필요해 changes the speech from polite to casual/informal. * Using the -합니다 ending to make it 돈이 필요합니다 makes the phrase highly formal and suitable for professional or public settings. * By raising the intonation at the end of the phrase, 돈이 필요해요? can be used as a question: 'Do you need money?'
Did you know?
- While 'money' is 돈, the slang term 돈쭐 is used when someone is 'punished' with money, such as when a company does something good and people buy their products excessively.
- Koreans often use the term 총알 (bullet) as a slang synonym for money in specific contexts. Saying one is 'out of bullets' is a common way to say they have no money to spend on a particular activity.
- The word 돈 is derived from the ancient Chinese unit of weight for silver, the 돈 (tael). Over time, the term for the weight of the silver evolved to represent the currency itself.
Examples in context
- 돈이 필요해요.I need money.Tatoeba #6305060 by Queserasera, translation #436861 by lukaszpp
- 저는 프로젝트를 위해 돈이 필요합니다.I need money for the project
- 지금은 돈이 필요해요.jigeumeun doni piryohaeyo.I need money right now.
- 여행을 가려면 돈이 필요해요.yeohaengeul garyeomeon doni piryohaeyo.I need money to go on a trip.
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin are talking about buying a new phone.
- 민준 Min-jun새 휴대폰을 사고 싶어요.sae hyudaeponeul sago sipeoyo.I want to buy a new phone.
- 수빈 Su-bin돈은 충분히 있어요?doneun chungbunhi isseoyo?Do you have enough money?
- 민준 Min-jun아니요, 돈이 필요해요.aniyo, don-i piryohaeyo.No, I need money.
- 수빈 Su-bin아르바이트를 시작하세요.areubaiteureul sijakaseyo.You should start a part-time job.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
