이게 필요해요
ige piryohaeyo
In Korean, "I need this" is expressed as 이게 필요해요 (ige piryohaeyo).
This phrase is used when the speaker is expressing a requirement for a specific object or item.
What does it mean word for word?
이게 is a contraction of 이것이, where 이것 means "this thing" and 이 serves as the subject marker. 필요해요 is the polite form of the adjective 필요하다, which literally means "to be necessary".
Which one should you use?
You can use the more formal 이것이 필요해요 or the more informal 이거 필요해 depending on the social context.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express this informally, you can drop the 요 to say 이게 필요해. In highly formal situations, the ending changes to 이게 필요합니다.
How do you pronounce it?
ige piryohaeyo
Did you know?
- If you are in a store and want to buy something, saying 이게 필요해요 can sound like you are stating a personal requirement. Instead, Koreans often say 이거 주세요, which means 'please give me this'.
- In Korean culture, expressing a strong 'need' for something can sometimes be seen as too demanding. Speakers often soften the phrase by adding 좀 ('a little bit') to make the request more polite.
- The contraction 이게 is so common in spoken Korean that using the full form 이것이 can actually make you sound like a textbook or a robot.
Examples in context
- 저는 이것이 필요해요.I need this.
- 지금 이게 필요해요.jigeum ige piryohaeyo.I need this right now.
- 선물로 이게 필요해요.seonmul-lo ige piryohaeyo.I need this as a gift.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are shopping at a stationery store.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 이게 필요해요?Jieun ssi, ige piryohaeyo?Jieun, do you need this?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 이게 필요해요.Ne, ige piryohaeyo.Yes, I need this.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 이걸 살까요?Geureom igeol salkkayo?Then shall we buy this?
- 지은 Ji-eun좋아요. 같이 사요.Joayo. Gati sayo.Great. Let's buy it together.
