~해야 돼
~haeya dwae
The English phrase "I need to" is translated into Korean using the form ~해야 돼 (~haeya dwae).
This phrase is used to express that something is necessary or required.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb stem plus the connective ~해야 (must/should) and the verb 돼 (to become/to be okay), literally meaning "it must become that [action] is done".
Which one should you use?
해야 해. is an informal way to express 'I need to'. The form ~해야 돼 is the informal, non-polite version used with friends or people younger than you. Adding '요' to the end of the phrase makes ~해야 돼요 the polite version suitable for most social situations. The form ~해야 합니다 is the formal, high-honorific version used in professional settings or public speaking and 제가 해야 합니다. is a formal way to express 'I need to do (something)'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase, you attach it directly to the stem of a verb.
How do you pronounce it?
~haeya dwae
Did you know?
- Korean has a separate way to express 'need' when referring to a physical object, using 필요해. You cannot use ~해야 돼 for objects, as it only applies to actions and obligations.
- When a Korean speaker wants to soften the 'command' feel of ~해야 돼, they might add ~해야 될 것 같아요. This translates to 'I think I might have to', turning a hard requirement into a polite suggestion.
- In spoken Korean, the phrase ~해야 돼 is frequently shortened to ~해야 됨 in text messages or internet slang. This turns the phrase into a nominalized form, making the requirement feel like a checklist item rather than a sentence.
Examples in context
- 제가 오늘 일찍 자야 합니다.I need to sleep early tonight.
