Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| -어야 하다 | -eoya hada | [ʌ̹ja̠ ha̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| -어야 되다 | -eoya doeda | [ʌ̹ja̠ twe̞da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ʌ̹ja̠ tø̞da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
-어야 하다 is not a separate word but a pattern added to a verb stem, so the verb you need comes first. To add stress, people put 꼭 before the verb, as in 꼭 해야 돼, a common casual way to say something must be done. 반드시 is a more formal word for a strong requirement, often seen in rules or instructions.
What does it mean word for word?
The pattern is built from the connecting ending -어야, which marks the action before it as a necessary condition, followed by the verb 하다 or 되다.
Which one should you use?
Both forms mean must. -어야 하다 is more formal and common in writing or official statements, while -어야 되다 (-eoya doeda) is the more natural choice in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
In plain written style or when stating a general fact, it becomes -어야 한다. In polite conversation it is usually -어야 해요.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as -eoya hada.
Did you know?
- The ending -어야 used to be -어〮ᅀᅡ〮 in Middle Korean. The rare consonant ᅀ eventually disappeared from standard Korean but is still preserved in the similar -어사 form spoken in the Jeju dialect.
- The word 꼭 often used with 'must' literally means 'tightly' or 'exactly', as if the requirement is bolted down.
- The phrase -어야 하다 can be softened into a suggestion using the ending -어야겠어요, which translates more like 'I think I should'.
Examples in context
- 나는 그 셔츠를 입어야 한다.I must wear that shirt.Here 입어야 한다 attaches the pattern to the verb to wear, giving must wear in plain written style.
- 너는 죽어야 한다.You must die.죽어야 한다 attaches the same pattern to the verb to die, in the plain form used for statements.
- 이 책은 반드시 읽어야 합니다.You must read this book.
- 소방 규칙을 반드시 지켜주세요.Please strictly follow the fire safety regulations.
- 모든 직원은 회의에 필수적으로 참석해야 합니다.All employees must attend the meeting.
- 이거 꼭 해야 돼.You have to do this.
- 오늘은 휴식이 꼭 필요해.I really need a rest today.
- 시험 공부는 꼭 해야 돼.You have to study for the exam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “must” translations and entries -어야 하다, -어야 되다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries -어야, -어야 하다, 되다, 하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
