더 이상 없다
deo isang eopda
The English phrase "no more" is expressed in Korean as 더 이상 없다 (deo isang eopda).
The phrase is used as an adverb to indicate that something is not happening or does not exist any longer. The adverbial component 더 이상 is almost always paired with a negative construction to mean 'no more' or 'no longer'.
Meaning: not any longer (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The component 더 이상 literally means 'more than' or 'further' in a temporal or quantitative sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 더 이상 없다 is the dictionary or plain form, which is used in written text or when stating a general fact. For polite daily conversation, you should change the ending to 더 이상 없어요. To express that something was 'no more' in the past, use the past tense forms 더 이상 없었습니다 or 더 이상 없었어요.
How do you pronounce it?
deo isang eopda
Did you know?
- In emotional contexts, such as break-up scenes in K-dramas, 더 이상 is often used alone as a sigh to imply 'I can't take any more' without finishing the sentence.
- The word 이상 in this phrase is a homonym with three distinct meanings: 'above a certain limit', 'abnormal' and 'ideal'.
- The word 없다 ('to not exist') is one of the few adjectives in Korean that can function like a verb to describe a state of absence.
Examples in context
- 제가 더 이상 일할 수 없어요.I can no longer work.
- 그만두는 게 좋을 것 같아요.It would be better to stop now.
- 냉장고에 우유가 더 이상 없다.naengjanggo-e uyuga deo isang eopda.There is no more milk in the refrigerator.
- 남은 티켓이 더 이상 없다.nameun tikesi deo isang eopda.There are no more tickets left.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 더, 없다, 이상, CC BY-SA 4.0.
