쉬어야 해요
swieoya haeyo
In Korean, "you should rest" is expressed as 쉬어야 해요 (swieoya haeyo).
This phrase is used both for physical rest (taking a break) and for the suggestion to go to sleep due to fatigue.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 쉬다 (to rest) combined with the grammar pattern –어야 하다 (must/have to/should).
Which one should you use?
While 쉬어야 해요 translates to "you should rest," you can also use 푹 쉬세요 to mean "Please rest well" or "Please have a good rest." If you want to offer a simple command to "Rest," you can use 쉬세요 or the informal 쉬어.
How does it change in a sentence?
In informal settings, you can shorten 쉬어야 해요 to 쉬어야 해 when speaking to someone younger or of equal status. To show higher respect to the person you are advising, you can insert the honorific suffix –시– to create 쉬셔야 해요.
How do you pronounce it?
swieoya haeyo
When do people say it?
The word 푹 can be added to phrases involving rest to mean "deeply" or "fully."
Did you know?
- If you are talking about food rather than a person, the verb 쉬다 means 'to spoil' or 'to go bad'. You must rely entirely on context to know if someone is advising a nap or warning you that the milk is rotten.
- Suggesting someone rest is a common way to demonstrate 'jeong', a uniquely Korean concept of deep, affectionate concern and social bonding. Telling a colleague 쉬어야 해요 is often more about expressing worry than giving a simple instruction.
- Beyond human rest, the word 쉬다 is used to describe a musical rest or a pause in a spoken sentence.
Examples in context
- 회의가 끝나면 쉬어야 해요.After the meeting, you should rest.
- 건강을 위해서 푹 쉬세요.Please rest well for your health.
- 과로하면 푹 쉬어.If you're exhausted, rest well.
- 너무 무리하지 말고 쉬어야 해요.neomu muri-haji malgo swieoya haeyo.Don't overdo it and you should rest.
- 몸이 안 좋으면 쉬어야 해요.momi an joeumyeon swieoya haeyo.If you don't feel well, you should rest.
- 내일부터는 꼭 쉬어야 해요.naeil-buteoneun kkok swieoya haeyo.You really should rest starting tomorrow.
Example conversation
Subin notices Jihun looks very tired at work.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 정말 피곤해 보여요.Jihun ssi, jeongmal pigonha boyeoyo.Jihun, you look really tired.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 어제 잠을 거의 못 잤어요.ne, eoje jameul geoui mot jasseoyo.Yes, I barely slept yesterday.
- 수빈 Su-bin오늘은 일찍 들어가서 쉬어야 해요.oneureun iljjik deureogaseo swieoya haeyo.You should go home early and rest today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 그럴게요.gomawoyo, geureolgeyo.Thank you, I will.
