어야
Korean
Alternative forms
- -아야
- -아야지/어야지
Suffix
-—어야 • (--eoya)
- Only when ... (A connective ending used when the preceding statement is an essential condition for the following statement.)
- 건강하게 먹어야 행복하게 산다. (Geon-ganghage meogeoya haengbokhage sanda., “You live happy only when you eat healthy.”)
- Even when ... (A connective ending used when the preceding assumption has no influence in the end.)
- 길어야 1년을 안 넘길 테니 걱정할 것 없어. (Gireoya 1nyeoneul an neomgil teni geokjeonghal geot eopseo., “You don't have to worry since it won't take more than a year even when the longest.”)
Usage notes
The suffix -아야 (aya)/어야 (eoya) can convey the meaning of duty and obligation when in collaboration with verb 하다 (hada) or 되다 (doeda), thus might be translated to "must", "should", "have to", and so forth. → 어야 하다
- E.g. 하지만 공부해야 되는데···. (Hajiman gongbuhaeya doeneunde···., “but I have to study....”)
Also, the form -아/어야( 하)겠다 (a/eoya( ha)getda) is commonly used for weak volition of the speaker.
- E.g. 이제 좀 쉬어야겠다. (Ije jom swieoyagetda., “Now I'm gonna take some rest.”)
This suffix is attached to the infinitive form. 이르다(이르러) (ireuda(ireureo), “to arrive”) → 이르러야 (ireureoya, “only when arriving”)
References
- National Institute of Korean Language (CC BY-SA 2.0 KR)