있다

From Middle Korean 잇다 (ista), from Old Korean 有叱 (*Is-). Related to the past tense marker 었 (-eot). Cognate with Jeju 잇다 (itda), 이시다 (isida), 싯다 (sitda).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul:

있다 • (itda) (infinitive 있어, sequential 있으니)

1. to stay, remain in a location

   어디 가지 말고, 여기 있어라! ― Eodi gaji malgo, yeogi isseora! ― Don't go anywhere and stay here!

   할머니께서는 시장 다녀오실 테니 집에 있으라고 하셨어.

   Halmeoni-kkeseoneun sijang danyeoosil teni jib-e isseurago hasyeosseo.

   Grandmother said to stay at home because she's going to go to the market.

   1. to keep working for a company

      저는 이 회사에 있은 지 벌써 이십삼 년이 돼 버렸어요.

      Jeo-neun i hoesa-e isseun ji beolsseo isipsam nyeon-i dwae beoryeosseoyo.

      I've been working at this company for 23 years already.

   2. (used with an adverb) to stay in a certain state

      가만히 있다 ― gamanhi itda ― to stay still and quiet

2. for time to pass

   이제 가도 돼요?
   아니요, 좀 있다가 오세요.

   Ije gado dwaeyo?
   Aniyo, jom itdaga oseyo.

   Should I come now?
   No, come in a little bit.

   (literally, “Is it okay for me to go now?
   No, (let) some time go by and then come.”)

3. (auxiliary, after the 어/아 (-eo/a) infinitive) to be (in a state)

   죽어 있다 ― jugeo itda ― to be dead

   모여 있다 ― moyeo itda ― to be gathered together

4. (auxiliary, after the 고 (-go) connective) to be in the process of

   죽고 있다 ― jukgo itda ― to be dying

   모이고 있다 ― moigo itda ― to be gathering together

5. (auxiliary, after the 고 (-go) connective) to maintain in the result of

   오늘은 아주 예쁜 옷을 입고 있네요! ― Oneur-eun aju yeppeun oseul ipgo inneyo! ― You're wearing really pretty clothes today!

   아침에 좀 이상한 구두를 신고 있는 걸 보니 좋은 구두는 잃어버렸나 보구나.

   Achim-e jom isanghan gudu-reul sin'go inneun geol boni jo'eun gudu-neun ireobeoryeonna boguna.

   In the morning I saw them wearing weird dress shoes, so they must've lost their good ones.

있다 • (itda) (infinitive 있어, sequential 있으니)

1. to be (in a place); to exist

   Antonym: 없다 (eopda)

   뉴욕은 미국에 있다.

   Nyuyog-eun Migug-e itda.

   New York is in the United States.

   물속에 물고기가 있다.

   Mulsog-e mulgogi-ga itda.

   There are fish in the water.

   1. (by extension) to have

      Antonym: 없다 (eopda)

      그녀는 남자친구가 있다.

      Geunyeo-neun namjachin'gu-ga itda.

      She has a boyfriend.

      저는 집도 있고 차도 있어요.

      Jeo-neun jip-do itgo cha-do isseoyo.

      I have a house and a car.

• 이다 (ida, “to equal (copula)”)
• 아니다 (anida, “not to equal (negative copula)”)
• 계시다 (gyesida, “to stay”) honorific form of 있다

• 《우리말샘》
• 국립국어원, The National Institute of Korean Language (2016) “있다”, in 한국어영어 학습사전 [han'gugeo-yeong'eo hakseupsajeon, Korean-English Learners' Dictionary]