-이야

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See also: 이야

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Korean 이〮ᅀᅡ〮 (Yale: -í-zá), from Old Korean (*-i-sa).

In Old Korean, (*-sa) was actually a verbal suffix, so the first element (*-i-) > 이〮 (Yale: -í-) is simply the copula 이다 (-ida, to be).

After Middle Korean /z/ was lost, /-j-/ was introduced to break hiatus. Gyeongsang Korean 이사 (-isa) preserves the original pronunciation.

Pronunciation

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?iya
Revised Romanization (translit.)?iya
McCune–Reischauer?iya
Yale Romanization?iya

Particle

이야 (-iya)

  1. as for; adds emphasis to the topic of the sentence.
    모를 .Geu-ya moreul ir-i-ji.As for that, it's something can't know.
    다쳐도 괜찮으니 아이 구해주세요.
    Jeo-ya dacheodo gwaenchaneuni ai-man guhae-juseyo.
    As for me, it's okay if I get hurt; please, just save the kid.
    정도이야 식은 죽 먹기!
    I jeongdo-jjeum-iya sigeun juk meokgi-ji!
    As for this level, it's a pushover!
    사람이야 희노애락 있지만 천지신명 그렇겠소?
    Saram-iya huinoaerag-i itjiman cheonjisinmyeong-do geureoketso?
    As for we humans, we are pleased or angry, sad or happy; but would the myriad spirits be like us?

Alternative forms

  • (-ya)after vowels
  • 이사 (-isa), (-sa)Gyeongsang dialect