없다

In the hangul script, first attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 없〯다〮 (Yale: ěps-tá), from Old Korean 無叱 (*EPUs-). Cognate with Jeju 읏다 (eutda).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

없다 • (eopda) (infinitive 없어, sequential 없으니)

1. to have none; (to be) lacking; (to be) nonexistent

   Antonym: 있다 (itda, “to exist”)

   전 은행 계좌가 없어요.

   Jeon eunhaeng gyejwa-ga eopseoyo.

   I don't have a bank account.

   하나도 없다.

   Hana-do eopda.

   Not a single one.

   없어 보인다.

   Eopseo boinda.

   Lacking in appearance; not stylish

   같이 어울릴 만한 친구가 한 명도 없다.

   Gachi eoullil manhan chin'gu-ga han myeong-do eopda.

   I don't have a friend to hang out with.

   나랑 수준이 맞는 친구가 한 명도 없다.

   Na-rang sujun-i manneun chin'gu-ga han myeong-do eopda.

   I don't have a friend who's up to my level.

2. (North Korea) to die

   Synonyms: 죽다 (jukda), (honorific) 돌아가시다 (doragasida)

   지난밤에 뜻하지 않게 건넌집 할아버지가 없었다는구만.

   Jinanbam-e tteuthaji an-ke geonneonjip harabeoji-ga eopseotda-neun-guman.

   "Well, the old man from next door unexpectedly passed away last night."

• Most grammars classify 없다 (eopda) as an adjective with certain verbal qualities.^[1]

• 없이 (eopsi)