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-어야 되다

-eoya doeda

have to; must

Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to express that something is necessary or obligatory—'have to/must.' It is a common, slightly softer alternative to -어야 하다.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Adjective, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-아야 되다 · -여야 되다 · <유의> -어야 하다 · -아야 하다 · -어야 하다

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate that one needs or is obligated to do a certain thing.

    반드시 그럴 필요나 의무가 있음을 나타내는 표현.

    ※ ‘이다’, ‘아니다’, 끝음절의 모음이 ‘ㅏ, ㅗ’가 아닌 동사와 형용사 또는 '-으시-' 뒤에 붙여 쓴다.

Examples

  • 비 오는 날 운전할 때는 평소보다 더 조심하여야 된다.

    You have to be more careful than usual when driving on a rainy day.

  • 선생님께 거짓말을 하다니 너는 깊이 반성해야 되겠구나.

    You lied to the teacher? You really need to reflect deeply on that.

  • 지금까지 너를 키워 주시고 보살펴 주신 부모님께는 항상 감사해야 돼.

    You should always be grateful to your parents, who have raised and cared for you until now.

  • 오늘 야근해야 돼서 좀 늦을 거예요. 일이 많은가 봐요. 많이 늦어요?

    I have to work overtime today, so I'll be a little late. Sounds like you're busy. Will you be very late?

  • 계좌에서 출금을 하려면 본인이 직접 와야 됩니다.

    To withdraw money from the account, you have to come in person.

  • 할머니께서 입원하셔서 나는 오늘 병원에 가야 돼.

    My grandmother was hospitalized, so I have to go to the hospital today.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-어야 되다’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “have to; must”?