이야
iya
as for X (emphasis)
Attaches to a noun to single it out and emphasize it, often implying that whatever may be true of it, some other, more important point still stands.
Form
- Attaches to
- Noun
- Other shapes
- 야
Meanings
- 1
A postpositional particle used to emphasize the preceding word.
강조의 뜻을 나타내는 조사.
Examples
괜찮다고 하지만 말을 안 하니 속사정이야 누가 알겠어요.
He says he's fine, but since he won't talk about it, who could possibly know his real situation.
이 정도 열이야 감기 초기 증상이므로 푹 쉬시면 됩니다.
A fever like this is just an early symptom of a cold, so you'll be fine if you rest well.
자기 일만 하고 남이야 어떻게 되든 말든 상관없다는 생각은 버려야 해요.
You should give up the mindset of only caring about your own affairs and not caring at all what happens to others.
요즘 다들 어렵다는데 너는 어때? 밥이야 안 굶지만 생활의 여유는 없지.
I hear everyone's having a hard time these days -- how about you? Well, I'm not starving, but I certainly don't have much breathing room in life.
요즘 다들 어렵다는데 너는 어때?
I hear everyone's having a hard time these days -- how about you?
밥이야 안 굶지만 생활의 여유는 없지.
Well, I'm not starving, but I certainly don't have much breathing room in life.
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. What does ‘이야’ mean?
2. Which form means “as for X (emphasis)”?