🟠 Expressing “Should” and “Must” in Korean (-아/어야 하다) – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)
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Want to tell someone “You should do your homework” or “I must leave early” in Korean?
The expression -아/어야 하다 is essential when giving advice or talking about responsibilities. Let’s explore how to use it correctly in different contexts!
- Use -아/어야 하다 to express “should” and “must” naturally
- Distinguish between strong obligations vs. soft advice
- Apply it to daily life situations (school, work, travel)
📚 Table of Contents
- Key Concept
- Sentence Patterns
- Practice Dialogue
- Teacher’s Tips
- Say what?
- Pop Quiz
- Did You Know?
- Final Thoughts
💡 Key Concept
-아/어야 하다 is used to express something that **must** be done or something someone **should** do. It’s similar to “have to” or “should” in English, depending on the tone.
- Formal: 해야 합니다 (must do)
- Casual: 해야 해요 (should do)
- Negative: 하지 말아야 해요 (shouldn’t do)
📝 Sentence Patterns
Pattern: [Verb stem + 아/어야 하다]
- 지금 숙제하야 해요.
You should do your homework now. - 내일까지 보고서를 제출하야 합니다.
I must submit the report by tomorrow. - 건강을 위해 야채를 먹어야 해요.
You should eat vegetables for your health.
🗣 Practice Dialogue
A: 내일 시험이 있어요.
I have a test tomorrow.
B: 그럼 오늘 공부해야 해요!
Then you should study today!
A: 맞아요. 그리고 일찍 자야겠어요.
Right. And I must sleep early too.
🧩 Teacher’s Tips
Students often ask me: “Is -아/어야 해요 stronger than -해야 해요?” Here’s how I explain: Think of -아/어야 하다 as **necessary or right to do** — it can feel like advice OR obligation, depending on your tone. Try practicing with things you *really* need to do today: “I should drink water,” “I must call my mom,” etc. Make it personal and it’ll stick!
🗯 Say what?
오늘의 한국어 표현 – “꿀팁”
This slang literally means “honey tip,” used to describe a **super useful tip**.
For example, “이거 꿀팁이에요!” = “This is a golden tip!” You’ll hear it in YouTube videos, blogs, and everyday conversations.
🎯 Pop Quiz
1. Translate: “I must wake up early tomorrow.”
Answer
내일 일찍 일어나야 해요.
2. How do you say “You should not eat too much sugar” in Korean?
Answer
설탕을 많이 먹지 말아야 해요.
3. Translate: “We must finish this work today.”
Answer
오늘 이 일을 끝내야 해요.
🌏 Did You Know?
Did you know that South Korea has one of the highest coffee consumption rates in Asia? A 2024 report found that the average Korean drinks more than **350 cups of coffee per year**, with convenience stores and cafés everywhere!
📦 Final Thoughts
Mastering -아/어야 하다 helps you sound more natural when giving advice or talking about obligations. Try writing 3 sentences about what you “should” do today and share them — I’ll be happy to give feedback in the comments!
If this lesson was helpful, bookmark, share, and comment — your feedback keeps me motivated to write more for you! 🙏
📘 More Posts You’ll Find Helpful!
Keep exploring more posts like these and grow your Korean skills step by step!
📚 Want to practice giving advice and obligations in real conversation?
Book a lesson with me on italki and learn how to use -아/어야 하다 naturally!
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About the Author
I’m an office worker with 20 years of experience who enjoys studying English and Japanese. Through this blog, I share simple guides to help you learn Korean and understand Korean culture better.
