Korean grammar · Level 2 · 2급
반말 -아/어
Casual speech
반말 is the casual style for close friends, younger people and family. The basic form is easy: take the 해요 form and drop 요. The same sentence can be a statement, a question or a request, depending on your voice. Only use it when the other person is younger or has asked you to — never first with someone older.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verbs and adjectives | 해요 form − 요 | 먹어요 → 먹어 · 가요 → 가 · 해요 → 해 |
| nouns | 이야 / 야 | 학생이야 · 호야야 |
| “is not” | 아니야 | 학생이 아니야 |
| yes · no | 응 · 아니 | 응, 좋아 · 아니, 괜찮아 |
| I · you | 나 · 내가 / 너 · 네가 | 나는 호야야 · 네가 호야야? |
Examples
이거 먹어.
Eat this.
나는 학생이야.
I'm a student.
지금 어디 가?
Where are you going now?
Practise it in context · Level 2, Unit 9
A housewarming party
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
Open the unit →