Side by side
고 있다 vs 아/어 있다: What's the Difference?
English says 'is sitting' for both. Korean splits the action from what it leaves behind.
In English, 'He is sitting on the chair' is one sentence with one meaning. In Korean it splits in two, and picking the wrong half changes what you are describing.
앉고 있어요 means he is in the middle of lowering himself onto the chair. 앉아 있어요 means he sat down earlier and is still there. One is the action; the other is the state the action left behind.
In one line
고 있다 = the action is happening right now. 아/어 있다 = the action finished and its result continues.
| Particle | Core meaning | Used with | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 고 있다 | Action in progress | Any verb, including verbs with objects | 밥을 먹고 있어요 babeul meokgo isseoyo I am eating (right now) |
| 아/어 있다 | Resulting state continues | Intransitive verbs only (no object) | 문이 열려 있어요 muni yeollyeo isseoyo The door is open |
When to Use 고 있다
1. Something Happening Right Now
Attach 고 있다 to any verb stem to say the action is underway at this moment. This is the direct equivalent of the English present continuous.
지금 책을 읽고 있어요.
jigeum chaegeul ikgo isseoyo.
I am reading a book right now.
2. Verbs That Take an Object
If the verb needs an object (먹다, 읽다, 보다, 쓰다, 만들다) then 고 있다 is your only option. 아/어 있다 cannot attach to these verbs at all.
편지를 쓰고 있어요.
pyeonjireul sseugo isseoyo.
I am writing a letter.
3. Ongoing Habits and Situations
고 있다 also covers stretches of time longer than this moment: a job you currently hold, a city you currently live in, a course you are partway through.
서울에서 일하고 있어요.
seoureseo ilhago isseoyo.
I am working in Seoul (these days).
When to Use 아/어 있다
Use 아/어 있다 when the action is already over but the result is still true. It only works with intransitive verbs (ones that take no object) because you are describing the subject's own condition, not something being done to a thing. The most common ones are 앉다, 서다, 눕다, 살다, 남다, and the passive pairs 열리다, 닫히다, 켜지다, 꺼지다.
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
changmuni dachyeo isseoyo.
The window is closed.
친구가 밖에 서 있어요.
chinguga bakke seo isseoyo.
My friend is standing outside.
아직 자리가 남아 있어요.
ajik jariga nama isseoyo.
There are still seats left.
The core difference
In Progress
“Lowering onto the chair”
Resulting State
“Already seated”
Common mistakes
책을 읽어 있어요
chaegeul ilgeo isseoyo
책을 읽고 있어요
chaegeul ikgo isseoyo
읽다 takes an object (책을), so it is transitive. Transitive verbs can never take 아/어 있다.
문이 열고 있어요
muni yeolgo isseoyo
문이 열려 있어요
muni yeollyeo isseoyo
The door is not opening itself. Use the passive stem 열리다 plus 아/어 있다 to describe the door's state.
의자에 앉고 있어요 (when you mean 'I'm seated')
uijae ango isseoyo
의자에 앉아 있어요
uijae anja isseoyo
앉고 있어요 describes the two seconds while you lower yourself down. If you are already sitting, use 앉아 있어요.
한국에 살고 있어요 / 한국에 살아 있어요
hanguge salgo isseoyo / hanguge sara isseoyo
Both exist, but mean different things
살고 있어요 means 'I am living in Korea'. 살아 있어요 means 'I am alive'. Here both forms are correct and the meanings are completely different.
옷을 입어 있어요
oseul ibeo isseoyo
옷을 입고 있어요
oseul ipgo isseoyo
입다 takes an object, so only 고 있다 works. Korean uses 입고 있다 for both 'putting on' and 'wearing': context tells them apart.
How to Choose in 5 Seconds
Ask these in order and stop at the first yes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a quick test for which one to use?
Yes. Look for an object marked with 을/를. If the sentence has one, you must use 고 있다. 아/어 있다 only ever attaches to intransitive verbs.
Why is 앉아 있다 so common but 앉고 있다 so rare?
Because sitting down takes about a second. There is almost never a reason to describe that instant, whereas 'being seated' is a state you might describe for an hour. The same is true of 서다 and 눕다.
Can I use 아/어 있다 with 하다 verbs?
Mostly no. Transitive 하다 verbs like 공부하다 and 요리하다 take 고 있다. Intransitive ones can take 아/어 있다: 벌써 도착해 있어요 means 'they've already arrived and are there'. Passive forms work too: 준비되어 있어요 means 'it is ready'.
What about 아/어 놓다 and 아/어 두다?
Those describe someone deliberately leaving something in a state: 문을 열어 놓았어요 (I left the door open, on purpose). 아/어 있다 just reports the state without saying who caused it.
Look them up in the dictionary
Both particles in the Basic Korean Dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language, with English.