아/어 있다 (a/eo itda) means "be in a state".
Describes the state that remains after an action has finished.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Stems with ㅏ or ㅗ take 아 a, others take 어 eo. Only verbs with no object.
Build it
The forms you need
Is
열려 있어요yeollyeo isseoyois openWas
열려 있었어요yeollyeo isseosseoyowas openRespectful
앉아 계세요anja gyeseyois seated (someone older)Casual
열려 있어yeollyeo isseois open (to friends)When to use it
A state left behind
The action is over, the result stays.
Body position
Sitting, standing, lying down.
Where things are
Often with "be done" verbs like 걸리다 geollida.
Watch out
Use the "be opened" verb 열리다 yeollida, with 이 i on the door.
In context
9 examples- 1
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
Changmuni dachyeo isseoyo.
The window is closed.
- 2
친구가 밖에 서 있어요.
Chinguga bakke seo isseoyo.
My friend is standing outside.
- 3
아직 자리가 남아 있어요.
Ajik jariga nama isseoyo.
There are still seats left.
- 4
냉장고에 우유 남아 있어?
Naengjanggoe uyu nama isseo?
Is there any milk left in the fridge?
- 5
가게 문이 아직 열려 있을까요?
Gage muni ajik yeollyeo isseulkkayo?
Do you think the shop is still open?
- 6
책상 위에 메모가 놓여 있었어요.
Chaeksang wie memoga noyeo isseosseoyo.
There was a note on the desk.
- 7
어제 하루 종일 집에 누워 있었어요.
Eoje haru jongil jibe nuwo isseosseoyo.
I lay around at home all day yesterday.
- 8
사장님은 지금 회의실에 앉아 계세요.
Sajangnimeun jigeum hoeuisire anja gyeseyo.
The boss is sitting in the meeting room right now.
- 9
컴퓨터가 켜져 있으니까 꺼 주세요.
Keompyuteoga kyeojyeo isseunikka kkeo juseyo.
The computer is still on, so please turn it off.
Practice
8 questions앉다 + 아/어 있다
아/어 있다 vs 아/어 놓다
Both describe a state that stays. 있다 itda just says how things are. 놓다 nota says someone did it on purpose and left it that way, and it takes an object.
- 문이 열려 있어요. muni yeollyeo isseoyo "The door is open."
- 문을 열어 놨어요. muneul yeoreo nwasseoyo "I've left the door open." On purpose, maybe to air the room.
Clothes are the exception
Wearing is a state too, but clothing verbs take 고 있다 go itda, never 아/어 있다:
- ✗코트를 입어 있어요.
- ✓코트를 입고 있어요. koteureul ipgo isseoyo "She's wearing a coat."
That's because 입다 ipda takes an object. The 고 있다 vs 아/어 있다 comparison has more pairs.
Compare with similar particles
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Use it with
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 아 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
