beginner
Says whether you've ever done something: 간 적이 있어요 (gan jeogi isseoyo), "I've been there".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a vowel or ㄹ (which drops): ㄴ 적이 있다. After other consonants: 은 적이 있다.
- For "never", swap 있다 itda for 없다 eopda.
Build it
When to use it
Experience
Something you've done at some point.
Never
With 없다 eopda.
Have you ever tried?
With 아/어 보다 a/eo boda, "try".
Watch out
Stems ending in ㄹ drop it: 산 san.
After a vowel, add ㄴ: 간 gan.
In context
9 examples- 1
저는 제주도에 간 적이 있어요.
Jeoneun jejudoe gan jeogi isseoyo.
I've been to Jeju Island.
- 2
이 책을 읽은 적이 있어요?
I chaegeul ilgeun jeogi isseoyo?
Have you ever read this book?
- 3
한 번도 해 본 적이 없어요.
Han beondo hae bon jeogi eopseoyo.
I've never tried it, not even once.
- 4
어렸을 때 미국에서 산 적이 있어요.
Eoryeosseul ttae migugeseo san jeogi isseoyo.
I lived in the US when I was little.
- 5
혹시 우리 전에 만난 적 있어요?
Hoksi uri jeone mannan jeok isseoyo?
Have we met before?
- 6
저는 지각한 적이 한 번도 없어요.
Jeoneun jigakan jeogi han beondo eopseoyo.
I've never been late, not once.
- 7
그 영화 본 적 있어?
Geu yeonghwa bon jeok isseo?
Have you seen that movie?
- 8
한국 음식을 만들어 본 적이 있어요.
Hanguk eumsigeul mandeureo bon jeogi isseoyo.
I've tried making Korean food.
- 9
이렇게 맛있는 빵은 먹어 본 적이 없어요.
Ireoke masinneun ppangeun meogeo bon jeogi eopseoyo.
I've never had bread this good.
Practice
8 questions먹다 + (으)ㄴ 적이 있다
"Have you ever tried?": 아/어 본 적이 있다
Put it together with 아/어 보다, "to try", and you get the most common way to ask about experiences:
- 한국 음식 먹어 본 적 있어요? hanguk eumsik meogeo bon jeok isseoyo "Have you ever tried Korean food?"
In speech, people often drop the 이: 간 적 있어요 gan jeok isseoyo.
Not for things you just did
(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 is for experiences at some point in your life, not for something you did today or do regularly. For those, the plain past tense is enough:
- 아침 먹었어요. achim meogeosseoyo "I had breakfast."
- 회를 먹은 적이 있어요. hoereul meogeun jeogi isseoyo "I've had raw fish before."
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 으ㄴ 적이 있다 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.