intermediate
Stresses a word to say "as for this, of course", often before a "but".
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- After a consonant: 이야 iya. After a vowel: 야 ya.
- It often grants one point before a "but": …(이)야 …지만 jiman.
Build it
When to use it
Of course
Answering for yourself.
Sure, but…
Grant one point, then add the catch.
No big deal
Something easy to fix.
Watch out
After a consonant, use 이야 iya.
After a vowel, use 야 ya.
In context
9 examples- 1
나야 좋지!
Naya jochi!
Me? I'd love to!
- 2
돈이야 다시 벌면 돼요.
Doniya dasi beolmyeon dwaeyo.
Money? You can always make more.
- 3
지금이야 괜찮지만 내일은 모르겠어요.
Jigeumiya gwaenchanchiman naeireun moreugesseoyo.
It's fine for now, but I don't know about tomorrow.
- 4
저야 괜찮지만 동생이 싫어할 거예요.
Jeoya gwaenchanchiman dongsaengi sireohal geoyeyo.
I'm fine with it, but my younger sibling won't like it.
- 5
운전이야 할 수 있지만 길을 잘 몰라요.
Unjeoniya hal su itjiman gireul jal mollayo.
Sure, I can drive, but I don't really know the way.
- 6
시간이야 많지만 돈이 없어요.
Siganiya manchiman doni eopseoyo.
Time I've got plenty of, but no money.
- 7
말이야 쉽지.
Mariya swipji.
That's easy for you to say.
- 8
그거야 당연하죠.
Geugeoya dangyeonhajyo.
Well, that's obvious.
- 9
주말이야 괜찮지만 평일은 바빠요.
Jumariya gwaenchanchiman pyeongireun bappayo.
Weekends are fine, but on weekdays I'm busy.
Practice
8 questions돈 + (이)야
Three different 야s
Korean has three common words that sound like 야 ya after a noun, and they do completely different jobs:
- 민수야! minsuya "Minsu!" Calling someone by name. That's the 아/야 lesson.
- 학생이야. haksaengiya "I'm a student." The casual form of "is", from 이에요/예요.
- 나야 좋지. naya jochi "Me? Of course." The emphasis in this lesson.
You can usually tell them apart by position. The calling one comes first and stands alone, the "is" one ends the sentence, and this one sits in the middle with a comment after it.
A stronger relative: (이)야말로
If you want to say "this, more than anything," use (이)야말로 instead: 이 식당이야말로 진짜 맛집이에요 i sikdangiyamallo jinjja matjibieyo, "Now this is a really good restaurant."
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 이야 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.