Expressing Necessity: 'I have to...'

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TL;DR 🦄

📌 가야 해요 [ga-ya hae-yo] — "I have to go"

⏰ 지금 가야 돼요 [ji-geum ga-ya dwae-yo] — "I have to go now"

📚 공부해야 해요 [gong-bu-hae-ya hae-yo] — "I have to study"

🚫 안 가도 돼요 [an ga-do dwae-yo] — "You don't have to go"

❗ 꼭 해야 돼요 [kkok hae-ya dwae-yo] — "I absolutely have to do it"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

To say "I have to" or "I must" in Korean, attach -아/어야 해요 [-a/eo-ya hae-yo] or -아/어야 돼요 [-a/eo-ya dwae-yo] to a verb stem. Both versions mean the same thing and are used interchangeably in speech — 해요 comes from 하다 ("to do") and 돼요 comes from 되다 ("to become/work out"), but functionally they both express "must/have to."

The vowel choice follows the same rule as -아/어요: stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ take -아야, everything else takes -어야.

가다 → 가야 해요 — "(I) have to go"

먹다 → 먹어야 해요 — "(I) have to eat"

공부하다 → 공부해야 해요 — "(I) have to study"

🎭 Saying You DON'T Have To

The opposite — "don't have to" — is NOT made by simply negating 해야 해요. Instead, Korean uses -지 않아도 돼요 or, more commonly in speech, 안 -아/어도 돼요 [an ... a/eo-do dwae-yo] — "it's okay even if you don't..."

안 가도 돼요 — "You don't have to go" (lit. "it's okay even if you don't go")

오늘 안 와도 돼요 — "You don't have to come today"

Be careful: 가면 안 돼요 means something completely different — "You can't go" (prohibition), not "you don't have to go." Mixing these up can really change your meaning!

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

...해야 해요 [hae-ya hae-yo] — "I have to do..."

...해야 돼요 [hae-ya dwae-yo] — "I have to do..." (same meaning)

지금 가야 돼요 [ji-geum ga-ya dwae-yo] — "I have to go now"

일 끝내야 해요 [il kkeun-nae-ya hae-yo] — "I have to finish work"

안 가도 돼요 [an ga-do dwae-yo] — "You don't have to go"

걱정 안 해도 돼요 [geok-jeong an hae-do dwae-yo] — "You don't have to worry"

꼭 해야 돼요 [kkok hae-ya dwae-yo] — "I absolutely have to do it"

오늘까지 해야 해요 [o-neul-kka-ji hae-ya hae-yo] — "I have to do it by today"

일찍 일어나야 해요 [il-jjik i-reo-na-ya hae-yo] — "I have to wake up early"

시간이 없어서 가야 해요 [si-ga-ni eop-seo-seo ga-ya hae-yo] — "I have to go because I don't have time"

🛠️ Putting Together

A: 오늘 저녁에 시간 있어요?

B: 아니요, 오늘까지 보고서 끝내야 해요. 야근해야 할 것 같아요.

A: "Do you have time this evening?" B: "No, I have to finish the report by today. I think I'll have to work overtime."

🦄 Grammar note: 할 것 같아요 ("I think I'll have to...") softens the necessity with a guess, making it sound less rigid.

A: 내일 일찍 와야 돼요?

B: 아니요, 안 와도 돼요. 오후에 와도 괜찮아요.

A: "Do I have to come early tomorrow?" B: "No, you don't have to come. It's fine to come in the afternoon."

🦄 Grammar note: 안 와도 돼요 ("you don't have to come") vs 와도 괜찮아요 ("it's okay to come") — both express permission/flexibility.

A: 약을 꼭 먹어야 해요?

B: 네, 하루에 세 번 꼭 드셔야 해요. 식사 후에 드세요.

A: "Do I absolutely have to take the medicine?" B: "Yes, you must take it three times a day without fail. Take it after meals."

🦄 Grammar note: 드셔야 해요 is the honorific form of 먹어야 해요 — used when talking to/about someone you should show respect to, like a patient from a pharmacist.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은 씨, 오늘 같이 저녁 먹을래요?

[ji-eun ssi, o-neul ga-chi jeo-nyeok meo-geul-lae-yo?]

"Jieun, do you want to have dinner together today?"

지은: 아, 죄송해요. 오늘까지 발표 준비 끝내야 해서 회사에 늦게까지 있어야 해요.

[a, jwe-song-hae-yo. o-neul-kka-ji bal-pyo jun-bi kkeun-nae-ya hae-seo hwe-sa-e neut-ge-kka-ji i-sseo-ya hae-yo]

"Oh, I'm sorry. I have to finish preparing my presentation by today, so I have to stay at the office late."

민수: 그렇군요. 그럼 내일은 어때요? 내일은 일찍 끝나요?

[geu-reo-kun-yo. geu-reom nae-i-reun eo-ttae-yo? nae-i-reun il-jjik kkeun-na-yo?]

"I see. Then how about tomorrow? Do you finish early tomorrow?"

지은: 네, 내일은 일찍 끝나요. 발표만 끝내면 좀 쉴 수 있어요.

[ne, nae-i-reun il-jjik kkeun-na-yo. bal-pyo-man kkeun-nae-myeon jom swil su i-sseo-yo]

"Yes, I finish early tomorrow. Once I finish the presentation, I can rest a bit."

민수: 좋아요! 그럼 내일 저녁에 만나요. 너무 무리하지 마세요.

[jo-a-yo! geu-reom nae-il jeo-nyeo-ge man-na-yo. neo-mu mu-ri-ha-ji ma-se-yo]

"Great! Then let's meet tomorrow evening. Don't overdo it."

지은: 고마워요. 오늘만 좀 힘들고, 내일부터는 괜찮을 거예요.

[go-ma-wo-yo. o-neul-man jom him-deul-go, nae-il-bu-teo-neun gwen-cha-neul kkeo-ye-yo]

"Thanks. Today's just a bit tough, but from tomorrow it'll be fine."

🧭 Speaking Tip

In casual speech, Koreans often drop 해요/돼요 and just say the stem with rising intonation when it's obvious from context: "오늘까지 해야 돼…" trailing off can imply frustration or resignation about a deadline. Also, -아/어야 되는데 (with -는데 attached) is extremely common for expressing "I have to... but..." — e.g., 가야 되는데 시간이 없어요 ("I have to go, but I don't have time") — a great way to express a conflict between obligation and reality.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Confusing 안 가도 돼요 ("you don't have to go") with 가면 안 돼요 ("you can't go") — these have opposite meanings despite looking similar!

❌ Forgetting the vowel harmony rule — it's 먹어야 해요, not 먹아야 해요. Stems with ㅏ/ㅗ take -아야, all others take -어야.

❌ Using 해야 해요 when talking about someone deserving respect without the honorific — say 드셔야 해요 (not 먹어야 해요) to a patient, elder, or customer.

❌ Overusing 꼭 ("absolutely/definitely") — it adds emphasis, but using it in every sentence can sound overly intense. Save it for genuinely important obligations.

You've got the tools to talk about your responsibilities like a pro — 힘내세요! 📌✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: For each prompt, write your response in Korean using the patterns from this lesson. Then check the toggle below for a sample answer.

1. Say "I have to go" (가다).

Answer

가야 해요. (I have to go.)

2. Say "I have to study" (공부하다).

Answer

공부해야 해요. (I have to study.)

3. Say "You don't have to come" (오다).

Answer

안 와도 돼요. (You don't have to come.)

4. Say "I have to finish work by today" (일을 끝내다).

Answer

오늘까지 일을 끝내야 해요. (I have to finish work by today.)

5. Say "I have to wake up early" (일어나다).

Answer

일찍 일어나야 해요. (I have to wake up early.)

6. Say "You don't have to worry" (걱정하다).

Answer

걱정 안 해도 돼요. (You don't have to worry.)

7. Say "I absolutely have to do it" (하다).

Answer

꼭 해야 돼요. (I absolutely have to do it.)

8. Say "I have to eat" (먹다).

Answer

먹어야 해요. (I have to eat.)

9. Say "You can't go" (가다, prohibition).

Answer

가면 안 돼요. (You can't go.)

10. Say "I have to take medicine" (honorific: 드시다).

Answer

약을 드셔야 해요. (You have to take the medicine. — honorific)

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Vocabulary Box

끝내다 — to finish

일어나다 — to wake up, get up

걱정하다 — to worry

드시다 — to eat/drink (honorific)

약 — medicine

야근하다 — to work overtime

발표 — presentation

준비하다 — to prepare

무리하다 — to overdo it

힘들다 — to be hard/tough

Pitfalls 💡

안 -아/어도 돼요 = "don't have to," NOT -면 안 돼요 = "can't."

Vowel harmony: ㅏ/ㅗ stems → -아야, others → -어야.

Use honorific 드셔야 해요 with elders/patients/customers.

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Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full exercise sets!

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🎯 Practice Hub — Expressing Necessity: 'I have to...'

Work through these three exercises to lock in -아/어야 해요/돼요 and 안 -아/어도 돼요. Try answering out loud before checking each answer — and use the Iru Helper Widgets above if you want to hear the pronunciation again.

Exercise 1 — Saying What You Have To Do 📌

A. Say "I have to go now" (지금 가다).

Answer

지금 가야 돼요. [ji-geum ga-ya dwae-yo]

B. Say "I have to clean the house" (집을 청소하다).

Answer

집을 청소해야 해요. [ji-beul cheong-so-hae-ya hae-yo]

C. Say "I have to call my mom" (엄마한테 전화하다).

Answer

엄마한테 전화해야 해요. [eom-ma-han-te jeon-hwa-hae-ya hae-yo]

D. Say "I have to buy groceries" (장을 보다).

Answer

장을 봐야 해요. [jang-eul bwa-ya hae-yo]

E. Say "I have to read this book" (이 책을 읽다).

Answer

이 책을 읽어야 해요. [i chae-geul il-geo-ya hae-yo]

F. Say "I have to leave by 6" (6시까지 나가다).

Answer

6시까지 나가야 해요. [yeo-seot-si-kka-ji na-ga-ya hae-yo]

G. Say "I have to exercise every day" (매일 운동하다).

Answer

매일 운동해야 해요. [mae-il un-dong-hae-ya hae-yo]

H. Say "I have to pay the rent" (월세를 내다).

Answer

월세를 내야 해요. [wol-se-reul nae-ya hae-yo]

I. Say "I have to take a shower" (샤워하다).

Answer

샤워해야 해요. [sya-wo-hae-ya hae-yo]

J. Say "I have to fix my computer" (컴퓨터를 고치다).

Answer

컴퓨터를 고쳐야 해요. [keom-pyu-teo-reul go-cheo-ya hae-yo]

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Quick Reference

-아/어야 해요/돼요 — have to / must

청소하다 — to clean

장을 보다 — to buy groceries

읽다 — to read

나가다 — to go out, leave

월세 — monthly rent

고치다 — to fix, repair

Exercise 2 — Saying What You DON'T Have To Do 🚫

A. Say "You don't have to come today" (오늘 오다).

Answer

오늘 안 와도 돼요. [o-neul an wa-do dwae-yo]

B. Say "You don't have to worry about it" (그것 걱정하다).

Answer

그것 걱정 안 해도 돼요. [geu-geot geok-jeong an hae-do dwae-yo]

C. Say "You don't have to wait" (기다리다).

Answer

안 기다려도 돼요. [an gi-da-ryeo-do dwae-yo]

D. Say "You don't have to bring anything" (아무것도 가져오다).

Answer

아무것도 안 가져와도 돼요. [a-mu-geot-do an ga-jeo-wa-do dwae-yo]

E. Say "You can't enter here" (여기 들어가다 — prohibition).

Answer

여기 들어가면 안 돼요. [yeo-gi deu-reo-ga-myeon an dwae-yo]

F. Say "You don't have to answer right away" (바로 대답하다).

Answer

바로 대답 안 해도 돼요. [ba-ro dae-dap an hae-do dwae-yo]

G. Say "You don't have to pay now" (지금 내다).

Answer

지금 안 내도 돼요. [ji-geum an nae-do dwae-yo]

H. Say "You can't park here" (여기 주차하다 — prohibition).

Answer

여기 주차하면 안 돼요. [yeo-gi ju-cha-ha-myeon an dwae-yo]

I. Say "You don't have to apologize" (사과하다).

Answer

사과 안 해도 돼요. [sa-gwa an hae-do dwae-yo]

J. Say "You don't have to explain" (설명하다).

Answer

설명 안 해도 돼요. [seol-myeong an hae-do dwae-yo]

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Quick Reference

안 -아/어도 돼요 — don't have to

-(으)면 안 돼요 — can't / mustn't (prohibition)

기다리다 — to wait

가져오다 — to bring

들어가다 — to enter

대답하다 — to answer

주차하다 — to park

사과하다 — to apologize

Exercise 3 — Full Necessity Conversations 💬

A. "오늘까지 보고서 끝내야 해요" — What does this mean?

Answer

"I have to finish the report by today."

B. Respond: "I think I'll have to work overtime."

Answer

야근해야 할 것 같아요.

C. Ask "Do I have to come early tomorrow?"

Answer

내일 일찍 와야 돼요?

D. Respond: "No, you don't have to come. Coming in the afternoon is fine."

Answer

아니요, 안 와도 돼요. 오후에 와도 괜찮아요.

E. Ask "Do I absolutely have to take this medicine?"

Answer

이 약을 꼭 먹어야 해요?

F. Respond: "Yes, you must take it three times a day."

Answer

네, 하루에 세 번 꼭 드셔야 해요.

G. Say "I have to go, but I don't have time" (using -는데).

Answer

가야 되는데 시간이 없어요.

H. Say "Once I finish the presentation, I can rest a bit."

Answer

발표만 끝내면 좀 쉴 수 있어요.

I. Say "Don't overdo it" (to a friend).

Answer

너무 무리하지 마세요.

J. Say "Today is just a bit tough, but it'll be fine from tomorrow."

Answer

오늘만 좀 힘들고, 내일부터는 괜찮을 거예요.

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Cheat Sheet

-아/어야 해요/돼요 — have to / must

안 -아/어도 돼요 — don't have to

-(으)면 안 돼요 — can't / mustn't

-는데 — but / and (contrast)

야근하다 — to work overtime

무리하다 — to overdo it

힘들다 — to be tough

🎉 잘했어요! You can now talk about obligations and necessity in Korean!