Do you know how to say “I have a dog,” “I don’t have time,” or “There is a café nearby” in Korean?
Two of the most useful words for expressing these ideas are 있다 (itda) and 없다 (eopda).
In everyday polite Korean, you’ll hear them as:
있어요 (isseoyo) — Have / There is / Exists
없어요 (eopseoyo) — Don’t have / There isn’t / Doesn’t exist
These expressions may look simple, but they are incredibly useful. You can use them when talking about your belongings, family, friends, available time, places, and everyday situations.
In this lesson, you’ll learn 있어요 없어요 Korean grammar, understand the difference between possession and existence, practice the particles 이/가 and 에, and build natural sentences.
You’ll also discover common mistakes, useful question patterns, real-life conversations, and a beginner practice quiz.
Level: Beginner (A1–A2)
Study time: Approximately 15–20 minutes
What you’ll learn: 있다/없다, 있어요/없어요, possession, existence, location, Korean particles, questions, past tense, and everyday speaking practice.
Table of Contents
- 1. What Do 있다 and 없다 Mean in Korean?
- 2. How to Say “I Have” and “I Don’t Have” in Korean
- 3. How to Use 이/가 with 있어요 and 없어요
- 4. How to Say “There Is” and “There Isn’t” in Korean
- 5. How to Ask Questions with 있어요 and 없어요
- 6. 있어요 vs. 가지고 있어요: What’s the Difference?
- 7. How to Say “Had” and “Didn’t Have” in Korean
- 8. Honorific Korean: 있다 vs. 계시다
- 9. Real-Life Conversations with 있어요 and 없어요
- 10. Common Mistakes with Korean 있다 and 없다
- 11. Practice Quiz: Korean 있어요 vs. 없어요
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions About 있다 and 없다
- Final Review: Master 있어요 and 없어요 in Korean
1. What Do 있다 and 없다 Mean in Korean?
The Korean words 있다 and 없다 describe whether something exists, is present, or is available.
Depending on the context, they can express both possession and existence.
있다 → 있어요 (To Have / To Exist)
Dictionary form: 있다
Everyday polite form: 있어요
🔊 Listen: 있다
🔊 Listen: 있어요
Consider these examples:
돈이 있어요.
“I have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 있어요.
여기에 의자가 있어요.
“There is a chair here.”
🔊 Listen: 여기에 의자가 있어요.
The first sentence describes possession or availability. The second describes the existence of an object in a place.
없다 → 없어요 (Not to Have / Not to Exist)
Dictionary form: 없다
Everyday polite form: 없어요
🔊 Listen: 없다
🔊 Listen: 없어요
Examples:
돈이 없어요.
“I don’t have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 없어요.
여기에 의자가 없어요.
“There isn’t a chair here.”
🔊 Listen: 여기에 의자가 없어요.
Quick Comparison
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 있어요 | Have / There is |
| 없어요 | Don’t have / There isn’t |
| 시간이 있어요 | I have time / There is time |
| 시간이 없어요 | I don’t have time / There is no time |
| 친구가 있어요 | I have a friend / There is a friend |
| 친구가 없어요 | I don’t have a friend / There is no friend |
🔊 Listen: 시간이 있어요
🔊 Listen: 시간이 없어요
🔊 Listen: 친구가 있어요
🔊 Listen: 친구가 없어요
Important: Korean often leaves out subjects that are already clear from context. That’s why 시간이 있어요 can mean “I have time” in one situation and simply “There is time” in another.
2. How to Say “I Have” and “I Don’t Have” in Korean
In English, we often use the verb “have” to talk about possessions.
Korean commonly uses 이/가 있어요 to express a similar meaning.
Basic Sentence Pattern
Noun + 이/가 + 있어요
“I have…” or “There is…”
Noun + 이/가 + 없어요
“I don’t have…” or “There isn’t…”
Look at these everyday examples.
Talking About Things You Own or Have
저는 차가 있어요.
“I have a car.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 차가 있어요.
저는 자전거가 없어요.
“I don’t have a bicycle.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 자전거가 없어요.
저는 휴대폰이 있어요.
“I have a mobile phone.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 휴대폰이 있어요.
저는 노트북이 없어요.
“I don’t have a laptop.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 노트북이 없어요.
Talking About Family and Pets
저는 형이 있어요.
“I have an older brother.” (when said by a male speaker)
🔊 Listen: 저는 형이 있어요.
저는 여동생이 있어요.
“I have a younger sister.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 여동생이 있어요.
우리 집에는 강아지가 있어요.
“We have a dog at home.”
🔊 Listen: 우리 집에는 강아지가 있어요.
우리 집에는 고양이가 없어요.
“We don’t have a cat at home.”
🔊 Listen: 우리 집에는 고양이가 없어요.
The pattern is the same: the noun tells us what is present or absent, and 있어요 or 없어요 completes the meaning.
Talking About Time and Money
시간이 있어요.
“I have time.”
🔊 Listen: 시간이 있어요.
오늘은 시간이 없어요.
“I don’t have time today.”
🔊 Listen: 오늘은 시간이 없어요.
현금이 있어요.
“I have cash.”
🔊 Listen: 현금이 있어요.
현금이 없어요.
“I don’t have cash.”
🔊 Listen: 현금이 없어요.
These expressions are especially common in everyday conversations.
3. How to Use 이/가 with 있어요 and 없어요
The original KoreanMario lesson emphasized the particles 이/가, and understanding them is essential for using 있다 and 없다 naturally.
These particles commonly mark the noun whose existence or absence is being described.
Rule 1: Nouns Ending in a Consonant → 이
When a noun ends in a final consonant (받침), use 이.
| Noun | With 이 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 책 | 책이 | Book |
| 돈 | 돈이 | Money |
| 시간 | 시간이 | Time |
| 우산 | 우산이 | Umbrella |
| 사람 | 사람이 | Person |
| 물 | 물이 | Water |
Examples:
책이 있어요.
“There is a book.” / “I have a book.”
🔊 Listen: 책이 있어요.
돈이 없어요.
“I don’t have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 없어요.
우산이 있어요.
“I have an umbrella.”
🔊 Listen: 우산이 있어요.
물이 없어요.
“There’s no water.”
🔊 Listen: 물이 없어요.
Rule 2: Nouns Ending in a Vowel → 가
When a noun ends in a vowel, use 가.
| Noun | With 가 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 차 | 차가 | Car |
| 친구 | 친구가 | Friend |
| 고양이 | 고양이가 | Cat |
| 의자 | 의자가 | Chair |
| 커피 | 커피가 | Coffee |
| 자리 | 자리가 | Seat / Space |
Examples:
차가 있어요.
“I have a car.” / “There is a car.”
🔊 Listen: 차가 있어요.
친구가 없어요.
“I don’t have a friend.” / “There is no friend.”
🔊 Listen: 친구가 없어요.
커피가 있어요.
“There’s coffee.”
🔊 Listen: 커피가 있어요.
자리가 없어요.
“There are no available seats.”
🔊 Listen: 자리가 없어요.
Do 있어요 and 없어요 Always Need 이/가?
No.
Although 이/가 is extremely common with 있어요 and 없어요, Korean speakers can use other particles depending on what they want to emphasize.
Compare:
돈이 있어요.
“I have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 있어요.
돈은 있어요.
“As for money, I have some.”
🔊 Listen: 돈은 있어요.
Here, 은 gives the noun 돈 a topic or contrastive meaning.
In casual conversations, the particle may also be omitted when the meaning is clear.
돈 있어요?
“Do you have money?”
🔊 Listen: 돈 있어요?
For beginners, start by practicing complete 이/가 있어요 and 이/가 없어요 sentences before studying more advanced particle usage.
4. How to Say “There Is” and “There Isn’t” in Korean
One of the most useful applications of 있다 and 없다 is describing whether something exists at a location.
You can use these expressions to describe objects, places, and people.
The Location Pattern: 에 있어요
Place + 에 + Noun + 이/가 있어요
“There is something at/in a place.”
For example:
방에 침대가 있어요.
“There is a bed in the room.”
🔊 Listen: 방에 침대가 있어요.
학교에 도서관이 있어요.
“There is a library at school.”
🔊 Listen: 학교에 도서관이 있어요.
가방에 지갑이 있어요.
“There is a wallet in the bag.”
🔊 Listen: 가방에 지갑이 있어요.
The Negative Location Pattern: 에 없어요
방에 텔레비전이 없어요.
“There isn’t a television in the room.”
🔊 Listen: 방에 텔레비전이 없어요.
가방에 지갑이 없어요.
“There isn’t a wallet in the bag.”
🔊 Listen: 가방에 지갑이 없어요.
이 근처에 약국이 없어요.
“There isn’t a pharmacy nearby.”
🔊 Listen: 이 근처에 약국이 없어요.
Common Location Words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 집 | Home / House |
| 방 | Room |
| 학교 | School |
| 회사 | Workplace / Company |
| 식당 | Restaurant |
| 카페 | Café |
| 도서관 | Library |
| 가방 | Bag |
| 책상 | Desk |
| 주차장 | Parking lot |
Practice using these words with 있어요 and 없어요.
🔊 Listen: 집에 있어요
🔊 Listen: 학교에 있어요
🔊 Listen: 회사에 있어요
🔊 Listen: 카페에 있어요
Important grammar tip: The particle 에 commonly marks the location where something is or exists. Don’t confuse it with 에서, which commonly marks the location where an action takes place.
Compare:
집에 있어요.
“I’m at home.”
🔊 Listen: 집에 있어요.
집에서 공부해요.
“I study at home.”
🔊 Listen: 집에서 공부해요.
The first describes location. The second describes an action.
5. How to Ask Questions with 있어요 and 없어요
You don’t need a completely different verb form to ask questions in the everyday polite style.
Korean often uses the same sentence structure as a statement, but spoken questions are distinguished by intonation and context.
Asking If Something Is Available
물 있어요?
“Do you have water?” / “Is there water?”
🔊 Listen: 물 있어요?
와이파이 있어요?
“Is there Wi-Fi?”
🔊 Listen: 와이파이 있어요?
빈자리 있어요?
“Are there any empty seats?”
🔊 Listen: 빈자리 있어요?
시간 있어요?
“Do you have time?”
🔊 Listen: 시간 있어요?
Asking If Someone Has Something
우산 있어요?
“Do you have an umbrella?”
🔊 Listen: 우산 있어요?
현금 있어요?
“Do you have cash?”
🔊 Listen: 현금 있어요?
형제자매가 있어요?
“Do you have any siblings?”
🔊 Listen: 형제자매가 있어요?
Answering Questions Naturally
A: 우산 있어요?
“Do you have an umbrella?”
B: 네, 있어요.
“Yes, I do.”
🔊 Listen: 네, 있어요.
A: 현금 있어요?
“Do you have cash?”
B: 아니요, 없어요.
“No, I don’t.”
🔊 Listen: 아니요, 없어요.
How to Ask Where Something Is
When you want to find something, combine 어디 (where) with 있어요.
화장실이 어디에 있어요?
“Where is the restroom?”
🔊 Listen: 화장실이 어디에 있어요?
제 휴대폰이 어디에 있어요?
“Where is my phone?”
🔊 Listen: 제 휴대폰이 어디에 있어요?
가방이 어디에 있어요?
“Where is the bag?”
🔊 Listen: 가방이 어디에 있어요?
In everyday speech, you may also hear the shorter expression:
화장실 어디 있어요?
“Where’s the restroom?”
🔊 Listen: 화장실 어디 있어요?
6. 있어요 vs. 가지고 있어요: What’s the Difference?
Both 있어요 and 가지고 있어요 can express possession.
However, they are not always interchangeable.
있어요 — Possession, Existence, or Availability
저는 차가 있어요.
“I have a car.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 차가 있어요.
시간이 있어요.
“I have time.”
🔊 Listen: 시간이 있어요.
있어요 is versatile because it expresses that something exists or is available, including in someone’s possession.
가지고 있어요 — Having or Keeping Something
저는 여권을 가지고 있어요.
“I have my passport.” / “I’m carrying or keeping my passport.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 여권을 가지고 있어요.
친구가 열쇠를 가지고 있어요.
“My friend has the key.”
🔊 Listen: 친구가 열쇠를 가지고 있어요.
In these contexts, 가지고 있어요 highlights possession or holding something.
Side-by-Side Examples
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 여권이 있어요 | I have a passport / A passport is available |
| 여권을 가지고 있어요 | I have or am carrying a passport |
| 차가 있어요 | I have a car / There’s a car |
| 차를 가지고 있어요 | I own or possess a car |
🔊 Listen: 여권이 있어요
🔊 Listen: 여권을 가지고 있어요
🔊 Listen: 차가 있어요
🔊 Listen: 차를 가지고 있어요
Beginner tip: For simple conversations about possessions or availability, 있어요 is often sufficient.
7. How to Say “Had” and “Didn’t Have” in Korean
The past-tense forms of 있다 and 없다 are also useful.
있다 → 있었어요
있었어요 means “had,” “was there,” or “existed,” depending on context.
어제 시간이 있었어요.
“I had time yesterday.”
🔊 Listen: 어제 시간이 있었어요.
예전에 차가 있었어요.
“I used to have a car.”
🔊 Listen: 예전에 차가 있었어요.
없다 → 없었어요
없었어요 means “didn’t have” or “wasn’t there.”
어제 시간이 없었어요.
“I didn’t have time yesterday.”
🔊 Listen: 어제 시간이 없었어요.
그때 돈이 없었어요.
“I didn’t have money at that time.”
🔊 Listen: 그때 돈이 없었어요.
Present and Past Comparison
| Dictionary form | Present | Past |
|---|---|---|
| 있다 | 있어요 | 있었어요 |
| 없다 | 없어요 | 없었어요 |
🔊 Listen: 있어요. 있었어요.
🔊 Listen: 없어요. 없었어요.
Want to understand how Korean verb endings change in everyday sentences? Review our lesson on Korean Present Tense A/V-아/어요.
Learn Korean Present Tense Conjugation
8. Honorific Korean: 있다 vs. 계시다
When talking about a person who deserves respect, Korean often uses 계시다 instead of 있다 to describe their location or presence.
Regular Expression: 있어요
친구가 집에 있어요.
“My friend is at home.”
🔊 Listen: 친구가 집에 있어요.
Honorific Expression: 계세요
선생님이 교실에 계세요.
“The teacher is in the classroom.”
🔊 Listen: 선생님이 교실에 계세요.
할머니가 집에 계세요.
“My grandmother is at home.”
🔊 Listen: 할머니가 집에 계세요.
Asking Where Someone Is
선생님 어디에 계세요?
“Where is the teacher?”
🔊 Listen: 선생님 어디에 계세요?
사장님 계세요?
“Is the manager/boss here?”
🔊 Listen: 사장님 계세요?
Important: 계시다 Is Not Used for Every Object
Don’t use 계시다 for an ordinary object just because you want the sentence to sound polite.
For example:
책이 있어요. — There’s a book.
🔊 Listen: 책이 있어요.
You would not normally say 책이 계세요.
Cultural note: Honorific Korean expresses respect toward the subject of a sentence. It is different from simply adding a polite ending when speaking to a listener.
9. Real-Life Conversations with 있어요 and 없어요
Let’s practice the grammar in familiar situations.
Conversation 1: At a Café
Customer: 빈자리 있어요?
“Are there any empty seats?”
🔊 Listen: 빈자리 있어요?
Staff: 네, 저쪽에 있어요.
“Yes, there are some over there.”
🔊 Listen: 네, 저쪽에 있어요.
Customer: 와이파이도 있어요?
“Is there Wi-Fi too?”
🔊 Listen: 와이파이도 있어요?
Staff: 네, 있어요.
“Yes, there is.”
🔊 Listen: 네, 있어요.
Conversation 2: Talking About Pets
A: 집에 강아지가 있어요?
“Do you have a dog at home?”
🔊 Listen: 집에 강아지가 있어요?
B: 아니요, 강아지는 없어요. 고양이가 있어요.
“No, I don’t have a dog. I have a cat.”
🔊 Listen: 아니요, 강아지는 없어요. 고양이가 있어요.
A: 고양이가 몇 마리 있어요?
“How many cats do you have?”
🔊 Listen: 고양이가 몇 마리 있어요?
B: 두 마리 있어요.
“I have two.”
🔊 Listen: 두 마리 있어요.
To learn Korean numbers and counters such as 마리, 개, and 명, study our related lesson:
Learn Korean Numbers 1-100 and Essential Words
Conversation 3: Shopping in Korea
Customer: 이거 다른 색 있어요?
“Do you have this in another color?”
🔊 Listen: 이거 다른 색 있어요?
Staff: 네, 검은색도 있어요.
“Yes, we also have black.”
🔊 Listen: 네, 검은색도 있어요.
Customer: 더 큰 사이즈도 있어요?
“Do you also have a bigger size?”
🔊 Listen: 더 큰 사이즈도 있어요?
Staff: 죄송하지만 큰 사이즈는 없어요.
“Sorry, but we don’t have a bigger size.”
🔊 Listen: 죄송하지만 큰 사이즈는 없어요.
Conversation 4: Making Plans with a Friend
A: 오늘 저녁에 시간 있어요?
“Do you have time this evening?”
🔊 Listen: 오늘 저녁에 시간 있어요?
B: 오늘은 시간이 없어요.
“I don’t have time today.”
🔊 Listen: 오늘은 시간이 없어요.
A: 그럼 내일은요?
“Then what about tomorrow?”
🔊 Listen: 그럼 내일은요?
B: 내일은 시간 있어요!
“I have time tomorrow!”
🔊 Listen: 내일은 시간 있어요!
Conversation 5: Finding Someone at Work
A: 김 선생님 계세요?
“Is Teacher Kim here?”
🔊 Listen: 김 선생님 계세요?
B: 지금 안 계세요.
“They’re not here right now.”
🔊 Listen: 지금 안 계세요.
A: 언제 오세요?
“When will they come?”
🔊 Listen: 언제 오세요?
B: 오후에 오세요.
“They’ll come in the afternoon.”
🔊 Listen: 오후에 오세요.
10. Common Mistakes with Korean 있다 and 없다
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Particle
Incorrect:
돈가 있어요.
Correct:
돈이 있어요.
🔊 Listen: 돈이 있어요.
돈 ends in the consonant ㄴ, so use 이.
Mistake 2: Thinking 있어요 Only Means “Have”
의자가 있어요.
“There is a chair.”
🔊 Listen: 의자가 있어요.
Depending on context, 있어요 can express existence, location, or possession.
Mistake 3: Confusing 에 and 에서
For describing location with 있다/없다, Korean commonly uses 에.
가방에 책이 있어요.
“There’s a book in the bag.”
🔊 Listen: 가방에 책이 있어요.
For an action occurring somewhere, 에서 is commonly used.
도서관에서 공부해요.
“I study at the library.”
🔊 Listen: 도서관에서 공부해요.
Mistake 4: Adding 안 Before 있어요 to Say “Don’t Have”
Instead of trying to build a basic negative sentence with 안 있어요, learn 없어요 as the standard counterpart of 있어요 when something does not exist or is unavailable.
시간이 없어요.
“I don’t have time.”
🔊 Listen: 시간이 없어요.
Mistake 5: Using 계세요 for Objects
Incorrect:
책이 계세요.
Correct:
책이 있어요.
🔊 Listen: 책이 있어요.
계세요 is an honorific form used for the presence or location of respected people.
Mistake 6: Translating Every Korean Sentence with an Explicit “I”
우산이 있어요.
“I have an umbrella.” / “There is an umbrella.”
🔊 Listen: 우산이 있어요.
The correct English translation depends on the context. Korean often omits information that listeners can already understand.
11. Practice Quiz: Korean 있어요 vs. 없어요
Now test what you’ve learned.
Question 1
Choose the correct particle.
돈___ 있어요.
A. 가
B. 이
C. 를
Question 2
Which sentence means “I don’t have time”?
A. 시간이 있어요.
B. 시간이 없어요.
C. 시간을 먹어요.
Question 3
Which sentence means “There is a book in the bag”?
A. 가방에 책이 있어요.
B. 가방에서 책을 있어요.
C. 가방에 책을 없어요.
Question 4
Choose the correct particle.
친구___ 있어요.
A. 이
B. 를
C. 가
Question 5
Which sentence is a natural way to ask “Do you have Wi-Fi?”
A. 와이파이 있어요?
B. 와이파이 먹어요?
C. 와이파이 가요?
Question 6
Which sentence means “I had time yesterday”?
A. 어제 시간이 없어요.
B. 어제 시간이 있었어요.
C. 어제 시간이 있어요.
Question 7
Which expression appropriately describes the location of a teacher using an honorific?
A. 선생님이 교실에 계세요.
B. 선생님이 교실을 계세요.
C. 선생님이 교실에 먹어요.
Question 8
Which sentence means “I don’t have a cat at home”?
A. 집에 고양이가 있어요.
B. 집에 고양이가 없어요.
C. 집에서 고양이를 가요.
Answer Key with Explanations
1. B — 이
돈 ends in a consonant, so 돈이 is correct.
2. B — 시간이 없어요.
없어요 expresses the absence or unavailability of something.
3. A — 가방에 책이 있어요.
에 marks the location, while 책이 is the subject.
4. C — 가
친구 ends in a vowel, so use 가.
5. A — 와이파이 있어요?
This is a natural question about whether Wi-Fi is available.
6. B — 어제 시간이 있었어요.
있었어요 is the past-tense form of 있어요.
7. A — 선생님이 교실에 계세요.
계세요 is the honorific expression for the teacher’s presence or location.
8. B — 집에 고양이가 없어요.
없어요 indicates that there is no cat at home.
Speaking Challenge: Make Your Own Sentences
Use 있어요 or 없어요 to complete these sentences about your own life.
- 저는 ______이/가 있어요.
- 저는 ______이/가 없어요.
- 우리 집에 ______이/가 있어요.
- 오늘은 시간이 ______.
- 제 가방에 ______이/가 있어요.
Remember to choose 이 or 가 depending on the final sound of the noun.
Example answers:
저는 자전거가 있어요.
“I have a bicycle.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 자전거가 있어요.
저는 자동차가 없어요.
“I don’t have a car.”
🔊 Listen: 저는 자동차가 없어요.
우리 집에 고양이가 있어요.
“There’s a cat at our home.”
🔊 Listen: 우리 집에 고양이가 있어요.
오늘은 시간이 없어요.
“I don’t have time today.”
🔊 Listen: 오늘은 시간이 없어요.
제 가방에 책이 있어요.
“There’s a book in my bag.”
🔊 Listen: 제 가방에 책이 있어요.
12. Frequently Asked Questions About 있다 and 없다
What is the difference between 있다 and 있어요?
있다 is the dictionary form. 있어요 is an everyday polite form used in conversation.
What does 없어요 mean?
없어요 means that something does not exist, is absent, or is not available. Depending on context, it may translate as “I don’t have…” or “There isn’t…”
Can I use 있어요 to say “I have a friend”?
Yes.
친구가 있어요.
“I have a friend.”
🔊 Listen: 친구가 있어요.
The sentence can also mean “There is a friend,” depending on the context.
What’s the difference between 있어요 and 가지고 있어요?
있어요 can describe existence, availability, or possession. 가지고 있어요 focuses more directly on having, carrying, or keeping something.
How do I say “I don’t have money” in Korean?
Say:
돈이 없어요.
“I don’t have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 없어요.
How do I ask “Is there a restroom nearby?”
You can say:
이 근처에 화장실이 있어요?
“Is there a restroom nearby?”
🔊 Listen: 이 근처에 화장실이 있어요?
What’s the polite honorific form of 있다 for people?
The honorific form used for the presence or location of a respected person is 계시다, commonly conjugated as 계세요.
Final Review: Master 있어요 and 없어요 in Korean
Now you understand how to use 있어요 and 없어요 to talk about things you have, things you don’t have, and what exists around you.
Remember these basic patterns:
| Meaning | Korean pattern |
|---|---|
| I have… | Noun + 이/가 있어요 |
| I don’t have… | Noun + 이/가 없어요 |
| There is… | Place + 에 + Noun + 이/가 있어요 |
| There isn’t… | Place + 에 + Noun + 이/가 없어요 |
| I had… | 있었어요 |
| I didn’t have… | 없었어요 |
Final Listening Practice
Read these five sentences aloud.
돈이 있어요.
“I have money.”
🔊 Listen: 돈이 있어요.
시간이 없어요.
“I don’t have time.”
🔊 Listen: 시간이 없어요.
집에 고양이가 있어요.
“There’s a cat at home.”
🔊 Listen: 집에 고양이가 있어요.
이 근처에 카페가 있어요?
“Is there a café nearby?”
🔊 Listen: 이 근처에 카페가 있어요?
여기에 자리가 없어요.
“There are no available seats here.”
🔊 Listen: 여기에 자리가 없어요.
Continue Learning Korean with HYUZ
Understanding 있어요 and 없어요 will help you use Korean in many everyday situations.
Learn how Korean verb endings work:
Korean Present Tense A/V-아/어요 – Conjugation Guide
Practice talking about your name, family, occupation, and hobbies:
How to Introduce Yourself in Korean – Beginner’s Guide
Use your Korean when shopping, ordering food, and asking questions while traveling:
Basic Korean Expressions for Travel and Everyday Situations
Your next challenge: Look around your home and describe five things you have and five things you don’t have using 있어요 and 없어요.
Try saying the sentences aloud without reading. The more often you use these patterns in meaningful situations, the more naturally they will become part of your Korean speaking skills.