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Questions & Answers about yachaereul meogeoyo.
What does 야채 mean, and how is it pronounced?
야채 means “vegetables.” It’s pronounced [ya-che], with a short “a” in 야 and a soft “ch” in 채.
What role does the particle 를 play in 야채를 먹어요?
를 is the object-marking particle. It tells you that 야채 (vegetables) is the direct object of the verb 먹어요 (eat).
Why is there no subject in 야채를 먹어요?
Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. If you need to specify, you could say 저는 야채를 먹어요 (“I eat vegetables”).
What is the form and nuance of 먹어요?
먹어요 is the polite informal present tense of 먹다 (to eat).
- Used when speaking politely to someone you’re not super close with.
- It’s softer than the formal 먹습니다, but more respectful than the casual 먹어.
How would you change this sentence to the past tense?
Replace -어요 with -었어요:
야채를 먹었어요. – “(I) ate vegetables” or “(I) have eaten vegetables.”
How can this be turned into a question?
Simply add a question mark (or use rising intonation):
야채를 먹어요? – “Do you eat vegetables?” or “Are you eating vegetables?”
Can you drop the particle 를 and say 야채 먹어요?
In casual spoken Korean you might hear 야채 먹어요, but it’s more standard and clear to keep 를. Omitting particles can sometimes make sentences ambiguous.
Why is the verb placed at the end of the sentence?
Korean follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order. So the object (야채를) comes before the verb (먹어요).
How would you say this sentence in the most formal written style?
Use the deferential ending -습니다 instead of -어요:
야채를 먹습니다. – a very formal/official statement.
Is there a difference between 야채 and 채소?
Both mean “vegetables,” but:
- 채소 is native Sino-Korean (菜蔬) and often used in formal writing.
- 야채 came via Japanese (野菜) and is more common in everyday speech.