Learn Hardcore Korean: dariga apayo.

-가 marks the grammatical subject when you introduce or focus on something new, while -은/-는 is the topic marker used for known information or contrast. Here, 다리가 is simply the subject experiencing pain.

What is the dictionary form of 아파요, and how is it conjugated?

The dictionary form is 아프다 (“to hurt / to be painful”). Remove -다 to get the stem 아프-, then apply vowel contraction: 아프- + -아 + -요 → 아파요.

Is 아프다 a verb or an adjective in Korean?

Korean treats words like 아프다 as “descriptive verbs.” They function like adjectives in English (describing a state) but conjugate like verbs.

What politeness level does -아요 indicate in 아파요?

The -아요/-어요 ending is the polite informal level (haeyo style), suitable for everyday conversation with strangers or acquaintances.

How would you express 다리가 아파요 in the past tense?

Change -아요 to -았어요: stem 아프- + -았어요 = 아팠어요, yielding 다리가 아팠어요 (“My leg hurt”).

Why is there no pronoun like “my” before 다리?

In Korean, personal pronouns are often omitted when context makes the meaning clear. Here, 다리가 아파요 implicitly means “my leg hurts.”

Why isn’t 다리 pluralized (e.g., 다리들이) even if both legs hurt?

Korean usually omits plural markers like -들 when plurality is obvious or general. Even if both legs hurt, 다리가 아파요 sounds perfectly natural.

Can 다리 also mean “bridge”? How do you know which meaning applies?

Yes, 다리 can mean “leg” or “bridge.” When paired with 아파요 (“hurts”), it clearly refers to a body part (“leg”), not an actual bridge.

Why is the word order 다리가 아파요 and not 아파요 다리가?

Korean follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. 다리가 (subject) precedes the verb 아파요, which always comes at the end of the sentence.

How would you say “My leg hurts” more formally or with honorifics?

For formal polite speech, use -ㅂ니다: 다리가 아픕니다.
To show respect (honorific), use the honorific stem 아프시- plus the polite informal ending -어요: 다리가 아프세요.