Word
입국심사 줄이 길어서 기다려야 해요.ipguksimsa juri gireoseo gidaryeoya haeyo.
Meaning
The immigration line is long, so I have to wait.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of ipguksimsa juri gireoseo gidaryeoya haeyo.
~이~i
subject particle
기다리다gidarida
to wait
~어서~eoseo
so
길다gilda
long
Questions & Answers about ipguksimsa juri gireoseo gidaryeoya haeyo.
What is the function of -아서/어서 in 길어서?
-아서/어서 is a connective ending used to express reason or cause (“because…”). You attach it directly to an adjective or verb stem:
- 길다 (to be long) → drop 다 → 길
- 길
- 어서 → 길어서
So 줄이 길어서 literally means “because the line is long.”
- 어서 → 길어서
How does the -아/어야 하다 structure work in 기다려야 해요?
A/V stem + -아/어야 하다/되다 expresses necessity or obligation (“must,” “have to”).
• 기다리다 → stem 기다리-
• 기다리- + -어야 하다 → 기다리어야 하다
• Contract to 기다려야 하다
• Polite form → 기다려야 해요
Meaning: “(We) have to wait.”
Why does 기다리다 become 기다려야 instead of 기다리어야?
In Korean phonology, when a stem ending in 리 is followed by 어, the sequence 리 + 어 contracts to 려.
• 기다리 + 어야 → 기다려야
What level of politeness is the sentence, and how could you make it more formal or more casual?