Learn Hardcore Korean: taeksi yogeumi bissayo.

택시 요금이 비싸요. neutrally presents the fact or focuses on “taxi fare” as the subject (often introducing new info).
택시 요금은 비싸요. sets “taxi fare” as the topic and often implies contrast or generalization. For example: 택시 요금은 비싸요, 버스 요금은 싸요.

Why don’t we use the object marker 을/를 with 요금?

Because 비싸다 is a descriptive verb (adjective) meaning “to be expensive,” which doesn’t take a direct object. 요금 is the subject that “is expensive,” so it takes 이/가, not 을/를.

Object usage appears with action verbs, e.g., 요금을 올려요 (They raise the fare).

What exactly is 비싸요 made of?

Base dictionary form: 비싸다 (“to be expensive”).

Stem: 비싸-
Polite present ending: -요 → 비싸요 = “is/are expensive” in polite speech.

Shouldn’t there be an “is” like 이에요/예요?

No. In Korean, adjectives are verbs, so 비싸요 itself means “is expensive.” The copula 이다 (이에요/예요) attaches to nouns, not adjectives. You’d use it for identity/equation, e.g., 요금은 5천 원이에요 (“The fare is 5,000 won”), but not for “expensive.”

How do I make the sentence more or less formal?

Formal polite: 택시 요금이 비쌉니다.
Polite casual (standard): 택시 요금이 비싸요.
Informal casual: 택시 요금이 비싸.

How do I turn it into a question?

Just use a rising intonation:

택시 요금이 비싸요? (Are taxi fares expensive?) More formal question:
택시 요금이 비쌉니까?

How do I say “not expensive”?

Two common negations:

안 비싸요. (not expensive; more colloquial)
비싸지 않아요. (not expensive; slightly more neutral/formal) Soften it: 그렇게 비싸지 않아요. (It’s not that expensive.)

How do I talk about past or future?

Past: 택시 요금이 비쌌어요. (The taxi fare was expensive.)
Future/inference: 택시 요금이 비쌀 거예요. (The taxi fare will probably be expensive / is likely expensive.)

How do I compare prices?

“Taxis are more expensive than buses.” → 버스보다 택시 요금이 더 비싸요.
“Taxis are less expensive.” → 덜 비싸요.
“The most expensive.” → 가장/제일 비싸요.

What’s the difference between 택시 요금, 택시비, 차비, 교통비, and 가격?

택시 요금: taxi fare (neutral/official sounding).
택시비: taxi fare (very common in everyday speech).
차비: travel fare (older/casual; often for bus/taxi/subway in general).
교통비: transportation expenses (umbrella term).
가격: price (for goods/items). Services typically use 요금. So “택시 가격” is odd; use 택시 요금/택시비.

Is the spacing correct? 택시 요금 or 택시요금?

Both are seen. Textbooks and many style guides prefer a space: 택시 요금. As a lexicalized compound, 택시요금 also appears (e.g., on signs). Either is acceptable in everyday use. Particles attach without a space: 요금이 (not “요금 이”).

How do I pronounce the sentence? Any romanization tips?

Rough pronunciation: [tɛk-shi yo-geu-mi bi-ssa-yo]
- 시 in 택시 is pronounced like “shi,” though romanized as si: taeksi.
- 요금이 resyllabifies to sound like “yo-geu-mi” (the ㅇ before a vowel is silent).
- ㅆ in 비싸요 is a tense “ss.”
Revised Romanization: Taeksi yogeumi bissayo.

Can I drop the subject or particle in conversation?

Yes, very commonly.

택시 요금 비싸요. (drop 이)
비싸요. (drop the whole subject when context is clear) Natural and frequent in speech.

How do I specify place/time, like “Here, taxi fares are expensive”?

Add a location/time expression before the subject:

여기(에서는) 택시 요금이 비싸요. (Here, taxi fares are expensive.)
한국은 택시 요금이 비싸요. (In Korea, taxi fares are expensive.) Using 은 here sets “Korea” as the contrastive topic.

When do I use numbers with this? How do I say “The taxi fare is 5,000 won”?

Use the copula with the amount:

택시 요금이 5천 원이에요. (The taxi fare is 5,000 won.) To say it’s expensive (qualitatively), use 비싸요; to state the amount (quantitatively), use 이에요/예요.

Is it okay to say 비싸세요 for politeness?

No. The honorific -시- is used when the subject is a person you honor. 요금 is not a person, so use plain 비싸요/비쌉니다. (You might hear 비싸세요 in some service talk, but it’s nonstandard since the subject isn’t human.)