Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about anjeoni jungyohaeyo.
What does the particle 이 do after 안전?
It marks the subject. 안전이 highlights “safety” as the thing that is important.
Why is it 이 and not 가?
Use 이 after a noun ending in a consonant (안전 ends with ㄴ), and 가 after a noun ending in a vowel (e.g., 학교가, 영어가).
What’s the difference between 안전이 and 안전은?
- 이/가 marks the subject and often answers “what/who is …?” or adds focus: 뭐가 중요해요? — 안전이 중요해요.
- 은/는 marks the topic or adds contrast: 다 중요하지만, 안전은 특히 중요해요. (Everything is important, but safety is especially important.)
What is 중요해요 made from?
From the dictionary form 중요하다 (“to be important”). 하다-verbs conjugate to -해요 in polite speech, so 중요하다 → 중요해요. Note: 중요하요 is incorrect.
Is 중요하다 an adjective or a verb?
In Korean it’s a descriptive verb. It conjugates like verbs:
- Attributive: 중요한 문제 (an important issue)
- Adverbial: 중요하게 생각해요 (I consider it important)
How is 안전이 중요해요 different from 안전해요?
- 안전이 중요해요 = “Safety is important.” (talks about the value of safety)
- 안전해요 = “It’s safe.” (describes the current safety state of something)
What politeness level is this, and what are the alternatives?
중요해요 is polite informal. Alternatives:
- Formal polite: 안전이 중요합니다.
- Casual: 안전이 중요해.
- Formal question: 안전이 중요합니까? Don’t add honorific -시- here; 안전이 중요하십니다 is unnatural because “safety” isn’t a person.
Can I drop the subject particle?
In casual speech you can hear 안전 중요해요. It’s understood, but for clarity and in writing, keep 이.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence naturally?
Roughly: an-jeon-i jung-yo-hae-yo. In connected speech, 안전이 often sounds like “안저니” because the ㄴ links to 이, and 중요 is “jung-yo,” not “jun-yo.”
Are there any spacing or spelling gotchas?
- Write: 안전이 중요해요 (one space between the words).
- Don’t write: 안전 이, 중요 해요, or 중요하요.
How do I make it negative?
- Standard: 안전이 중요하지 않아요. (Safety is not important.)
- Colloquial: 안 중요해요.
- Softer: 그렇게 중요하지 않아요. (It’s not that important.)
How do I say “really/very important” or “most important”?
- Intensifiers: 정말/매우/아주/진짜/되게 → 안전이 정말 중요해요.
- Superlative: 가장/제일 → 안전이 가장(제일) 중요해요.
How do I talk about past or future importance?
- Past: 안전이 중요했어요.
- Future: 안전이 중요할 거예요.
- “Became important”: 안전이 중요해졌어요.
How do I say “Safety is important to me/us/the company”?
Use 에게/한테 (는):
- 저에게(는) 안전이 중요해요.
- 우리에게(는) 안전이 중요해요.
- 회사에(는) 안전이 중요해요.
Is “중요입니다” correct?
No. Use 중요합니다. With the copula, use a noun phrase: 중요한 일입니다 (“It is an important matter”), not “중요입니다.”
What’s the difference between 안전 and 안정?
- 안전 = safety (free from danger): 안전이 중요해요.
- 안정 = stability (steadiness): 안정이 중요해요. means “Stability is important,” which is a different idea.
Any common set phrases with 안전?
Yes: 안전 제일(이다)! (“Safety first!”). You’ll see this on signs and in workplaces.