Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Korean grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about uri uigyeoni dallayo.
What exactly does 우리 mean here? Does it include the listener?
In most contexts, 우리 is inclusive “we/our,” often including the listener. If you want a humbly exclusive “we/our” (not including the listener) in polite contexts, use 저희. In everyday speech, 우리 is very common and can even mean “my/our” for close belongings (e.g., 우리 집 = my/our house).
Why isn’t there 의 (the possessive particle) between 우리 and 의견?
In spoken Korean, possessive 의 after pronouns is usually dropped. 우리 의견 sounds more natural than 우리의 의견, though 우리의 의견 is fine in formal writing.
Why does 의견 take the subject marker 이 instead of 우리?
Here, 우리 modifies 의견 (“our opinion(s)”). The grammatical subject of 달라요 is 의견, so it takes 이 (since 의견 ends in a consonant). Literally: “Our opinions are different.”
Can I use 은/는 instead: 우리 의견은 달라요? What’s the nuance difference?
Yes.
- 우리 의견이 달라요: neutral/new information focus on “opinions.”
- 우리 의견은 달라요: topic/contrast, “As for our opinions, they’re different (even if other things aren’t).”
What’s the dictionary form of 달라요, and why is it spelled that way?
Dictionary form: 다르다 (“to be different”). It’s an 르-irregular verb. With -아/어요, 르 becomes ㄹ+ㄹ: 다르- + -아요 → 달라요. Useful forms:
- Plain: 달라
- Formal polite: 다릅니다
- Attributive: 다른 (e.g., 다른 의견)
- Determiner/future base: 다를 (e.g., 다를 거예요)
- Past: 달랐어요
Is 다라요 ever correct?
No. Because of the 르-irregular rule, it must be 달라요, not 다라요.
Is 의견 the only word for “opinion”? Can I use 생각?
You can use both. 의견 feels a bit more formal or “in a discussion/meeting” vibe; 생각 is broader (“thought/idea”) and very common. Here, 우리 생각이 달라요 is perfectly natural too.
Can I say 틀려요 instead of 달라요?
No. 틀리다 means “to be wrong/incorrect,” not “different.”
- Different: 의견이 달라요 (Our opinions are different.)
- Wrong: 그건 틀려요 (That’s wrong.)
Do I need to mark the plural, like 의견들이?
Usually no. Korean often leaves plurality to context. 우리 의견이 달라요 already implies multiple people’s opinions. 의견들이 달라요 is grammatical but can sound unnatural or like you’re emphasizing a variety of opinions.
Can I drop 우리 and just say 의견이 달라요?
Yes, if context makes it clear who “we” is. Korean often omits obvious possessors/subjects. You can also topicalize: 우리는 의견이 달라요 (or the contraction 우린 의견이 달라요).
How do I say “I disagree” vs. “Our opinions differ”?
- Mild/neutral: 저는 의견이 달라요. (My opinion is different.)
- Direct/formal: 동의하지 않아요/않습니다. (I don’t agree.)
- Meeting style: 제 의견은 다릅니다. / 제 생각은 다릅니다.
What’s the opposite expression (to say we agree)?
- 우리 의견이 같아요. (Our opinions are the same.)
- 의견이 일치해요. (Our opinions coincide.)
How do I say “Our opinion is different from theirs” explicitly?
Use a comparison particle with 다르다: 와/과, 하고, (이)랑.
- 우리 의견은 그쪽 의견과 달라요.
- 우리 의견은 그 사람들 의견이랑 달라요.
Use -과 after a consonant and -와 after a vowel.
Can I use honorifics with 다르다, like 다르세요?
If you’re referring to a respected person’s view, you can say: 선생님 의견이 다르세요. Otherwise, with impersonal subjects it’s common to use non-honorific: 의견이 달라요, or formal polite: 다릅니다.
How is the sentence pronounced naturally?
- 우리: [u-ri]
- 의견이: typically [ui-gyeo-ni]; in fast speech some say [i-gyeo-ni]. (Within a word, 의 is [ui].)
- 달라요: [dal-la-yo] with a clear double “l” sound.
Can I rearrange the words, like 의견이 우리 달라요?
No. 우리 must come before the noun it modifies: 우리 의견. Acceptable variations are 우리 의견이 달라요 and 우리는 의견이 달라요 (topic marked).
Is 다르다 an adjective or a verb?
Korean “adjectives” are descriptive verbs. 다르다 conjugates like a verb (달라요/다릅니다) but functions adjectivally (“to be different”). It also has attributive forms like 다른 (“different + noun”).