Learn Hardcore Korean: gyeongheomi jungyohaeyo.

Korean descriptive words like 중요하다 already function as verbs meaning “to be important.” So 중요해요 literally means “is important.” You don’t add 이다 (to be) to adjectives like this.

What does the particle 이 do in 경험이?

이/가 marks the grammatical subject. 경험이 means “experience (as the subject).” You use 이 after a noun ending in a consonant (경험 ends with ㅁ); after a vowel you use 가.

When would I use 은/는 instead of 이/가?

경험이 중요해요: presents/identifies the subject; answers “What is important?” (focus/new info).
경험은 중요해요: sets 경험 as the topic, often with a contrast or general statement implied (e.g., “As for experience, it’s important (maybe unlike something else)”).

Can I drop the subject particle 이 in speech?

Often, yes in casual conversation when context is clear: 경험 중요해요 can be heard. In standalone sentences or careful speech, keep 이. In writing, include it.

What politeness level is -해요, and what are other forms?

중요해요 is polite informal (해요체), common in daily conversation. Variants:

Formal polite: 중요합니다
Casual: 중요해
Plain/dictionary/written: 중요하다

How do I make it negative?

Two common ways:

중요하지 않아요 (neutral/standard)
안 중요해요 (more conversational) Both mean “It’s not important.”

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Just use rising intonation: 경험이 중요해요? = “Is experience important?” You can also ask 중요해요? if the subject is clear from context.

How do I say “very important” naturally?

Add an intensifier before 중요해요:

Formal/neutral: 매우, 아주 → 매우/아주 중요해요
Conversational: 정말, 진짜, 되게 → 정말/진짜/되게 중요해요
너무 중요해요 is very common in speech (literally “too,” but often used as “so/very”).

Is 중요하다 an irregular verb?

No. It’s a regular -하다 descriptive verb. Conjugations: 중요해요, 중요했습니다, 중요했어요, 중요할 거예요, etc.

Are the spaces correct? Do I write 중요 해요 or 중요해요?

Write it as one word: 중요해요. Particles attach without spaces, so 경험이 중요해요 (not “경험 이” or “중요 해요”).

How is the sentence pronounced?

Roughly: [gyeong-heo-mi jung-yo-hae-yo]. Notes:

경험이 links so ㅁ + 이 sounds like “미”: 경험이 → “경허미.”
중요해요 keeps the y-glide: “jung-yo-hae-yo.”

How do I say “Experience is important to me/for me”?

Use a dative/benefactive phrase:

Polite: 저에게(는) 경험이 중요해요 / 저한테(는) 경험이 중요해요
Casual: 나한테는 경험이 중요해 The (는) adds a contrast/topic nuance (“for me, at least…”).

How do I say “This experience is important”?

Add a demonstrative: 이 경험이 중요해요. For “that experience,” use 그 경험 (near the listener) or 저 경험 (far from both).

How do I put it in past or (likely) future?

Past: 경험이 중요했어요 (“was important”)
Probable/going to be (speaker’s supposition): 경험이 중요할 거예요

What’s the difference between 경험 and 체험?

경험: experience in general, accumulated over time; both first-hand and broad.
체험: hands-on, first-hand, try-it-yourself experience (e.g., a workshop or activity).

Can I say “experiences” with a plural?

Abstract nouns rarely take 들. Use quantity words instead:

많은 경험이 중요해요 (Many experiences are important)
여러 경험이 중요해요 (Various experiences are important) You can also say 경험이 많아요 (“(I) have a lot of experience”).

Is word order flexible? Could I say 중요해요 경험이?

Not naturally. Keep the subject before the predicate: 경험이 중요해요. Korean allows some flexibility, but predicates stay at the end, and scrambling here would sound odd.

Can/should I use honorific -시- with 중요하다?

Only when the honored subject is a person or a group: e.g., 여러분이 중요하십니다 (“You all are important”). Do not use -시- when the subject isn’t a person (e.g., not with 경험이).

How do I say “Experience is important for getting a job”?

Two natural patterns:

취업에 경험이 중요해요 (“In terms of employment, experience is important.”)
취업할 때 경험이 중요해요 (“When getting a job, experience is important.”)

What if I want to say “Having experience is important”?

Use a nominalized clause: 경험이 있는 게 중요해요 or 경험이 있는 것이 중요해요 (“Having experience is important”).