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sae iusi isa waseo eoje cheoeum insahaesseo.

새 이웃이 이사 와서 어제 처음 인사했어.sae iusi isa waseo eoje cheoeum insahaesseo.
A new neighbor moved in, so I greeted them for the first time yesterday.
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Questions & Answers about sae iusi isa waseo eoje cheoeum insahaesseo.

Why is 이웃 marked with -이 (새 이웃이) instead of -은/는?

-이/가 marks the grammatical subject and often introduces new information: 새 이웃이 = a new neighbor (as the subject).
If you used 새 이웃은, it would sound more like you’re setting up the new neighbor as a topic/contrast (e.g., “As for the new neighbor, …”), which isn’t necessary here.

What exactly does 이사 와서 mean, and why not just 이사 왔어?

이사 오다 means to move in (literally “move + come (to here)”).

  • 이사 와서 is 이사 오다 conjugated with -아/어서, linking it to the next clause: “(They) moved in, and/so …”
  • 이사 왔어 would be a complete sentence: “(They) moved in.” It wouldn’t connect smoothly to 어제 처음 인사했어 unless you added another connector.
Is -아/어서 in 와서 meaning “because” or “and then”?

It can cover both, and context decides:

  • Sequence: “A new neighbor moved in, and then I greeted them yesterday.”
  • Reason/background: “Since a new neighbor moved in, I greeted them yesterday.”

In this sentence it mainly gives background that leads naturally to the greeting.

Why is there a space in 이사 와서? Should it be 이사와서?

Standard spacing is 이사 오다 / 이사 와서 (with a space), because it’s treated as a verb phrase 이사 + 오다 (“move” + “come”).
You’ll sometimes see 이사와서 informally, but the spaced form is generally recommended in writing.

Who is the subject of 인사했어? Is it the new neighbor or “I”?

It’s potentially ambiguous without context:

  • Often, speakers mean (I) greeted the new neighbor: the subject 나 and the object 새 이웃에게 are just omitted because they’re obvious.
  • It could also mean “The new neighbor moved in and greeted (me) yesterday,” but many people would clarify if that’s what they meant (e.g., adding 나한테 or using a slightly clearer structure).

If the intended meaning is “I greeted them,” you could make it explicit: 새 이웃이 이사 와서 어제 (그분한테/이웃에게) 처음 인사했어.

Why is there no word for “to” (as in “greeted the neighbor”)? Where is the object?

Korean often drops objects when they’re clear from context. Here, (새 이웃에게) is understood.
If you want to include it:

  • 새 이웃에게 처음 인사했어. = “I greeted the new neighbor for the first time.”
What does 처음 modify—moving in or greeting?

In 어제 처음 인사했어, 처음 modifies 인사했어: “I greeted (them) for the first time yesterday.”
If you wanted “They moved in for the first time” (rare/odd), you’d need a different structure.

Is 처음 the same as 처음으로? Which sounds more natural here?

Both can work:

  • 처음 인사했어 = natural, casual, very common
  • 처음으로 인사했어 = a bit more explicit: “for the first time”

In everyday speech, 처음 인사했어 is perfectly normal.

What level of politeness is 인사했어? How do I say it politely?

인사했어 is casual/informal (to friends, close peers, younger people).
Polite alternatives:

  • 인사했어요. (polite, common)
  • 인사했습니다. (more formal)

So: 새 이웃이 이사 와서 어제 처음 인사했어요.

Does 새 이웃 mean “a new neighbor” or “the new neighbor”?

It can mean either depending on context, because Korean doesn’t have a/the articles.

  • If you’re introducing them: a new neighbor
  • If both speakers already know: the new neighbor

Context (previous sentences, the situation) decides.