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How to Say Wait in Korean: Essential EPS-TOPIK Verb Quiz

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👩🏫 Teacher's Tip - EPS-TOPIK Style
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do Koreans say "Wait"?

기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait]) means to stay in one place until someone comes. In polite speech, say 기다려요([gi-da-ryeo-yo]).

Q2. How do I say "waited"?

기다렸어요([gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo/waited]) is the polite past form. Example: 30분 기다렸어요 (I waited 30 minutes).

Q3. How do I say "have to wait"?

기다려야 해요([gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo/have to wait]) means must stay. Example: 여기서 기다려야 해요 (I have to wait here).

EPS TOPIK Learn More: How to Say "Wait" in Korean - 기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait])

What does "기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait])" mean?

기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait]) means "to wait". It is used when you remain in place until someone comes.

Casual: 기다려 (gi-da-ryeo)
Polite: 기다려요 (gi-da-ryeo-yo)
Formal: 기다립니다 (gi-da-rim-ni-da)

Grammar Breakdown

기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait]) = 기다리 + 다 (wait + verb ending)
기다렸어요([gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo/waited]) = 기다렸 + 어요 (waited + polite)
기다리고 싶어요([gi-da-ri-go si-peo-yo/want to wait]) = 기다리 + 고 싶어요 (wait + want to)
기다려야 해요([gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo/have to wait]) = 기다려 + 야 해요 (wait + have to)
기다리지 마세요([gi-da-ri-ji ma-se-yo/don't wait]) = 기다리 + 지 마세요 (wait + please don't)

When to Use It (EPS-TOPIK Style)

1. Daily: “뭘 기다려요? (mwol gi-da-ryeo-yo)”
2. Past: 기다렸어요([gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo/waited]) waited.
3. Duty: 기다려야 해요([gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo/have to wait]) have to wait.
4. Warning: 기다리지 마세요([gi-da-ri-ji ma-se-yo/don't wait]) don't wait.

Real-Life Examples - A-B-A-B Dialogue (EPS-TOPIK)

A: 뭘 기다려요? A: mwol gi-da-ryeo-yo?

A: What do you wait for?

B: 버스를 기다려요. B: beo-seu-reul gi-da-ryeo-yo.

B: I wait for the bus.

A: 누구를 기다려요? A: nu-gu-reul gi-da-ryeo-yo?

A: Who do you wait for?

B: 친구를 기다려요. B: chin-gu-reul gi-da-ryeo-yo.

B: I wait for my friend. - 기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait])

A: 얼마나 기다렸어요? A: eol-ma-na gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo?

A: How long did you wait?

B: 30분 기다렸어요. B: 30-bun gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo.

B: I waited 30 minutes.

A: 어제 기다렸어요? A: eo-je gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo?

A: Did you wait yesterday?

B: 네, 어제 30분 기다렸어요. B: ne, eo-je 30-bun gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo.

B: Yes, I waited 30 minutes yesterday. - 기다렸어요([gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo/waited])

A: 언제까지 기다려야 해요? A: eon-je-kka-ji gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo?

A: Until when do you have to wait?

B: 10분 기다려야 해요. B: 10-bun gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo.

B: I have to wait 10 minutes.

A: 어디서 기다려야 해요? A: eo-di-seo gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo?

A: Where do you have to wait?

B: 여기서 기다려야 해요. B: yeo-gi-seo gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo.

B: I have to wait here. - 기다려야 해요([gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo/have to wait])

Similar Expressions (EPS-TOPIK)

• 기다리다([gi-da-ri-da/wait]) wait
- 기다렸어요([gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo/waited]) waited
- 기다리고 싶어요([gi-da-ri-go si-peo-yo/want to wait]) want to wait
- 기다려야 해요([gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo/have to wait]) have to wait
- 기다리지 마세요([gi-da-ri-ji ma-se-yo/don't wait]) don't wait

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