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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do Koreans say "Start"?

시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start]) is the basic verb for beginning something. In polite speech, say 시작해요([si-jak-hae-yo]).

Q2. How do I say "started"?

시작했어요([si-jak-hae-sseo-yo/started]) is the polite past form of 시작하다. Example: 회의가 시작했어요 (The meeting started).

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

시작해야 해요([si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo/have to start]) means you must start. Example: 지금 시작해야 해요 (I have to start now).

EPS TOPIK Learn More: How to Say "Start" in Korean - 시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start])

What does "시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start])" mean?

시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start]) means "to start". It is the basic verb for beginning something.

Casual: 시작해 (si-jak-hae)
Polite: 시작해요 (si-jak-hae-yo)
Formal: 시작합니다 (si-jak-ham-ni-da)

Grammar Breakdown

시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start]) = 시작 (noun: start) + 하다 (to do)
시작했어요([si-jak-hae-sseo-yo/started]) = 시작하 + 였어요 (start + past)
시작하고 싶어요([si-jak-ha-go si-peo-yo/want to start]) = 시작하 + 고 싶어요 (start + want to)
시작해야 해요([si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo/have to start]) = 시작하 + 여야 해요 (start + have to)
시작하지 마세요([si-jak-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't start]) = 시작하 + 지 마세요 (start + please don't)

When to Use It (EPS-TOPIK Style)

1. Place: “9시에 시작해요 (a-hop-si-e si-jak-hae-yo)”
2. Past: 시작했어요([si-jak-hae-sseo-yo/started]) started.
3. Duty: 시작해야 해요([si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo/have to start]) have to start.
4. Warning: 시작하지 마세요([si-jak-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't start]) don't start.

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

A: 언제 시작해요? A: eon-je si-jak-hae-yo?

A: When does it start?

B: 9시에 시작해요. B: a-hop-si-e si-jak-hae-yo.

B: It starts at 9 o'clock.

A: 어디에서 시작해요? A: eo-di-e-seo si-jak-hae-yo?

A: Where does it start?

B: 회의실에서 시작해요. B: hoe-ui-sil-e-seo si-jak-hae-yo.

B: It starts in the meeting room. - 시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start])

A: 회의 시작했어요? A: hoe-ui si-jak-hae-sseo-yo?

A: Did the meeting start?

B: 네, 시작했어요. B: ne, si-jak-hae-sseo-yo.

B: Yes, it started.

A: 언제 시작했어요? A: eon-je si-jak-hae-sseo-yo?

A: When did it start?

B: 조금 전에 시작했어요. B: jo-geum jeo-ne si-jak-hae-sseo-yo.

B: It started a little while ago. - 시작했어요([si-jak-hae-sseo-yo/started])

A: 지금 시작해야 해요? A: ji-geum si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo?

A: Do you have to start now?

B: 네, 지금 시작해야 해요. B: ne, ji-geum si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo.

B: Yes, I have to start now.

A: 왜 시작해야 해요? A: wae si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo?

A: Why do you have to start?

B: 시간이 없어서 시작해야 해요. B: si-ga-ni eop-seo-seo si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo.

B: I have to start because there's no time. - 시작해야 해요([si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo/have to start])

Similar Expressions (EPS-TOPIK)

• 시작하다([si-jak-ha-da/start]) start
- 시작했어요([si-jak-hae-sseo-yo/started]) started
- 시작하고 싶어요([si-jak-ha-go si-peo-yo/want to start]) want to start
- 시작해야 해요([si-jak-hae-ya hae-yo/have to start]) have to start
- 시작하지 마세요([si-jak-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't start]) don't start

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