Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 2 - Korean for Beginners #1 (Lessons 31 to 60) ᚛ Lesson 48 - To need / not to need in Korean

To need / not to need in Korean

In this course: 필요하다 / 필요해 / 필요해요 / 필요합니다 / ㄹ 필요가 있다 / 을 필요가 있다 / ㄹ 필요가 없다 / 을 필요가 없다

In this chapter, we will learn how to express necessity, need. For this, we will use the following word:

• 필요 = necessity, need

To need something in Korean

To express need of something, we will use the adjective:

• 필요하다 = to be necessary

While we use the form "I need (direct object)" in English, 필요하다 is used with a subject, in exactly the same way as the verb 있다.

That means that we literally construct phrases with the structure "[subject] is necessary", with the help of 필요하다.

We generally use the subject particle 이 / 가 to indicate what we have need of. However, as we saw in the chapter on the subject, the particle 이 / 가 can be left out.

물이 필요해요.
→ I need water.

우리 딸은 핸드폰이 필요해.
→ My daughter needs a phone.

계산기가 필요해.
→ I need a calculator.

도움이 필요합니다.
→ I need help.

To need to do something in Korean

In Korean, the fact of needing to do something is expressed a little differently. For this, we will use the form:
[Stem + modifier -(으)ㄹ] 필요(가) 있다

• If the stem of the verb ends with a vowel: [Stem]ㄹ 필요(가) 있다
• If the stem of the verb ends with a consonant: [Stem]을 필요(가) 있다

In this structure, the particle 가 is generally retained.

저는 잘 필요가 있어요.
→ I need to sleep.

우리는 재활용품을 분리수거할 필요가 있습니다.
→ We need to separate recyclable waste.

우리는 운동할 필요가 있어.
→ We need to exercise.

세계화 시대에 외국어를 배울 필요가 있습니다.
→ In the era of globalization, it is necessary to learn a foreign language.

여행을 자세하게 계획할 필요가 있어요.
→ I need to plan the trip in detail.

우리는 환경 오염의 심각성을 인지할 필요가 있습니다.
→ We need to recognize the seriousness of environmental pollution.

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For a past need, the mark of the past in Korean can be placed on the verb or on 있다.

So, the two expressions 할 필요가 있었어요 and 했을 필요가 있어요 are correct.

할 필요가 있었어요.
했을 필요가 있어요.
→ It was necessary to do it.

To not need something in Korean

To not need to do something in Korean

Summary table of structure

Exercises

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