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KOREAN VERB

배우다

to learn

  • #43 most used
  • Verb

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI learn
NegativeI don’t learn

Past

과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI learned
NegativeI didn’t learn

Future

미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI will learn
NegativeI won’t learn

Honorific

높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms

Form Polite Formal
PresentI learn (respectfully)
PastI learned (respectfully)
FutureI will learn (respectfully)

Connectives

연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences

  1. And (-고) learning, and…, and…
  2. So, and then (-아/어서) learning, and…, so…
  3. If, when (-(으)면) if I learn
  4. Because (-(으)니까) because I learn
  5. But (-지만) I learn, but…

Requests and commands

명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요

  1. Please (-(으)세요) please learn
  2. Formal request (-(으)십시오) please learn (formal)
  3. Plain command learn! (casual)
  4. Please don’t please don’t learn

How to use 배우다

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    저는 요즘 한국어를 배워요.

    I'm learning Korean these days.

  2. Past

    어렸을 때 수영을 배웠어요.

    I learned to swim when I was little.

  3. Future

    내년에 기타를 배울 거예요.

    I'm going to learn the guitar next year.

  4. Honorific

    할머니는 요즘 스마트폰 사용법을 배우세요.

    Grandma is learning how to use a smartphone these days.

  5. Connectives

    한국어를 배우니까 드라마가 더 재미있어요.

    Since I'm learning Korean, dramas are more fun.

  6. Requests and commands

    매일 조금씩 배우세요.

    Learn a little every day.

Good to know

  • 배우다 is to learn from someone or at a class; 공부하다 is to study on your own.

Where you hear 배우다

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Korean · Beginner Level 3

  • 저는 한국말을 배워요. I learn Korean.
  • 학교에서 영어를 배웠어. I learned English at school.
  • 내년에 영어를 더 배울 거예요. Next year I'll learn more English.

Korean · Intermediate Level 2

  • 저는 한국말을 배워요. I learn Korean.
  • 학교에서 영어를 배웠어. I learned English at school.
  • 내년에 영어를 더 배울 거예요. Next year I'll learn more English.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: verb.