Present
현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI understand | |||
| NegativeI don’t understand |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI understood | |||
| NegativeI didn’t understand |
Future
미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI will understand | |||
| NegativeI won’t understand |
Honorific
높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms
| Form | Polite | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| PresentI understand (respectfully) | ||
| PastI understood (respectfully) | ||
| FutureI will understand (respectfully) |
Connectives
연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences
- And (-고) understanding, and…, and…
- So, and then (-아/어서) understanding, and…, so…
- If, when (-(으)면) if I understand
- Because (-(으)니까) because I understand
- But (-지만) I understand, but…
Requests and commands
명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요
- Please (-(으)세요) please understand
- Formal request (-(으)십시오) please understand (formal)
- Plain command understand! (casual)
- Please don’t please don’t understand
How to use 이해하다
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present
저는 한국 드라마를 거의 다 이해해요.
I understand almost everything in Korean dramas.
-
Past
설명을 두 번 듣고 나서야 이해했어요.
Only after hearing the explanation twice did I understand.
-
Future
아이들도 이 책은 쉽게 이해할 거예요.
Even kids will understand this book easily.
-
Honorific
어머니는 제 결정을 완전히 이해하세요.
My mother completely understands my decision.
-
Connectives
문법은 이해하지만 말은 아직 어려워요.
I understand the grammar, but speaking is still hard.
-
Requests and commands
제발 제 입장을 좀 이해하세요.
Please try to understand my position.
Good to know
- 이해가 돼요 is "it makes sense" and 이해 못 해요 is "I don't get it"; 알다 is to know, 이해하다 to grasp why.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.