Usage
i) Simple emphasis
영어야 철수가 도사지.
If it be English, 철수 (naturally) is an expert.
ii) Emphasising difference in understanding
맥주야 물론 마시지.
Of course he drinks beer.
iii) Redirecting focus
우리야 괜찮지.
Of course, WE are fine (let’s bring the focus back to them).
Variants
-기야
설마 걔가 그렇게 하기야 하겠어?
Would she really do that? (of course not)
Particle (이)야말로
한국 여름이야말로 무덥다.
Korean summer is indeed really hot.
Marking
| Noun | Marking | |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel | 남자 | 남자야 |
| Consonant | 사람 | 사람이야 |
Contents
Introduction
i) Simple emphasis
ii) Emphasising difference in understanding
iii) Redirecting focus
-기야
Particle (이)야말로
Additional details
Associated grammar
See also
Bibliography
User examples
Introduction
Particle (이)야 is used to emphasise what it attaches to and bring it into focus. Here (이)야 conveys the speaker’s attitude of ‘of course’, ‘naturally’ or ‘if it be’. This entry describes the three ways it can give emphasis:
i) Simple emphasis
ii) Emphasising difference in understanding
iii) Redirecting focus
It must be said that understanding of (이)야 remains lacking because an in-depth linguistic study of this particle does not yet exist.
Note that some adverbs have arisen from (이)야 becoming part of the word.
이제 now 이제야 finally/eventually
그제 then (dated) 그제야 only then/at last
왜 이제야 도착하는 거야?
Why have you only just arrived?
i) Simple emphasis
In this usage, particle (이)야 simply emphasises whatever it attaches to and brings it into focus.
영어야 철수가 도사지.
If it be English, 철수 (naturally) is an expert.
이번에야 잘 되겠지.
This time, it will work out.
집에서야 편한 옷을 입죠.
I wear comfortable clothes at home (of course).
품질이 좋은 거야 비싸겠지.
If it be good quality, it would be expensive.
많이야 못주지만 조금은 줄 수 있어요.
I can’t give a lot of course, but I can give some.
며칠 밤 새우는 것쯤이야 견딜 수 있다.
I can go without sleep for a few nights.
멋있는 남자가 나타나면야 결혼을 하지요.
If a handsome man comes along, then of course, I’ll get married.
괜찮다고 하지만 말을 안 하니 속사정이야 누가 알겠어요.
He said it’s okay, but he hasn’t said anything so who knows what’s going on in his mind.
Some scholars suggest particle (이)야 is similar to particle 은/는 in that it has ‘aboutness’ properties.
Compare:
영어는 철수가 도사지.
As for English, 철수 is an expert.
영어야 철수가 도사지.
If it be English, 철수 (naturally) is an expert.
ii) Emphasising difference in understanding
In this usage, particle (이)야 emphasises the difference in understanding between speaker and listener.
영희: 철수는 맥주를 마시던데요.
영희: I saw 철수 drinking beer.
근희: 맥주야 물론 마시지.
근희: Of course he drinks beer.
In the above example, 영희 is surprised to have seen 철수 drinking beer. In opposition, 근희 emphasises this fact (that 철수 drinks beer) should have been “taken for granted”. In doing so, she highlights the difference in understanding between herself and 영희.
Here we see the speaker express their attitude toward the matter at hand. This is why (이)야 is only used in declarative sentences. It is also why (이)야 often occurs with the ending –지 and the discourse marker 뭐, which both display the speaker’s commitment toward the proposition.
걔가 퍽이야 잘하겠다.
Yeah, I’m sure he’ll be real good at it. (sarcastic tone)
너야 자식이 공부를 잘하니 무슨 걱정인가?
What are YOU worried about? Your son studies well.
철수가 사무일에 좀 서투르더라도 영희보다야 낫겠지.
Even if 철수 is slow in the office, it would still be better than 영희.
철수: 요즘 다들 어렵다는데 너는 어때?
철수: Everyone’s struggling these days. How about yourself?
영희: 밥이야 안 굶지만 생활의 여유는 없지.
영희: I have enough to eat, but not enough time to live. (I’m doing better than you’d think)
Dialogue: (adapted from Kim 2013)
Context: a mother and daughter talk about a new business idea (a small shop).
엄마: 식구가 나가서 할 사람이 없잖아.
엄마: No one in the family can go out and work, as you know.
영희: 철수 보고 주말에 나가서 하라 그러고.
영희: Tell 철수 to go out and work on the weekends.
엄마: 쟤가 할 수 있을까, 그거?
엄마: Would he be able to do it?
영희: 그거야 뭐, 설마 그것도 못할까?
영희: That, of course. How can he not even do that?
In this dialogue, 영희 suggests 철수 be tasked with earning money on the weekends. Her mother raises doubts as to whether 철수 is can do so. From 영희’s perspective, 철수’s ability should be self-evident. She responds with 그거야 (That, of course) which emphasises the matter should be “taken for granted”. In doing so, she rejects her mother’s implication and reinforces her own view.
iii) Redirecting focus
Particle (이)야 can be used to redirect the focus of conversation.
Dialogue: (adapted from Kim 2013)
Context: friends talking about recent events.
영희: 지금 홍수 사태야.
영희: Right now there’s a flood.
근희: 아 그 핀실페니아주에 홍수 났다도 들었는데.
근희: Ah, I heard Pennsylvania had a flood.
영희: 뉴저지도 그렇대.
영희: I heard New Jersey also got flooded.
근희: 아 그래?
근희: Oh, is that so?
영희: 어. 웃기지?
영희: Yeah. Isn’t it absurd?
근희: 언니는 괜찮아?
근희: Sister, are you okay?
영희: 우리야 괜찮지. 나는 뭐, 나든 안 나든 눈이 오든 비가 오든.
영희: We, of course, are okay. I’m fine whether it floods or not, whether it snows or rains.
In this dialogue, 영희 raises the floods as an issue. 근희 asks 영희 whether she is doing okay among the situation. 영희 replies with 우리야 괜찮지 (Of course, we’re okay) which emphasises the matter should be self-evident. By using particle (이)야, 영희 targets 근희’s question asking about her specifically. 영희 raised the floods as an issue and wants the focus to be on those who are really affected, not herself. Here we see (이)야 has an interaction function of redirecting the focus of conversation.
Dialogue: (adapted from Kim 2013)
Context: parents talking about their kids.
영희: 농구 좋아하는데, 어, 그렇게 성과를 못 내요.
영희: He likes to play basketball but, uh, he doesn’t score much.
근희: 응.
근희: I see.
영희: 딴 애들이 너무 잘해.
영희: The other kids play so well.
근희: 그렇더라구요.
근희: Right.
영희: 응, 딴 애들이 너무 잘해.
영희: Yeah, the other kids play so well.
근희: 근데 또 그렇게 해서 (팀에) 들어가서 하다보면은… 쫓아가더라고.. 자기가 좋아하면.
근희: But, if kids join a team and keep playing for a while, then, I’ve noticed they can keep up with the game. If they enjoy it.
영희: 쫓아가기야 하지.. 근데 인제 부모 욕심에… 애가 좀 잘해. (disjointed speech)
영희: Of course they can keep up with the game.. But as a parent, you wish, your kid could play well.
근희: 응, 인제 뛰어나야 되니까.
근희: Yeah, your kid has to stand out.
In this dialogue, 영희 is raising her son’s poor performance as an issue. 근희 mentions that kids can keep up with the game if they enjoy it. 영희 has a problem with this comment because it doesn’t follow the direction of conversation (that her son doesn’t play well). By using particle (이)야, 영희 targets ‘keeping up with the game’ (쫓아가기) as divergent to the frustration she was expressing. With this, 근희 then acknowledges her error and concurs with the real issue at hand (‘your kid has to stand out’).
-기야
-기야 is nominaliser 기 combined with particle (이)야.
-기 Example:
공부하기
studying
-기야 gives emphasis to the action/state and brings it into focus, basically. This is usually followed by 하다, if not, the original nominalised verb/adjective.
쫓아가기야 하지.
Of course they can keep up with the game.
설마 걔가 그렇게 하기야 하겠어?
Would she really do that? (of course not)
매일 운동을 하는게 좋기야 좋지. 근데 시간이 없어.
Of course it’s good to exercise every day, but I don’t have the time.
생선은 먹기야 먹겠지만 그렇게 좋아하지 않는 편이야.
Of course I’d eat fish but I am not a big fan.
작년에 설악산을 가기야 가봤지만, 올해 또 가고 싶습니다.
Sure, I went to see 설악산 last year, but I want to go again this year.
Particle (이)야말로
Particle (이)야말로 basically means ‘indeed’, ‘exactly’ or ‘definitely’. It’s formed by combining particle (이)야 and 말로.
– Particle (이)야 emphasises whatever it attaches to and brings it into focus.
– 말로 originally meant ‘in words’. However, it would be a mistake to assume 말로 here has such connotations because its semantic meaning has faded away. Instead, it’s used for emphatic effect.
한국 여름이야말로 무덥다.
Korean summer is indeed really hot.
Here ‘Korean summer’ is emphasised as the prime choice among other alternatives (other summers). Particle (이)야말로 brings focus to what it attaches to, and singles it out as being ‘the one indeed’.
너야말로 조용히 해라.
YOU be quiet!
독서야말로 배움의 통로다.
Reading is (precisely) the path to learning.
저야말로 도와주셔서 감사하지요.
I am the one who is grateful for your help.
된장찌개야말로 한국을 대표하는 음식이에요.
된장찌개 perfectly represents Korean food.
통일이야말로 우리에게 주어진 최대의 과업이지.
Unification is indeed the biggest assignment we’ve faced.
이제야말로 민주주의를 위한 투쟁을 해야 할 때가 왔습니다.
The time has come (right now) where we must fight for democracy.
책읽기야말로 문법을 이해할 수 있는 최고의 방법이에요.
Reading books is definitely the best way to understand grammar.
The adverbs 그야말로 and 이야말로 (certainly, indeed) have been fused by 그것 (that) and 이것 (this) with particle (이)야말로.
기대 이상이었어. 그야말로 최고였어.
It was more than I expected. It was absolutely the best.
이것이야말로 그들의 속셈을 단적으로 보여 주는 예라 할 수 있다.
You could say this an example of their ulterior motives.
Additional details
General
• Some scholars suggest a relationship between particle (이)야 and the ‘must do’ verb ending -이야. This is a thorny problem which won’t be discussed here because a definitive study on 이야 does not exist (at time of writing). Likewise, the relationship, if any, between particle (이)야 and ‘necessity’ forms cannot be addressed at this time.
Associated grammar
[Please ignore: placeholder for future update]
See also
[Please ignore: placeholder for future update]
Bibliography
Affiliate links help support uK.
— Cho, H., Kim, U., Kwon, J., Jeong, H., Lee, S., Son, J., & Kim, K. (2008). Master Korean 4-2 Intermediate. Paju-si: Darakwon
— Choo, M., & Kwak, H. (2008). Using Korean: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. New York: Cambridge University Press.
— Ihm, H.B., Hong, K.P., & Chang, S.I. (2001). Korean Grammar for International Learners. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.
— Kim, M. S. Answering questions about the unquestionable in Korean conversation. (2013). Journal of Pragmatics, 57, 138-157.
— Kingdom, L. (2015). Essential Korean Grammar: Your Essential Guide to Speaking and Writing Korean Fluently!. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
— Lee, I., & Ramsey, S.R. (2000). The Korean Language. Albany: State University of New York Press.
— Lee, K. (1993). A Korean Grammar on Semantic-Pragmatic Principles. Seoul: Hanʼguk Munhwasa.
— Martin, S. E. (1992). A Reference Grammar of Korean. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
— Min, J., & Ahn, J. (2011). Korean Grammar in Use: Intermediate. Paju-si: Darakwon.
— Yeon, J., & Brown, L. (2008). Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar. New York: Routledge.