이에요/예요 - “To Be” in Korean
이에요 and 예요 are polite noun endings used to say what someone or something is.
They are similar to am, is, and are in English. In Korean, 이에요 and 예요 attach directly to a noun.
- 학생이에요.
I am a student. - 의사예요.
I am a doctor.
이에요 or 예요?
The form depends on whether the noun ends in a final consonant or a vowel.
Use 이에요 after a final consonant
Noun + 이에요
- 학생 + 이에요 → 학생이에요
student - 책 + 이에요 → 책이에요
book - 사람 + 이에요 → 사람이에요
person
Use 예요 after a vowel
Noun + 예요
- 의사 + 예요 → 의사예요
doctor - 학교 + 예요 → 학교예요
school - 친구 + 예요 → 친구예요
friend
Basic Sentence Structure
A common Korean noun sentence follows this structure:
A은/는 B이에요/예요.
The first noun is the topic. The second noun explains what the topic is.
- 저는 학생이에요.
Literal: As for me, student am.
Natural: I am a student.
- 민지 씨는 의사예요.
Literal: As for Minji, doctor is.
Natural: Minji is a doctor.
The literal translation helps you see how the Korean sentence is organized. The natural translation shows how the same meaning is normally expressed in English.
More Examples
- 이것은 책이에요.
This is a book. - 여기는 학교예요.
This place is a school. - 제 친구는 선생님이에요.
My friend is a teacher. - 오늘은 월요일이에요.
Today is Monday. - 저는 한국 사람이에요.
I am Korean. - 제 이름은 안나예요.
My name is Anna.
Making Questions
The form of 이에요/예요 does not change in a question.
In conversation, your voice rises at the end. In writing, use a question mark.
- 학생이에요?
Are you a student? - 선생님이에요?
Are you a teacher? - 여기는 카페예요?
Is this place a café?
Short Answers
- 네, 학생이에요.
Yes, I am a student. - 네, 카페예요.
Yes, it is a café.
The topic or subject is often omitted when it is already clear from the context.
- 학생이에요.
I am a student.
Depending on the situation, the same sentence could also mean “He is a student” or “She is a student.”
Asking “What Is It?”
Use 뭐예요? to ask what someone or something is.
- 이거 뭐예요?
What is this? - 책이에요.
It is a book. - 저거 뭐예요?
What is that? - 가방이에요.
It is a bag.
Common Mistakes
Choosing the wrong form
Use 이에요 after a noun ending in a final consonant.
책이에요. ✓
책예요. ✗
Use 예요 after a noun ending in a vowel.
의사예요. ✓
의사이에요. ✗
Adding a space before the ending
이에요 and 예요 attach directly to the noun.
학생이에요. ✓
학생 이에요. ✗
Writing 아니예요
The correct negative form is 아니에요.
아니에요. ✓
아니예요. ✗
Quick Practice
Choose 이에요 or 예요.
- 저는 학생___.
- 여기는 학교___.
- 이것은 책___.
- 제 친구는 의사___.
- 오늘은 월요일___.
- 제 이름은 수지___.
Answers
- 저는 학생이에요.
- 여기는 학교예요.
- 이것은 책이에요.
- 제 친구는 의사예요.
- 오늘은 월요일이에요.
- 제 이름은 수지예요.
Sentence Practice
Complete each sentence with your own information.
- 저는 __________이에요/예요.
- 제 이름은 __________이에요/예요.
- 제 친구는 __________이에요/예요.
- 오늘은 __________이에요/예요.
- 여기는 __________이에요/예요.
Key Points
- Use 이에요 after a noun ending in a final consonant.
- Use 예요 after a noun ending in a vowel.
- Attach 이에요/예요 directly to the noun.
- Use the same form in statements and questions.
- The topic or subject can be omitted when it is clear from context.
