Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Old" in Korean: 오래되다
오래되다oraedoeda
Note: 오래되다 describes old things; age for people requires a different expression.
Old in Korean is 오래되다 (oraedoeda). 오래되다 means be old through duration; 늙다 describes aging people and 새 is the opposite for items.
Old: an everyday statement
이 집은 오래돼요.i jibeun oraedwaeyo.
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How to pronounce 오래되다
Say it
oraedoeda
/oɾɛtweta/
Read 오래되다 as oraedoeda. The spoken form 오래돼요 is oraedwaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Old" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 오래되다oraedoeda | Old Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 오래돼요oraedwaeyo | Old (polite present) Use 오래돼요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 오래돼요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 오래됐어요oraedwaesseoyo | Old (polite past) Use 오래됐어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 오래됐어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 오래되다 in real life
- 1Old: an everyday statement
이 집은 오래돼요.
i jibeun oraedwaeyo.
This house is old.
오래돼요 is the present form of 오래되다.
- 2Old: a different situation
그 건물은 이미 오래됐어요.
geu geonmureun imi oraedwaesseoyo.
That building was already old.
오래됐어요 is the past form of 오래되다.
- 3Old: a question or request
얼마나 오래돼요?
eolmana oraedwaeyo?
How old is it?
오래돼요 is the present form of 오래되다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 오래되다
Incorrect: 오래되다.
Correct: 오래돼요.
When practicing old, 오래되다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 오래돼요.
Incorrect: 어제 오래돼요.
Correct: 어제 오래됐어요.
When practicing old, for a completed event yesterday, use 오래됐어요; the present form 오래돼요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
오래되다 means be old through duration; 늙다 describes aging people and 새 is the opposite for items. 오래돼요 is the polite conversational form of 오래되다; 오래됐어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 오래되다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
이 집은 오래돼요.
i jibeun oraedwaeyo.
This house is old.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
그 건물은 이미 오래됐어요.
geu geonmureun imi oraedwaesseoyo.
That building was already old.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Old" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Old" in Korean
How do I use 오래되다 in polite speech?
오래돼요 is the polite conversational form of 오래되다; 오래됐어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 오래되다 in a past-tense sentence?
오래됐어요 is the polite past form. 오래되다 means be old through duration; 늙다 describes aging people and 새 is the opposite for items.
What does 오래돼요 mean here?
오래돼요 is used for old. For example, 이 집은 오래돼요. means “This house is old.”
What should I remember about 오래되다?
오래되다 means be old through duration; 늙다 describes aging people and 새 is the opposite for items.
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