Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Poor" in Korean: 가난하다
가난하다gananhada
Poor in Korean is 가난하다 (gananhada). 가난하다 means financially poor; describing low quality requires a different expression.
Poor: an everyday statement
그 가족은 가난해요.geu gajogeun gananhaeyo.
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How to pronounce 가난하다
Say it
gananhada
/kananhata/
Read 가난하다 as gananhada. The spoken form 가난해요 is gananhaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Poor" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 가난하다gananhada | Poor Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 가난해요gananhaeyo | Poor (polite present) Use 가난해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 가난해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 가난했어요gananhaesseoyo | Poor (polite past) Use 가난했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 가난했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 가난하다 in real life
- 1Poor: an everyday statement
그 가족은 가난해요.
geu gajogeun gananhaeyo.
That family is poor.
가난해요 is the present form of 가난하다.
- 2Poor: a different situation
어릴 때는 가난했어요.
eoril ttaeneun gananhaesseoyo.
I was poor as a child.
가난했어요 is the past form of 가난하다.
- 3Poor: a question or request
지금도 가난해요?
jigeumdo gananhaeyo?
Are they poor now too?
가난해요 is the present form of 가난하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 가난하다
Incorrect: 가난하다.
Correct: 가난해요.
When practicing poor, 가난하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 가난해요.
Incorrect: 어제 가난해요.
Correct: 어제 가난했어요.
When practicing poor, for a completed event yesterday, use 가난했어요; the present form 가난해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
가난하다 means financially poor; describing low quality requires a different expression. 가난해요 is the polite conversational form of 가난하다; 가난했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 가난하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
그 가족은 가난해요.
geu gajogeun gananhaeyo.
That family is poor.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어릴 때는 가난했어요.
eoril ttaeneun gananhaesseoyo.
I was poor as a child.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Poor" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Poor" in Korean
How do I use 가난하다 in polite speech?
가난해요 is the polite conversational form of 가난하다; 가난했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 가난하다 in a past-tense sentence?
가난했어요 is the polite past form. 가난하다 means financially poor; describing low quality requires a different expression.
What does 가난해요 mean here?
가난해요 is used for poor. For example, 그 가족은 가난해요. means “That family is poor.”
What should I remember about 가난하다?
가난하다 means financially poor; describing low quality requires a different expression.
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