Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to drive" in Korean: 운전하다
운전하다unjeonhada
to drive in Korean is 운전하다 (unjeonhada). 운전하다 means drive a vehicle; ride as a passenger uses 타다 instead.
to drive: an everyday statement
제가 운전해요.jega unjeonhaeyo.
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How to pronounce 운전하다
Say it
unjeonhada
/untɕʌnhata/
Read 운전하다 as unjeonhada. The spoken form 운전해요 is unjeonhaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to drive" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 운전하다unjeonhada | to drive Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 운전해요unjeonhaeyo | to drive (polite present) Use 운전해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 운전해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 운전했어요unjeonhaesseoyo | to drive (polite past) Use 운전했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 운전했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 운전하다 in real life
- 1to drive: an everyday statement
제가 운전해요.
jega unjeonhaeyo.
I drive.
운전해요 is the present form of 운전하다.
- 2to drive: a different situation
어제 밤에 운전했어요.
eoje bame unjeonhaesseoyo.
I drove last night.
운전했어요 is the past form of 운전하다.
- 3to drive: a question or request
매일 운전해요?
maeil unjeonhaeyo?
Do you drive every day?
운전해요 is the present form of 운전하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 운전하다
Incorrect: 운전하다.
Correct: 운전해요.
When practicing to drive, 운전하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 운전해요.
Incorrect: 어제 운전해요.
Correct: 어제 운전했어요.
When practicing to drive, for a completed event yesterday, use 운전했어요; the present form 운전해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
운전하다 means drive a vehicle; ride as a passenger uses 타다 instead. 운전해요 is the polite conversational form of 운전하다; 운전했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 운전하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
제가 운전해요.
jega unjeonhaeyo.
I drive.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 밤에 운전했어요.
eoje bame unjeonhaesseoyo.
I drove last night.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to drive" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to drive" in Korean
How do I use 운전하다 in polite speech?
운전해요 is the polite conversational form of 운전하다; 운전했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 운전하다 in a past-tense sentence?
운전했어요 is the polite past form. 운전하다 means drive a vehicle; ride as a passenger uses 타다 instead.
What does 운전해요 mean here?
운전해요 is used for to drive. For example, 제가 운전해요. means “I drive.”
What should I remember about 운전하다?
운전하다 means drive a vehicle; ride as a passenger uses 타다 instead.
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