Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to live" in Korean: 살다
살다salda
to live in Korean is 살다 (salda). 살다 can mean reside or be alive; 에 marks the place where someone lives.
to live: an everyday statement
서울에 살아요.seoure sarayo.
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How to pronounce 살다
Say it
salda
/salta/
Read 살다 as salda. The spoken form 살아요 is sarayo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to live" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 살다salda | to live Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 살아요sarayo | to live (polite present) Use 살아요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 살아요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 살았어요sarasseoyo | to live (polite past) Use 살았어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 살았어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 살다 in real life
- 1to live: an everyday statement
서울에 살아요.
seoure sarayo.
I live in Seoul.
살아요 is the present form of 살다.
- 2to live: a different situation
작년에 부산에 살았어요.
jangnyeone busane sarasseoyo.
I lived in Busan last year.
살았어요 is the past form of 살다.
- 3to live: a question or request
어디에 살아요?
eodie sarayo?
Where do you live?
살아요 is the present form of 살다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 살다
Incorrect: 살다.
Correct: 살아요.
When practicing to live, 살다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 살아요.
Incorrect: 어제 살아요.
Correct: 어제 살았어요.
When practicing to live, for a completed event yesterday, use 살았어요; the present form 살아요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
살다 can mean reside or be alive; 에 marks the place where someone lives. 살아요 is the polite conversational form of 살다; 살았어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 살다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
서울에 살아요.
seoure sarayo.
I live in Seoul.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
작년에 부산에 살았어요.
jangnyeone busane sarasseoyo.
I lived in Busan last year.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to live" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to live" in Korean
How do I use 살다 in polite speech?
살아요 is the polite conversational form of 살다; 살았어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 살다 in a past-tense sentence?
살았어요 is the polite past form. 살다 can mean reside or be alive; 에 marks the place where someone lives.
What does 살아요 mean here?
살아요 is used for to live. For example, 서울에 살아요. means “I live in Seoul.”
What should I remember about 살다?
살다 can mean reside or be alive; 에 marks the place where someone lives.
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