-어서

See also: 어서

Korean

Alternative forms

• -여서 (-yeoseo) — used after 하다 (hada) verbs and adjectives

Etymology

First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as Middle Korean -어〮셔〮 (Yale: -é-syé), from Middle Korean -어〮 (Yale: -é, infinitive suffix) + -셔〮 (Yale: -syé, location postposition). The postposition is from the infinitive of the verb 이시다〮 (Yale: ìsìtá, “to be at”).

It was uncommon in the fifteenth century but increasingly became more widespread.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ʌ̹sʰʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [어서]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	eoseo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	eoseo
McCune–Reischauer?	ŏsŏ
Yale Romanization?	ese

Suffix

Ablaut/harmonic pair

Yin-form	어서 (-eoseo)
Yang-form	-아서 (-aseo)

-어서 • (-eoseo)

1. so, since: a suffix used to express cause, reason.

   미안, 아기가 시끄러워서 잘 안 들려...

   Mian, agi-ga sikkeureowoseo jal an deullyeo...

   Sorry, my kid's being noisy so I can't hear you well.

   많이 먹어서 배가 아파졌다.

   Mani meogeoseo bae-ga apajeotda.

   I ate too much so I got a stomachache.

2. and then: a suffix used to indicate that two or more connected actions happen in a sequential order; the first clause usually establishes the state, position, location, or the object of the second clause.

   미연아, 누워서 밥을 먹지 마라!

   miyeon-a, nuwoseo bab-eul meokji mara!

   Miyeon, don't eat lying down!

   (literally, “Miyeon, don't lie down and then eat!”)

   철수는 도서관에 가서 공부를 시작했어요.

   Cheolsu-neun doseogwan-e gaseo gongbu-reul sijakhaesseoyo.

   Cheolsu went to the library and then started studying (at the library).

   라면을 끓여서 먹었어.

   Ramyeon-eul kkeuryeoseo meogeosseo.

   I made ramyeon and then ate it.

   공원에서 친구를 만나서 영화를 보러 갔다.

   Gong'won-eseo chin'gu-reul mannaseo yeonghwa-reul bo-reo gatda.

   I met up with my friend at the park and then went to watch a movie (with them).

Usage notes

• For vowel harmony, contractions, and allomorphy, see -아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo).
• 어서 (-eoseo) cannot be used with the tense markers -겠- (-get-) and -었- (-eot-) in the standard language, but this is still found in colloquial speech.
• When in the sense of so, since, 어서 (-eoseo) cannot be followed by imperative or propositive clauses.
• The words 반갑다 (ban'gapda), 감사하다 (gamsahada), 고맙다 (gomapda), 좋다 (jota), 죄송하다 (joesonghada), and 미안하다 (mianhada) commonly follow the 어서 (-eoseo) clause.

Synonyms

• -거든 (-geodeun)
• 결과 (gyeolgwa)
• -고 (-go)
• -기에 (-gie)
• -길래 (-gillae)
• 끝 (kkeut)
• -느니만치 (-neunimanchi)
• -느니만큼 (-neunimankeum)
• -느라고 (-neurago)
• -는 바람에 (-neun barame)
• -더니 (-deoni)
• 덕분 (deokbun)
• 때문 (ttaemun)
• 만치 (manchi)
• 만큼 (mankeum)
• 말미암다 (malmiamda)
• -어 가지고 (-eo gajigo)
• -에 (-e)
• -으니까 (-eunikka)
• -으로 (-euro)
• -으매 (-eumae)
• -으므로 (-eumeuro)
• -은 나머지 (-eun nameoji)
• -을 테니까 (-eul tenikka)
• -을새 (-eulsae)
• -을세라 (-eulsera)
• -음으로써 (-eumeurosseo)
• 이상 (isang)
• 탓 (tat)
• 통에 (tong'e)