알다

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the Yongbi eocheon'ga (龍飛御天歌 / 용비어천가), 1447, as Middle Korean 알다 (Yale: alta).

Pronunciation

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• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈa̠(ː)ɭda̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [알(ː)다]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	alda
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	alda
McCune–Reischauer?	alda
Yale Romanization?	ālta

Verb

알다 • (alda) (infinitive 알아, sequential 아니)

1. (transitive) to know, understand (To have information or knowledge about an object or situation through education, experience, thoughts, etc.)

   난 그들이 알고 있는 것이 무엇인지 안다.

   nan geudeuri algo inneun geosi mueosinji anda.

   I know just what they know.

2. to know; realize (To realize or feel a fact or situation through awareness or senses.)
   • 2018, Experts: Polio Could Again Spread Worldwide

     그러한 팀들은 그 지역의 문화와 관습을 잘 알 것 같다.

     geureohan timdeureun geu jiyeogui munhwawa gwanseubeul jal al geot gatda.

     Such teams are likely to be aware of an area’s culture and customs.

3. to know; understand; appreciate (To realize or feel a psychological state in one's mind.)
4. be on one's own; be independent
5. to know; can
6. be one's concern
7. to know; realize; realize the fun in
8. to care about
9. will; say yes

   그녀에게 당신이 여기 있다고 말해요. — 알겠어요. 고마워요. 피트

   geunyeo'ege dangsini yeogi itdago malhaeyo. - algesseoyo. gomawoyo. piteu

   Tell her you’re here.—Right, thanks, Pete.

   2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

10. to know (To have met someone before or get along with him/her as an acquaintance.)

    마샤가 제 룸메이트이에요. — 저는 마샤를 알고 지내요. 좋은 분이지요.

    masyaga je rummeiteu'ieyo. - jeoneun masyareul algo jinaeyo. jo'eun bunijiyo.

    Marsha is my roommate. — I know Marsha. She is nice.

    2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

11. to regard; think of
12. to know; think (To consider or assume a fact as being of a certain quality.)

Conjugation

    Selected forms of the verb 알다 (alda): consonant-stem, ㄹ(l)-irregular

Sentence-final forms
		Formal non-polite (해라체)	Informal non-polite (해체)	Informal polite (해요체)	Formal polite (하십시오체)
Indicative	Non-past	안다 anda	알아 ara	알아요 arayo	압니다 amnida
	Past	알았다 aratda	알았어 arasseo	알았어요 arasseoyo	알았습니다 aratseumnida
Interrogative	Non-past	아느냐 aneunya	알아 ara	알아요 arayo	압니까 amnikka
	Past	알았느냐 aranneunya	알았어 arasseo	알았어요 arasseoyo	알았습니까 aratseumnikka
Hortative		알자 alja	알아 ara	알아요 arayo	아십시다 asipsida
Imperative		알아라 arara	알아 ara	알아요 arayo	압시오 apsio
Assertive		알겠다 algetda	알겠어 algesseo	알겠어요 algesseoyo	알겠습니다 algetseumnida
Connective forms
Cause/Reason		알아 ara	알아서 araseo	아니 ani	아니까 anikka
Contrast		알지만 aljiman	아는데 aneunde	알더니 aldeoni
Conjunction		알고 algo
Condition		알면 almyeon	알아야 araya
Motive		알려고 allyeogo
Noun and determiner forms
Verbal nouns		앎 am	알기 algi
Past-tense verbal nouns		알았음 arasseum	알았기 aratgi
Determiners	Past	안 an
	Present	아는 aneun
	Future	알 al

Sentence-final forms with honorific
		Formal non-polite (해라체)	Informal non-polite (해체)	Informal polite (해요체)	Formal polite (하십시오체)
Indicative	Non-past	아신다 asinda	아셔 asyeo	아세요, 아셔요 aseyo, asyeoyo	아십니다 asimnida
	Past	아셨다 asyeotda	아셨어 asyeosseo	아셨어요 asyeosseoyo	아셨습니다 asyeotseumnida
Interrogative	Non-past	아시느냐 asineunya	아셔 asyeo	아세요, 아셔요 aseyo, asyeoyo	아십니까 asimnikka
	Past	아셨느냐 asyeonneunya	아셨어 asyeosseo	아셨어요 asyeosseoyo	아셨습니까 asyeotseumnikka
Imperative		아시라 asira	아셔 asyeo	아세요 aseyo	아십시오 asipsio
Assertive		아시겠다 asigetda	아시겠어 asigesseo	아시겠어요 asigesseoyo	아시겠습니다 asigetseumnida
Connective forms with honorific
Cause/Reason		아셔 asyeo	아셔서 asyeoseo	아시니 asini	아시니까 asinikka
Contrast		아시지만 asijiman	아시는데 asineunde	아시더니 asideoni
Conjunction		아시고 asigo
Condition		아시면 asimyeon	아셔야 asyeoya
Motive		아시려고 asiryeogo
Noun and determiner forms with honorific
Verbal nouns		아심 asim	아시기 asigi
Past-tense verbal nouns		아셨음 asyeosseum	아셨기 asyeotgi
Determiners	Past	아신 asin
	Present	아시는 asineun
	Future	아실 asil

Antonyms

• 모르다 (moreuda, “to not know”)

Related terms

• 알리다 (allida, “to make known”)
• 아뢰다 (aroeda, “to notify, to inform”)

References

• 알다 in Korean-English Learners' Dictionary, National Institute of Korean Language, cc by-sa 2.0 kr.