기혼이다

§ What 기혼이다 Means

Let's talk about the Korean word 기혼이다. This is a super practical word that means 'to be married'. You'll use it when you want to state someone's marital status, specifically that they are married. It's a straightforward adjective in Korean.

DEFINITION

To be married.

Think of it like saying 'married' in English when you're describing someone's marital state. It's not about the act of getting married, but the current status of being married. So, if you're talking about someone who is already wed, this is the word you'll reach for.

§ When to Use 기혼이다

You'll typically use 기혼이다 in situations where you need to clarify someone's marital status. This could be in formal settings like filling out a form, or in more casual conversations when it comes up naturally. It's a very common term, so knowing it will definitely help you navigate everyday conversations in Korean.

Here are some common scenarios:

• Asking about someone's marital status: While you wouldn't usually ask directly 'Are you married?' to a stranger in such a blunt way, this word is used in questions like 'Is he/she married?'
• Describing yourself or others: If you want to say 'I am married' or 'He is married', this is your go-to word.
• In official documents: On application forms, surveys, or any document requiring personal information, you'll often see '기혼' as an option for marital status.

Let's look at an example. Imagine you're talking about a friend:

This sentence directly states her marital status. It's simple and clear.

§ More Examples in Context

To really get a feel for 기혼이다, let's dive into a few more examples. These will show you how it fits into different types of sentences.

This is how you'd politely state your own marital status. Notice how '이다' changes to '입니다' in the formal polite form.

Here, 기혼인 is used to modify '것' (thing/fact). This is a common grammatical construction when you're expressing an opinion or a guess. It shows the versatility of the word.

Another straightforward use in a descriptive sentence. You're simply stating a fact about someone's marital status.

Understanding when and how to use 기혼이다 will make your conversations about personal details much smoother. It's a fundamental vocabulary word for describing marital status in Korean.

Hello learners! Today, we're going to break down a very practical Korean word: 기혼이다 (gihonida). This word is essential for talking about marital status, a common topic in everyday conversations, whether you're meeting new people or just chatting with friends. While it literally translates to 'to be married,' understanding how and where it's used will make your Korean sound much more natural.

Korean Word

기혼이다

Pronunciation

gihonida

Part of Speech

Adjective

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

To be married.

§ Basic Usage of 기혼이다

기혼이다 is pretty straightforward. You use it to describe someone's marital status. Think of it as a descriptive word. It's often used in formal settings or when you're directly asked about your marital status. However, in casual conversation, you might hear other phrases, which we'll cover later.

§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news

You'll encounter 기혼이다 in a few specific contexts. While it's not the most common word for 'married' in casual chats, it's very important in formal settings.

• Official Documents and Forms:

  When you're filling out forms for work, school, or even government applications in Korea, you will definitely see marital status options. 기혼 (gihon) as a noun, meaning 'married status' or 'a married person,' is the standard term. You would typically check a box next to it.

  결혼 여부: 미혼 / 기혼 (Marital Status: Single / Married)

• Formal Interviews or Surveys:

  In a job interview, a survey, or any formal questioning, if someone asks about your marital status, using 기혼입니다 is the most appropriate and respectful way to answer.

  질문: 결혼하셨습니까? 답변: 네, 기혼입니다. (Question: Are you married? Answer: Yes, I am married.)

• News or Reports:

  When discussing demographics, social trends, or describing individuals in news articles or formal reports, 기혼이다 or 기혼 is the preferred term to maintain a neutral and objective tone.

  이번 연구에 따르면, 30대 여성의 60%가 기혼이다. (According to this study, 60% of women in their 30s are married.)

• Legal or Administrative Contexts:

  Any situation that requires precise and unambiguous language about marital status, such as legal documents, will use 기혼.

§ Related Vocabulary and Common Alternatives

While 기혼이다 is formal, you'll hear other ways to express 'married' in daily life. It's good to know these for natural conversation:

• 결혼하다 (gyeoronhada): To get married / To be married. This is probably the most common and versatile word. It can describe the action of getting married or the state of being married. It’s more often used in casual conversation than 기혼이다.

  저는 결혼했어요. (I am married / I got married.)

• 유부녀 (yubunyeo): Married woman. This noun specifically refers to a married woman. It can sometimes carry a slightly old-fashioned or informal tone, but it's widely understood.

• 유부남 (yubunam): Married man. Similarly, this refers to a married man. Again, it's a direct label.

• 미혼이다 (mihonida): To be single/unmarried. This is the direct opposite of 기혼이다, used in the same formal contexts.

  아직 미혼입니다. (I am still single/unmarried.)

Understanding these distinctions will help you navigate different social situations in Korea. While 기혼이다 is important for formal communication, remember that everyday conversations often lean towards '결혼하다'. Keep practicing, and you'll master these nuances in no time!

§ Don't confuse it with 결혼하다 (to get married)

Many learners, especially at the A2 level, often mix up 기혼이다 and 결혼하다. While both are related to marriage, they have distinct meanings and grammatical functions. 기혼이다 is an adjective that describes a state – 'to be married'. It tells you someone's current marital status. On the other hand, 결혼하다 is a verb meaning 'to get married' or 'to marry'. It describes the action or event of entering into marriage.

DEFINITION

기혼이다: To be married (adjective, state)

DEFINITION

결혼하다: To get married, to marry (verb, action)

Notice the difference in how they're used in sentences. 기혼이다 directly describes the subject's marital status, while 결혼하다 often involves an object (who someone married) or simply indicates the event.

§ Using it for future or past actions

Because 기혼이다 describes a state, it's generally used for the present. You wouldn't typically use it to talk about getting married in the future or having gotten married in the past, as that implies an action. For actions, you'd use 결혼하다.

• Incorrect: 내년에 기혼일 거예요. (I will be married next year.) – While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural. It implies you'll be *in the state* of being married, but for the event, 결혼할 거예요 is more natural.

• Correct: 내년에 결혼할 거예요. (I will get married next year.)

Similarly for the past:

• Incorrect: 작년에 기혼이었어요. (I was married last year.) – Again, while technically comprehensible, it's more common to say you *got* married.

• Correct: 작년에 결혼했어요. (I got married last year.)

You would use 기혼이었다 if you are talking about someone's marital status *at a specific point in the past*, where the focus is on their state, not the action of getting married. For example, if you're clarifying their status before an event: "그때 그는 이미 기혼이었다." (At that time, he was already married.) This emphasizes his *state* of being married at that past moment.

§ Overusing it in casual conversation

기혼이다 is a more formal or official term. You'll often see it on forms, questionnaires, or in official documents when stating marital status. In everyday, casual conversations, native speakers are more likely to use different expressions.

Instead of saying "저는 기혼입니다," a more common and natural way to express that you are married in a casual setting would be:

• Casual: 결혼했어요. (I got married. / I am married.) – This uses the past tense of 결혼하다, which implies a completed action and a resulting present state. It's the most common way to say "I am married" casually.

• Slightly more formal but still common: 결혼한 지 오래됐어요. (It's been a long time since I got married.) – This emphasizes the duration of the marriage.

§ Understanding 기혼이다

You want to talk about being married in Korean. The word for that is 기혼이다 (gi-hon-i-da). It's an adjective, and it directly translates to 'to be married'. This is a common and straightforward way to state someone's marital status.

Korean Word

기혼이다 (gi-hon-i-da)

Definition

To be married.

CEFR Level

A2

Translation Hint

He is married.

Translation Hint

Are you married? (Polite)

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

When you're talking about marital status, you have a few options in Korean. Let's look at them so you know when to use each one.

• 기혼이다 (gi-hon-i-da): This is the most direct and common way to say 'to be married'. It's a factual statement and can be used in most contexts, from formal questionnaires to casual conversations. It's concise and clear.

Translation Hint

My parents have been married for over 30 years. (Polite)

• 결혼했다 (gyeol-hon-haet-da): This literally means 'got married' or 'have married'. While it implies being married, it often carries the nuance of the *action* of getting married, or having *completed* the act of marriage. You can use it to say you are married, but it can also be used to refer to the event itself.

Translation Hint

I got married last year. (Polite)

Translation Hint

They are already married. / They already got married. (Polite formal)

• 유부남 (yu-bu-nam) / 유부녀 (yu-bu-nyeo): These terms specifically refer to a 'married man' and 'married woman' respectively. They are nouns. You wouldn't use them to say 'I am married' as directly as you would with 기혼이다. Instead, you'd say 'I am a married man/woman'. These terms can sometimes carry a slightly more informal or even somewhat jocular tone, especially 유부녀, but they are generally acceptable.

Translation Hint

That friend is a married man. (Polite)

Translation Hint

She is a beautiful married woman. (Polite formal)

When to use 기혼이다:

• When you need to state marital status directly and neutrally.
• In forms or official documents where you check a box for 'married'.
• When someone asks about your marital status directly: "혹시 기혼이세요?" (Are you married?)
• When simply describing someone as 'married' without focusing on the event of marriage.

When to use 결혼했다:

• When you want to emphasize the action of 'getting married'.
• When talking about the timing of the marriage: "작년에 결혼했어요." (I got married last year.)
• It can be used interchangeably with 기혼이다 in many casual contexts, but it puts a little more emphasis on the event.

When to use 유부남/유부녀:

• When you want to refer to a person *as* a married man or married woman (e.g., "He is a married man.")
• In more informal conversations, or sometimes in media, to describe individuals.
• Not typically used by someone to describe their own marital status directly (e.g., you wouldn't say "저는 유부남입니다" to mean "I am married" as often as you would "저는 기혼입니다" or "저는 결혼했어요").

In summary, while all these terms relate to being married, 기혼이다 is your most reliable and neutral choice for simply stating 'to be married'. 결혼했다 focuses more on the act of getting married, and 유부남/유부녀 are nouns for 'married man/woman'. Choose based on the nuance you want to convey.