이야기를 하다.
431
Have a conversation.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The go-to Korean phrase for 'talking' or 'having a conversation' with someone in any social setting.
- Means: To talk, tell a story, or have a conversation with another person.
- Used in: Casual chats with friends, meetings, or telling someone about your day.
- Don't confuse: With '말하다' (to say/speak), which is more about the act of vocalizing.
Explanation at your level:
Signification
To engage in talking with someone.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Cheon-nyang-bit' (1,000 nyang debt) being repaid by words shows how much Koreans value eloquent and sincere communication. Koreans use 'Talk' (톡) as a verb because of the dominance of KakaoTalk. '톡해' often replaces '이야기해' for digital messaging. When talking to someone of higher status, you don't just 'iyagi-hada'; you 'mal-sseum-eul deul-i-da' (give words honorifically). Talking while eating was traditionally discouraged in strict Confucian households, but in modern Korea, it is the primary way to bond.
Use the contraction
If you want to sound like a local, use '얘기하다' (yaegi-hada) instead of the full '이야기를 하다' in 90% of your conversations.
Watch the particle
Don't forget to use '와/과' or '하고' when talking WITH someone. Using the object marker '를' on a person sounds like you are 'talking the person' (as if they are the topic).
Signification
To engage in talking with someone.
Use the contraction
If you want to sound like a local, use '얘기하다' (yaegi-hada) instead of the full '이야기를 하다' in 90% of your conversations.
Watch the particle
Don't forget to use '와/과' or '하고' when talking WITH someone. Using the object marker '를' on a person sounds like you are 'talking the person' (as if they are the topic).
Story vs. Talk
Remember that 'iyagi' also means 'story.' If someone says '이야기 좀 해주세요,' they might be asking for a literal story, not just a chat!
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct particle for 'with'.
저는 친구___ 이야기를 해요.
'와' is used to mean 'with' when the preceding noun ends in a vowel.
Choose the most natural spoken (contracted) form.
우리 내일 ______.
While '이야기해요' is correct, '얘기해요' is the most common contracted form in spoken Korean.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 지금 바빠요? B: 아니요, 안 바빠요. A: 그럼 잠깐 ________?
The speaker is suggesting a talk, so the '-(으)ㄹ까요' (shall we) form is most appropriate.
Match the phrase to the situation: '썰을 풀다'
Which situation best fits this slang?
'썰을 풀다' is slang for telling an interesting or scandalous story to friends.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
이야기하다 vs. 말하다
Questions fréquentes
10 questions얘기 is simply the shortened, contracted form of 이야기. They mean the same thing, but 얘기 is much more common in spoken Korean.
No, for language ability, use '한국어를 하다' or '한국어를 말하다'. '이야기를 하다' implies a conversation or a story.
Yes, in casual speech, it is very common to say '이야기 해요' or '얘기 해요' without the particle.
You use '혼잣말을 하다' (hon-jat-mal-eul hada), which literally means 'to do alone-words.'
It means 'to not be on the same wavelength' or 'to have a communication breakdown' (literally: the talk doesn't pass through).
Yes, the plot or narrative of a book or movie is called its '이야기'.
It's better to use '문의 드립니다' (making an inquiry) or '말씀 드립니다' (giving words) in formal emails.
'수다' (suda) is specifically 'chatter' or 'gossip.' Use it when the talk is just for fun and has no specific purpose.
You can say '그만 말해' (informal) or '이야기 그만하세요' (polite).
An 'iyagi-kkun' is a master storyteller, someone who is very good at keeping people entertained with their words.
Expressions liées
말을 하다
similarTo speak/say
대화를 나누다
specialized formTo share a dialogue
수다를 떨다
informalTo chatter/gossip
상담을 하다
specialized formTo consult/counsel
토론하다
contrastTo debate
Où l'utiliser
At a Cafe
Minjun: 우리 여기서 이야기할까?
Sumi: 응, 좋아. 얘기 좀 하자.
On the Phone
A: 지금 이야기할 수 있어?
B: 미안, 지금은 좀 바빠. 나중에 얘기해.
Job Interview
Interviewer: 본인의 경험에 대해 이야기해 보세요.
Candidate: 네, 제 프로젝트 경험에 대해 이야기를 하겠습니다.
With a Teacher
Student: 선생님, 상담 이야기를 하고 싶어요.
Teacher: 그래, 교무실로 오렴.
Telling a Bedtime Story
Child: 아빠, 재미있는 이야기 해주세요!
Father: 옛날 옛적에... 이야기를 시작할게.
Resolving a Conflict
Person A: 우리 오해를 풀기 위해 이야기 좀 해요.
Person B: 네, 솔직하게 이야기합시다.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Iyagi' as 'Ear-yagi'. You use your **ears** to listen to a **yagi** (story).
Visual Association
Imagine two people sitting on a traditional Korean porch (Maru), holding steaming cups of tea, with speech bubbles connecting them. The bubbles contain little icons of a heart and a book.
Rhyme
Iyagi, iyagi, let's talk with me!
Story
Once there was a small bird named Iyagi. Iyagi loved to fly from house to house. Every time he landed, he would 'do' (hada) a little dance and tell the people what he saw. Now, whenever Koreans want to share what they saw, they 'do an Iyagi.'
Word Web
Défi
Try to say 'I want to talk with a friend' in Korean to three different people (or your pet!) today using '이야기하고 싶어요'.
In Other Languages
話をする (Hanashi o suru)
Japanese has a slightly more distinct verb 'shaberu' for casual chatting.
说话 (Shuōhuà)
Chinese uses 'liáotiān' (聊天) specifically for 'chatting,' which is closer to 'iyagi-hada.'
Hablar / Conversar
Spanish doesn't use the 'Noun + Do' structure for this basic action.
Parler / Bavarder
Korean 'iyagi-hada' covers both 'chat' and 'story,' while French uses 'raconter' for stories.
Sprechen / Reden
German uses 'erzählen' specifically for 'telling a story.'
يتحدث (Yatahaddath)
The root-based system of Arabic is structurally very different from Korean's agglutinative 'hada' system.
Falar / Conversar
Korean uses the same phrase for 'telling a story' and 'having a chat,' whereas Portuguese separates them.
To talk / To tell a story
Korean 'iyagi-hada' elegantly combines both 'talking' and 'storytelling' into one concept.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'mal-hada' for everything, but it sounds robotic for 'chatting.'
Use 'mal-hada' for 'He said X.' Use 'iyagi-hada' for 'We talked for an hour.'
Sounds too formal for friends.
Save 'daehwa' for business or serious relationship talks.
FAQ (10)
얘기 is simply the shortened, contracted form of 이야기. They mean the same thing, but 얘기 is much more common in spoken Korean.
No, for language ability, use '한국어를 하다' or '한국어를 말하다'. '이야기를 하다' implies a conversation or a story.
Yes, in casual speech, it is very common to say '이야기 해요' or '얘기 해요' without the particle.
You use '혼잣말을 하다' (hon-jat-mal-eul hada), which literally means 'to do alone-words.'
It means 'to not be on the same wavelength' or 'to have a communication breakdown' (literally: the talk doesn't pass through).
Yes, the plot or narrative of a book or movie is called its '이야기'.
It's better to use '문의 드립니다' (making an inquiry) or '말씀 드립니다' (giving words) in formal emails.
'수다' (suda) is specifically 'chatter' or 'gossip.' Use it when the talk is just for fun and has no specific purpose.
You can say '그만 말해' (informal) or '이야기 그만하세요' (polite).
An 'iyagi-kkun' is a master storyteller, someone who is very good at keeping people entertained with their words.
