Meaning
States that one possesses financial resources.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'N-bbang' (splitting the bill) is common among youth, but elders still often insist on paying for everyone to show generosity. During Lunar New Year (Seollal), children receive 'Sebaetdon'. It is the one time when children openly talk about having money. In K-Drama tropes, the 'Chaebol' (conglomerate heir) often uses their wealth as a plot point, leading to the famous line '돈으로 사겠어' (I'll buy it with money). The 'Flex' culture (플렉스) involves showing off expensive purchases on social media, often using '돈이 있다' in a boastful way.
The 'Jom' Trick
Add '좀' (jom) to sound more natural: '돈이 좀 있어요' (I have a bit of money).
Marker Alert
Never say '돈을 있어요'. It's the most common beginner mistake!
Meaning
States that one possesses financial resources.
The 'Jom' Trick
Add '좀' (jom) to sound more natural: '돈이 좀 있어요' (I have a bit of money).
Marker Alert
Never say '돈을 있어요'. It's the most common beginner mistake!
Paying for Others
If you say this loudly in a group, be prepared to pay the whole bill!
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct subject marker for 'money'.
돈___ 있어요.
Since '있어요' is an existential verb, the subject '돈' needs the subject marker '이'.
How do you say 'I don't have money'?
Choose the correct negative form.
The negative of '있다' is always '없다'.
Complete the dialogue at a market.
Vendor: '현금 있어요?' Learner: '네, ________.'
The most natural and polite response is '돈이 있어요'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to tell your boss you have the budget for a project.
The formal '-습니다' ending is appropriate for a boss.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises돈___ 있어요.
Since '있어요' is an existential verb, the subject '돈' needs the subject marker '이'.
Choose the correct negative form.
The negative of '있다' is always '없다'.
Vendor: '현금 있어요?' Learner: '네, ________.'
The most natural and polite response is '돈이 있어요'.
You want to tell your boss you have the budget for a project.
The formal '-습니다' ending is appropriate for a boss.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but '돈이 많아요' (I have a lot of money) is more common for that.
It's okay, but '돈이 있습니다' is safer in a formal office setting.
'Don' is the everyday word; 'geumjeon' is a formal Hanja term used in legal or banking documents.
You can say '잔돈 있어요?' (Jandon isseoyo?).
Because 'don' ends in a consonant (n), it takes 'i'. Words ending in vowels take 'ga'.
Usually, it refers to money in general, but if you mean a card, say '카드가 있어요'.
Use '돈이 없어요'.
It's becoming more common, but still be modest about having a lot of it.
It means 'to be profitable' or 'to be worth the money'.
Yes, it covers both physical possession and general wealth.
Related Phrases
돈이 많다
similarTo have a lot of money
부자가 되다
builds onTo become rich
돈을 벌다
relatedTo earn money
돈을 쓰다
contrastTo spend money
거지가 되다
contrastTo become a beggar/broke
