A + -아/어하다A + -a/eohada
Intermediate 4 · #10Lesson 3: 초대와 방문 – Invitations and Visits

A + -아/어하다 – Turning Emotion Adjectives into Verbs

Meaning: Feel / Show emotion (for third-person subjects)

Conjugation & Pattern

  • Emotion adjective ending in ㅏ, ㅗ: + -아하다 (좋다 -> 좋아하다, 아깝다 -> 아까워하다)
  • Emotion adjective ending in other vowels: + -어하다 (슬프다 -> 슬퍼하다, 기쁘다 -> 기뻐하다, 부럽다 -> 부러워하다, 무섭다 -> 무서워하다)
  • Emotion adjective ending in 하다: + -해하다 (행복하다 -> 행복해하다, 피곤하다 -> 피곤해하다)

Detailed Usage

In Korean declarative sentences, psychological/emotion adjectives (기쁘다, 슬프다, 외롭다, 무섭다, 부럽다, 싫다) can only describe the first-person speaker directly. When the subject is third person, '-아/어하다' must be attached to turn the adjective into an observable action verb.

Example Sentences

  1. 1

    제가 시험에 합격해서 부모님께서 정말 기뻐하셨어요.

    Jega siheome hapgyeokhaeseo bumonimkkeseo jeongmal gippeohasyeosseoyo.

    My parents were really delighted that I passed the exam.

  2. 2

    제 동생은 어두운 곳에 혼자 있는 것을 무서워해요.

    Je dongsaengeun eoduun gose honja inneun geoseul museowohaeyo.

    My younger sibling is afraid of being alone in dark places.

  3. 3

    선물을 주니까 아이들이 무척 행복해하네요.

    Seonmureul junikka aideuri mucheok haengbokhaehaneyo.

    The children look so happy after receiving the presents.

Important Notes

Once '-아/어하다' is attached, the word functions as a transitive verb and takes the object particle '을/를' instead of '이/가' (e.g., 나는 개가 무섭다 -> 아이는 개를 무서워한다).

Grammar Topics