📝 Grammar A1 ✓ Native Reviewed

있어요 / 없어요

isseoyo / eopseoyo

There is / There isn't (existence)

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What it means

있어요 (there is / I have) and 없어요 (there isn't / I don't have) are among the most essential Korean grammar words — covering both existence and possession in one verb form.

Nuance & when to use

있다 = to exist / to have. 없다 = to not exist / to not have. 시간이 있어요 = I have time. 돈이 없어요 = I have no money. 화장실이 있어요? = Is there a bathroom? 있어요 and 없어요 replace "there is/isn't" AND "I have/don't have."

⚠ Common mistake

있어요 ≠ 가지고 있어요. Both mean "I have" but 있어요 is more natural for abstract things (time, plans). 가지고 있어요 is for physical objects you're holding/owning.

Example sentences

시간이 있어요? Sigani isseoyo? Do you have time? / Is there time?
돈이 없어요. Doni eopseoyo. I have no money.
여기 주차장이 있어요. Yeogi juchangjang-i isseoyo. There's a parking lot here.

See also

있다 없다 가지다
References Naver Korean Dictionary ↗ 국립국어원 표준국어대사전 ↗
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More A1 lessons

내일 봐요 naeil bwayo See you tomorrow 영화 yeonghwa movie / film 미안해요 mianhaeyo I'm sorry (polite)
← 이름이 뭐예요? 잘 자요 →

FAQ

When is this used?

있다 = to exist / to have. 없다 = to not exist / to not have. 시간이 있어요 = I have time. 돈이 없어요 = I have no money. 화장실이 있어요? = Is there a bathroom? 있어요 and 없어요 replace "there is/isn't" AND "I have/don't have."

What's a common mistake?

있어요 ≠ 가지고 있어요. Both mean "I have" but 있어요 is more natural for abstract things (time, plans). 가지고 있어요 is for physical objects you're holding/owning.

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