Korean

Interjection

아야 • ‎(aya)

1. Ouch!

Etymology 2

Suffix

-아야 • ‎(-aya)

1. only when...
   • 가는 말이 고와'야 오는 말도 곱다. (Ganeun mari gowa'ya oneun maldo gopda., “Only when going words are kind, so are coming words.”)
2. even when...
   • 짧아야 10년이다. (Jjalbaya 10nyeonida., “It's ten years even when the shortest.”)

Usage notes

The suffix -아야 (aya)/어야 (eoya) can convey the meaning of duty and obligation when in collaboration with verb 하다 (hada) or 되다 (doeda), thus might be translated to "must", "should", "have to", and so forth.

E.g. 하지만 공부해야 되는데···. (Hajiman gongbuhaeya doeneunde···., “but I have to study....”)

Also, the form -아/어야( 하)겠다 (-a/eoya( ha)getda) is commonly used for weak volition of the speaker.

E.g. 이제 자야겠다. (Ije jayagetda., “Now I'm gonna sleep.”)

This suffix is attached to the infinitive form. 돕다(도와) (dopda(dowa), “to help”) → 도와야 (dowaya, “only when helping”)

Alternative forms

• -어야
• -아야지/어야지