Korean 있다 and 없다: there is, to have

Where things are: …에 있어요

(itda) means “to be (somewhere), to exist”, and (eopda) is its opposite. In the polite style they are (isseoyo) and (eopseoyo). The place takes 에: (hwajangsiri eodie isseoyo?), where is the toilet?

To say exactly where, put a position word after the noun and 에 after that: (yeok ape), in front of the station, literally “station front at”.

Position word	Meaning	Example
(wi)	on, above	(chaeksang wie) on the desk
(arae), (mit)	under, below	(chimdae mite) under the bed
(ap)	in front of	(yeok ape) in front of the station
(dwi)	behind	(jip dwie) behind the house
(yeop)	next to	(eunhaeng yeope) next to the bank
(an)	in, inside	(gabang ane) in the bag
(bak)	outside	(geonmul bakke) outside the building

화장실이 어디에 있어요?Hwajangsiri eodie isseoyo?Where is the toilet?
약국은 은행 옆에 있어요.Yakgugeun eunhaeng yeope isseoyo.The pharmacy is next to the bank.
휴대폰이 가방 안에 없어요.Hyudaeponi gabang ane eopseoyo.My phone isn't in my bag.

There is, there isn't

The same verbs say whether something exists at all: (geuncheoe pyeonuijeomi isseoyo?), is there a convenience store nearby? The thing takes 이 / 가. For “there isn't”, use , never 안 있어요.

In the past they are (isseosseoyo) and (eopseosseoyo).

근처에 편의점이 있어요?Geuncheoe pyeonuijeomi isseoyo?Is there a convenience store nearby?
네, 저기 있어요.Ne, jeogi isseoyo.Yes, there's one over there.
오늘은 수업이 없어요.Oneureun sueobi eopseoyo.There's no class today.
어제 집에 아무도 없었어요.Eoje jibe amudo eopseosseoyo.Nobody was at home yesterday.

To have

Korean says “I have a sister” as “as for me, a sister exists”: (jeoneun eonniga han myeong isseoyo). The owner takes 은 / 는 (or nothing), and the thing you have takes 이 / 가, not 을 / 를.

“Not to have” is : (dongsaengeun eopseoyo), I don't have any younger brothers or sisters. 은 / 는 here adds contrast: an older sister yes, younger siblings no.

저는 언니가 한 명 있어요.Jeoneun eonniga han myeong isseoyo.I have an older sister.
동생은 없어요.Dongsaengeun eopseoyo.I don't have any younger siblings.
시간 있어요?Sigan isseoyo?Do you have time?
지금 돈이 없어요.Jigeum doni eopseoyo.I don't have any money right now.

맛있다, 재미있다 and other words with 있다

Many common describing words are a noun + or . (mat) is “taste”, so (masitda) is “to be tasty” and (madeopda) “to taste bad”. (jaemi) is “fun”, so (jaemiitda) is “to be interesting, fun”.

Before a noun they take -는, like verbs: (masinneun eumsik), tasty food; (jaemiinneun yeonghwa), an interesting film.

Word	Meaning	Polite present
(masitda)	to be tasty	(masisseoyo)
(madeopda)	to taste bad	(madeopseoyo)
(jaemiitda)	to be fun, interesting	(jaemiisseoyo)
(jaemieopda)	to be boring	(jaemieopseoyo)
(meositda)	to be stylish, cool	(meosisseoyo)
(gwansimi itda)	to be interested	(gwansimi isseoyo)

이 김치찌개 정말 맛있어요.I gimchijjigae jeongmal masisseoyo.This kimchi stew is really good.
그 영화 재미있어요?Geu yeonghwa jaemiisseoyo?Is that film good?
맛있는 식당을 알아요.Masinneun sikdangeul arayo.I know a good restaurant.

Honorific: 계시다 or 있으시다?

When the person who “is somewhere” deserves respect, such as a grandparent, a teacher or a boss, becomes (gyesida): (seonsaengnimeun jigeum samusire gyeseyo), the teacher is in the office now. The negative is (an gyeseyo). That's also where (annyeonghi gyeseyo, goodbye to someone who stays) comes from: “stay in peace”.

When a respected person has something, use (isseusida) instead: (sigan isseuseyo?), do you have time? The negative is (eopseuseyo).

Meaning	Plain	Honorific
be somewhere	(isseoyo)	(gyeseyo)
not be somewhere	(eopseoyo)	(an gyeseyo)
have	(isseoyo)	(isseuseyo)
not have	(eopseoyo)	(eopseuseyo)

김 부장님 계세요?Kim bujangnim gyeseyo?Is Mr Kim (the manager) there?
지금 자리에 안 계세요.Jigeum jarie an gyeseyo.He isn't at his desk right now.
할머니는 손주가 다섯 명 있으세요.Halmeonineun sonjuga daseot myeong isseuseyo.My grandmother has five grandchildren.
혹시 시간 있으세요?Hoksi sigan isseuseyo?Do you have a moment, by any chance?