Overview
The V+아/어/여라 ending is a highly direct and strong command form in Korean. It is used to issue an order or instruction with significant emphasis, often implying the speaker's authority or a clear expectation for the action to be carried out. This form is very straightforward and can sometimes sound abrupt or forceful.
Usage
This command ending is primarily used in specific contexts where the speaker has a clear hierarchical advantage or a close, informal relationship with the listener.
- Giving orders to subordinates or children: A parent telling a child, "밥 먹어라!" (Eat your rice!). A superior giving an order to a subordinate.
- In urgent or critical situations: When a quick, unequivocal command is necessary, such as in emergencies.
- Among very close friends (less common, often for emphasis/teasing): While less frequent, it can be used among very close peers for strong emphasis or even playful teasing, but care must be taken as it can easily be misinterpreted as rude.
- Literary or historical contexts: Often found in older texts, proverbs, or dramatic speech to convey a powerful, declarative command.
It is crucial to avoid using V+아/어/여라 with superiors, elders, or strangers, as it would be considered highly impolite and disrespectful. For polite commands, use -(으)세요 or -(으)십시오.
Conjugation Rules
The V+아/어/여라 ending attaches directly to the verb stem, following the standard vowel harmony rules:
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If the verb stem's last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ: Add -아라.
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 아라 → 가라 (Go!)
- 앉다 (to sit) → 앉 + 아라 → 앉아라 (Sit down!)
- 오다 (to come) → 오 + 아라 → 와라 (Come!) (오 + 아라 becomes 와라)
-
If the verb stem's last vowel is not ㅏ or ㅗ: Add -어라.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 어라 → 먹어라 (Eat!)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + 어라 → 읽어라 (Read!)
- 배우다 (to learn) → 배우 + 어라 → 배워라 (Learn!) (배우 + 어라 becomes 배워라)
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If the verb stem ends in 하다: Add -여라, which commonly contracts to -해라.
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부하 + 여라 → 공부하여라 (Study!) → 공부해라 (Study!)
- 운동하다 (to exercise) → 운동하 + 여라 → 운동하여라 (Exercise!) → 운동해라 (Exercise!)
Irregular Verbs:
- ㄷ irregulars: ㄷ changes to ㄹ before a vowel ending.
- 듣다 (to listen) → 들 + 어라 → 들어라 (Listen!)
- ㅂ irregulars: ㅂ changes to ㅜ/ㅗ before a vowel ending.
- 돕다 (to help) → 도 + 와라 → 도와라 (Help!)
- 줍다 (to pick up) → 주 + 워라 → 주워라 (Pick up!)
- 르 irregulars: 르 changes to ㄹ라/ㄹ러.
- 모르다 (to not know) → 몰 + 라라 → 몰라라 (Don't know/Be ignorant!) (Often used in a specific idiomatic sense)
- 부르다 (to call) → 불 + 러라 → 불러라 (Call!)
- ㅅ irregulars: ㅅ drops before a vowel ending.
- 낫다 (to get better) → 나 + 아라 → 나아라 (Get better!) (Less common as a direct command)
- 짓다 (to build) → 지 + 어라 → 지어라 (Build!)
Knowledge Plus
- Tone and Politeness: The V+아/어/여라 form is part of the 하대 (hadae) speech level, which is the lowest and most direct speech level. It implies a significant power differential or extreme familiarity. Using it incorrectly can be highly offensive.
- Distinction from Declarative: While it shares some phonetic similarity with the declarative V+아/어/여요 (informal polite) or V+아/어/여 (informal plain), its function is purely commanding. The context and intonation clearly differentiate it.
- Contraction of -하여라: The contracted form -해라 is overwhelmingly more common in modern spoken Korean than the full form -하여라.
- Negative Commands: To form a negative command, you typically use -지 마라 (e.g., 가지 마라 - Don't go!).