검어
guh-muh
geomeo
descriptive
검다
To say to be black politely in the present tense, use 검어요 (guh-muh-yoh) · geomeoyo. Below is the full conjugation of 검다 across the three tenses and three everyday speech levels.
Grammar note (descriptive): Descriptive verbs (형용사) function like adjectives in Korean and conjugate the same way as regular action verbs. They cannot take the progressive -고 있어요 or imperative forms. 좋다 (to be good) → 좋아요; 크다 (to be big) → 커요 (으-irregular).
Conjugation table
pron. = pronunciation guide · RR = Revised Romanization
| Tense | Casual (반말) | Polite (요) | Formal (합니다) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | 검어요 guh-muh-yoh geomeoyo | 검습니다 guhm-seum-nee-dah geomseumnida | |
| Past | 검었어 guh-muh-ssuh geomeosseo | 검었어요 guh-muh-ssuh-yoh geomeosseoyo | 검었습니다 guh-muh-sseum-nee-dah geomeosseumnida |
| Future | 검을 거야 guh-meul guh-yah geomeul geoya | 검을 거예요 guh-meul guh-yae-yoh geomeul geoyeyo | 검을 겁니다 guh-meul guhm-nee-dah geomeul geomnida |
Other useful forms
Honorific / Command Polite (-(으)세요)
검으세요
guh-meu-sae-yoh
geomeuseyo
Suggestion / Let's Polite (요)
검어요
guh-muh-yoh
geomeoyo
Question Polite (요)
검어요?
guh-muh-yoh-?
geomeoyo?
Connective "and" — (고)
검고
guhm-goh
geomgo
Conditional "if" — (면)
검으면
guh-meu-myuhn
geomeumyeon
Progressive (고 있어요)
검고 있어요
guhm-goh ee-ssuh-yoh
geomgo isseoyo
Want to (고 싶어요)
검고 싶어요
guhm-goh shee-puh-yoh
geomgo sipeoyo
Can / Able to ((으)ㄹ 수 있어요)
검을 수 있어요
guh-meul soo ee-ssuh-yoh
geomeul su isseoyo
Because / So (아/어서)
검어서
guh-muh-suh
geomeoseo
Noun form — (기)
검기
guhm-gee
geomgi
Noun form — (음)
검음
guh-meum
geomeum