작아
chah-gah
jaga
descriptive
작다
To say to be small politely in the present tense, use 작아요 (chah-gah-yoh) · jagayo. Below is the full conjugation of 작다 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 | 작아요 chah-gah-yoh jagayo | 작습니다 chahg-sseum-nee-dah jaksseumnida | |
| Past | 작았어 chah-gah-ssuh jagasseo | 작았어요 chah-gah-ssuh-yoh jagasseoyo | 작았습니다 chah-gah-sseum-nee-dah jagasseumnida |
| Future | 작을 거야 chah-geul guh-yah jageul geoya | 작을 거예요 chah-geul guh-yae-yoh jageul geoyeyo | 작을 겁니다 chah-geul guhm-nee-dah jageul geomnida |
Other useful forms
Honorific / Command Polite (-(으)세요)
작으세요
chah-geu-sae-yoh
jageuseyo
Suggestion / Let's Polite (요)
작아요
chah-gah-yoh
jagayo
Question Polite (요)
작아요?
chah-gah-yoh-?
jagayo?
Connective "and" — (고)
작고
chahg-ggoh
jakkko
Conditional "if" — (면)
작으면
chah-geu-myuhn
jageumyeon
Progressive (고 있어요)
작고 있어요
chahg-ggoh ee-ssuh-yoh
jakkko isseoyo
Want to (고 싶어요)
작고 싶어요
chahg-ggoh shee-puh-yoh
jakkko sipeoyo
Can / Able to ((으)ㄹ 수 있어요)
작을 수 있어요
chah-geul soo ee-ssuh-yoh
jageul su isseoyo
Because / So (아/어서)
작아서
chah-gah-suh
jagaseo
Noun form — (기)
작기
chahg-ggee
jakkki
Noun form — (음)
작음
chah-geum
jageum