커
kuh
keo
크다
To say to be big politely in the present tense, use 커요 (kuh-yoh) · keoyo. Below is the full conjugation of 크다 across the three tenses and three everyday speech levels.
Grammar note (으 irregular (adj)): 으-irregular adjectives end in ㅡ before 다. The ㅡ drops when a vowel suffix is added. 배고프다 (to be hungry) → 배고파요; 슬프다 (to be sad) → 슬퍼요. The resulting vowel (아 vs 어) follows the vowel of the syllable before ㅡ. See all 으-irregular verbs →
Conjugation table
pron. = pronunciation guide · RR = Revised Romanization
Highlighted = where the stem changes
| Tense | Casual (반말) | Polite (요) | Formal (합니다) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | 커요 kuh-yoh keoyo | 큽니다 keum-nee-dah keumnida | |
| Past | 컸어 kuh-ssuh keosseo | 컸어요 kuh-ssuh-yoh keosseoyo | 컸습니다 kuh-sseum-nee-dah keosseumnida |
| Future | 클 거야 keul guh-yah keul geoya | 클 거예요 keul guh-yae-yoh keul geoyeyo | 클 겁니다 keul guhm-nee-dah keul geomnida |
Example sentences
- casual present이 신발 나한테 너무 커.These shoes are too big for me.
- polite present우리 집 강아지는 정말 커요.Our dog is really big.
- formal present이 공원은 생각보다 훨씬 큽니다.This park is much bigger than you’d think.
- casual past어릴 때도 키 컸어?Were you tall as a kid too?
- polite past방이 생각보다 컸어요.The room was bigger than I expected.
- formal past이번 태풍은 피해가 컸습니다.This typhoon caused major damage.
- casual future이 옷 너한테 좀 클 거야.This top will probably be a bit big on you.
- polite future아이들은 금방 클 거예요.Kids grow up fast.
- formal future이번 결정의 영향은 클 겁니다.This decision will have a big impact.
- honorific -(으)세요아버님이 키가 크세요.Your father is tall.
How it’s used
크다 means big, and with 키 it means tall: 키가 커요. It also describes loud sounds: 소리가 커요. It can be used as a verb meaning to grow up: 아이가 많이 컸네요 (“your child has grown so much”). It is 으-irregular: 커요, 컸어요, but 크고, 큽니다.
Common mistake
Using 높다 for tall people: ✗ 그 사람은 높아요 → ✓ 그 사람은 키가 커요. 높다 is for buildings and mountains.
Other useful forms
Honorific / Command Polite (-(으)세요)
크세요
keu-sae-yoh
keuseyo
Suggestion / Let's Polite (요)
커요
kuh-yoh
keoyo
Question Polite (요)
커요?
kuh-yoh-?
keoyo?
Connective "and" — (고)
크고
keu-goh
keugo
Conditional "if" — (면)
크면
keu-myuhn
keumyeon
Progressive (고 있어요)
크고 있어요
keu-goh ee-ssuh-yoh
keugo isseoyo
Want to (고 싶어요)
크고 싶어요
keu-goh shee-puh-yoh
keugo sipeoyo
Can / Able to ((으)ㄹ 수 있어요)
클 수 있어요
keul soo ee-ssuh-yoh
keul su isseoyo
Because / So (아/어서)
커서
kuh-suh
keoseo
Noun form — (기)
크기
keu-gee
keugi
Noun form — (음)
큼
keum