입니다 vs 이에요: Which 'To Be' Should You Use?
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can switch between 입니다 (imnida) and 이에요/예요 (ieyo/yeyo) for formal and everyday speech, in statements and questions.
10-second answer
The short answer
Both mean "am/is/are." 입니다 (imnida) is formal — news, presentations, business. 이에요/예요 (ieyo/yeyo) is polite — the everyday default. Casual speech drops to 이야/야 (iya/ya). All three attach directly to a noun; no separate verb needed.
Quick check — did that land?
1. You're introducing yourself in a job interview. What do you use?
학생입니다 or 학생이에요? Both mean I am a student.
The Ladder
| Form | Level | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 입니다 (imnida) | Formal | 학생입니다 — "[I] am a student" (formal) |
| 이에요 / 예요 | Polite (default) | 학생이에요 — "[I] am a student" (everyday) |
| 이야 / 야 | Casual | 학생이야 — "[I] am a student" (to friends) |
See also: 은/는 — the topic marker
이에요 or 예요?
Same consonant/vowel rule you've already seen with 은/는 and 이/가:
| Noun ends in… | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a consonant | 이에요 | 학생 + 이에요 → 학생이에요 |
| a vowel | 예요 | 친구 + 예요 → 친구예요 |
Quick Examples
안녕하세요, 김민수입니다.
annyeonghaseyo, kim minsu-imnida.
Hello, I'm Kim Minsu.
Formal self-introduction — job interviews, presentations.
저는 학생이에요.
jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo.
I'm a student.
Everyday polite.
나 학생이야.
na haksaengiya.
I'm a student.
Casual, to a close friend.
Questions Work the Same Way
학생입니까?
Are you a student? (formal)
학생이에요?
Are you a student? (polite)
학생이야?
Are you a student? (casual)
Notice: written statement and question can look identical in polite/casual speech (학생이에요 vs 학생이에요?) — rising intonation alone marks the question, just like 네/네? from the yes/no page.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Always defaulting to 입니다
Textbooks often teach 입니다 first, but real daily conversation runs on 이에요/예요. Using 입니다 everywhere can sound stiff, like talking in a press conference.
Mistake #2 — Mixing 이에요/예요 with the wrong sound
학생예요 (should be 학생이에요) is a common typo-level mistake — check the final sound of the noun.
Mini Quiz
2. 친구 (friend, ends in a vowel) + "to be" politely:
3. 학생이에요? with rising intonation means:
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
What Does 있다/없다 Mean in Korean?
"To be" is done — "to exist/have" is the next essential verb pair.
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