Unit 28: Deserve To / It Is Right To (-아/어/여 마땅하다)

When someone does something that completely justifies a certain reaction, meaning they "deserve to" receive it, or "it is only right that...", you use -아/어/여 마땅하다 in Easy Korean.

Structure

Verb Stem + -아/어/여 마땅하다

• 칭찬받다 -> 칭찬받아 마땅하다 (Deserves to be praised)
• 벌받다 -> 벌받아 마땅하다 (Deserves to be punished)
• 화내다 -> 화내 마땅하다 (It is only right to get angry)

Usage

It is usually used with passive verbs (receiving praise, respect, punishment) to evaluate someone's actions.

Examples

• 생명을 구한 그 사람은 칭찬받아 마땅해요. (That person who saved a life deserves to be praised.)
• 죄를 지었으면 벌을 받아 마땅합니다. (If you committed a crime, it is only right that you receive punishment.)
• 존경을 받아 마땅한 분입니다. (He is a person who deserves to be respected.)