Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
가십니까? is a highly formal version used in professional or very respectful settings, employing the honorific verb ending 십니다 to show respect. 가시나요? is another formal option that employs the honorific verb ending 시 to show politeness. For everyday social situations with people you are not intimate with, the standard polite form is 가요?, which has a slightly more polite tone than 가? The simplest, most informal and non-honorific version is 가?, which is used with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 가요? is the standard polite form suitable for most everyday social situations with people you are not intimate with. To emphasize the continuous action of "are you [currently in the process of] going?", use 가고 있어요?
Did you know?
- The word 가요 can also be a noun meaning 'song' in certain poetic or musical contexts, although it is most commonly recognized as the polite form of the verb 'to go'.
- Koreans often say 가요 when they are actually the ones leaving, acting as a 'goodbye' similar to 'I'm going now'. It is common to respond to someone leaving by asking 가요?, which confirms their departure.
- Depending on the intonation, 가요 can be a question, a polite statement, or even a command. A rising pitch makes it 'are you going?', while a falling pitch makes it 'I am going' or 'go'.
Examples in context
- 가십니까?Are you going?
- 이번 주말에 한강에 가시나요?Are you going to the Han River this weekend?
- 저녁에 놀러 가?Are you going out in the evening?
- 한강에 놀러 가요?Are you going to the Han River?
- 지금 가요?jigeum gayo?Are you going now?
- 학교에 가요?hakgyoe gayo?Are you going to school?
- 집에 가요?jibe gayo?Are you going home?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo sees Subin carrying her bag and getting ready to leave.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨, 지금 가요?Subin ssi, jigeum gayo?Subin, are you going now?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 집에 가요.Ne, jibe gayo.Yes, I am going home.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo같이 가요?Gati gayo?Shall we go together?
- 수빈 Su-bin좋아요, 같이 가요.Joayo, gati gayo.That sounds good, let's go together.
