집에 있어?
jibe isseo?
The English phrase "are you home?" is translated into Korean as 집에 있어? (jibe isseo?)
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone is currently at their place of residence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 집 (home), the particle 에 (at/to) and 있어? (are you/exist?).
Which one should you use?
The default form 집에 있어? is the informal version. For a formal expression, you can use 집에 계세요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the question polite and suitable for people you are not close with or who are older than you, use 집에 있어요? by adding the suffix -요 to the end. For a common formal expression, use 집에 계세요?
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the question 집에 있어? into the statement "I am home," simply drop the rising intonation at the end to say 집에 있어.
How do you pronounce it?
jibe isseo?
Did you know?
- When announcing your arrival by saying 'I am home', Koreans often use the phrase 다녀왔습니다, which literally means 'I have gone and come back'.
- While 집 means 'home', Koreans often use the word 댁 when referring to someone else's house to show respect, such as when asking an elder if they are at their 'home'.
- In many Korean dramas, a character might ask 집에 있어? to signal that they are coming over to visit, serving as a soft way to ask for permission to enter.
Examples in context
- 지금 집에 있어?jigeum jibe isseo?Are you home now?
- 혹시 집에 있어?hoksi jibe isseo?Are you home by any chance?
Example conversation
Seoyeon calls Jihun to see if she can visit him.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈아, 지금 집에 있어?Jihun-a, jigeum jibe isseo?Jihun, are you home now?
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 집에 있어. 왜?Eung, jibe isseo. wae?Yes, I'm home. Why?
- 서연 Seo-yeon잠깐 놀러 가도 돼?jamkkan nolleo gado dwae?Can I come over to hang out for a bit?
- 지훈 Ji-hun당연하지, 빨리 와!dang-yeonhaji, ppalli wa!Of course, come quickly!
