What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 거기, which literally means "there" (referring to the place where the listener is) and 있어요?, which is the polite form of the verb meaning "to exist" or "to be present".
Which one should you use?
While 거기 있어요? is a standard polite way to ask the question, you can use 거기 계세요? to use a higher level of honorific verb to show more respect to the person. For much more formal settings, the expressions 계시나요? and 계십니까? can also be used to ask if someone is there.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Depending on your relationship with the listener, you should choose different forms. For casual situations with friends or people younger than you, use the informal versions 거기 있어? or the slightly more informal variant 거기 있냐? For a standard polite level, use 거기 있어요? or the honorific 거기 계세요? In formal situations, use 계시나요? or 계십니까?
How do you pronounce it?
geogi isseoyo?
Did you know?
- In Korean digital culture, instead of typing 거기 있어요?, users often send a single character ? or the sound 똑똑 (knock knock) to check if someone is online.
- The word 거기 identifies a space that is far from the speaker but close to the listener, a distinction that does not exist as a separate word in English.
- The word 있다 (the root of 있어요) is used for both 'to be' and 'to have', meaning 거기 있어요? could theoretically be interpreted as 'do you have there?' in different contexts.
Examples in context
- 홍부장님, 계시나요?Excuse me, Manager Hong, are you there?
- 선생님, 계십니까?Teacher, are you there?
- 형, 거기 있어?Brother, are you there?
- 친구야, 거기 있냐?Hey, buddy, are you there?
- 거기 있어요?geogi isseoyo?Are you there?
- 전화 안 받아요? 거기 있어요?jeonhwa an badayo? geogi isseoyo?You're not answering the phone? Are you there?
- 갑자기 조용해졌어요. 거기 있어요?gapjagi joyonghaejyeosseoyo. geogi isseoyo?It suddenly became quiet. Are you there?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo is calling Subin on a video call, but her screen is black.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨, 거기 있어요?Subin-ssi, geogi isseoyo?Subin, are you there?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 현우 씨. 잠시만요.ne, Hyunwoo-ssi. jamsimanyo.Yes, Hyunwoo. Just a moment.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo화면이 안 보여요.hwamyeoni an boyeoyo.I can't see the screen.
- 수빈 Su-bin지금 카메라 켰어요.jigeum kamera kyeosseoyo.I turned the camera on now.
