빨리 이리 와
ppalli iri wa
To say "come here quickly" in Korean, you use 빨리 이리 와 (ppalli iri wa).
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to move toward the speaker without delay. The components involve 빨리 (quickly or fast), 여기 (here or this place) and the verb 오다 (to come).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 빨리 (quickly), 이리 (this way/here) and 와 (come).
Which one should you use?
You can also use 여기로 빨리 와 in an informal context. For a more polite tone, you can use the form 빨리 이리로 오세요.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be formal or polite, use 여기로 빨리 오세요 or 빨리 이리로 오세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the command more polite or respectful, you can change the directional part from 이리 와 to 이리로 오세요.
How do you pronounce it?
ppalli iri wa
Did you know?
- The word 빨리 reflects a cultural phenomenon known as 'ppalli-ppalli culture', which emphasizes speed and efficiency in almost every aspect of daily life in South Korea.
- In Korean culture, calling someone with 빨리 이리 와 is often accompanied by a specific hand gesture where the palm faces up and the fingers curl inward toward the speaker.
- The word 이리 (iri), meaning 'this way', shares a potential distant linguistic ancestor with the Evenki word 'irgiçi', a language spoken in Siberia.
Examples in context
- 회의실로 빨리 오세요.Please come quickly to the meeting room.
- 사무실 앞으로 빨리 오세요.Please come quickly to the front of the office.
- 교장선생님께서 빨리 오라고 하셨어요.The principal asked for you to come quickly.
- 여기로 빨리 와.Come here quickly.
- 화장실로 빨리 와.Come quickly to the restroom.
- 밖으로 빨리 와.Come quickly outside.
- 민준아, 빨리 이리 와!Minjun-a, ppalli iri wa!Minjun, come here quickly!
- 이것 좀 봐, 빨리 이리 와.igeot jom bwa, ppalli iri wa.Look at this, come here quickly.
Example conversation
Minjun sees a beautiful butterfly in the park and calls Jieun.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 빨리 이리 와!Jieun-a, ppalli iri wa!Jieun, come here quickly!
- 지은 Ji-eun무슨 일이야, 민준아?museun iriya, Minjun-a?What's happening, Minjun?
- 민준 Min-jun저기 나비를 봐.jeogi nabireul bwa.Look at that butterfly over there.
- 지은 Ji-eun와, 정말 예쁘다!wa, jeongmal yeppeuda!Wow, it's really pretty!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 빨리, 와, 이리, CC BY-SA 4.0.
