내가 보고 싶어?
naega bogo sipeo?
The English phrase "do you miss me?" is expressed in Korean as 내가 보고 싶어? (naega bogo sipeo?)
This phrase is a question used to find out if someone feels a longing for your presence.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression 보고 싶어 literally translates to "want to see".
Which one should you use?
While 보고 싶어? can be used to ask "Do you miss me?", it can also mean "Do you want to see (something/someone)?" depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual conversation, the subject 내가 (I/me) is often omitted, leaving just 보고 싶어?
How do you pronounce it?
naega bogo sipeo?
Did you know?
- In romantic Korean dramas, a character might say 보고 싶어 as a statement of longing even when the other person is standing right in front of them.
- The word 보고 in this phrase is a homonym for the Sino-Korean word for 'treasure house' or 'storehouse'.
- While 보고 싶어 is the standard way to say 'I miss you', couples or close friends often use the cute, stylized version 보고 시포 in text messages to sound more affectionate.
Examples in context
- 내가 보고 싶어?naega bogo sipeo?Do you miss me?
- 진짜 내가 보고 싶어?jinjja naega bogo sipeo?Do you really miss me?
- 혹시 내가 보고 싶어?hoksi naega bogo sipeo?Do you perhaps miss me?
Example conversation
Ji-hun and Seo-yeon are talking on the phone.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연아, 내가 보고 싶어?Seoyeona, naega bogo sipeo?Seo-yeon, do you miss me?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 너무 보고 싶어.eung, neomu bogo sipeo.Yes, I miss you so much.
- 지훈 Ji-hun나도 너 보고 싶어.nado neo bogo sipeo.I miss you too.
- 서연 Seo-yeon빨리 만나자!ppalli mannaja!Let's meet soon!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내가, 보고, CC BY-SA 4.0.
