꺼져
kkeojeo
To say "get lost" in Korean, the default form is 꺼져 (kkeojeo).
꺼져 is a common and blunt way to tell someone to go away. It is used as an informal command to dismiss someone, often when you are angry.
Meaning: go away! (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The command 꺼져 comes from the verb stem 꺼지다, which literally means "to be extinguished" or "to go out" in the sense of a flame or light.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish the command 꺼져 from the phrases 길을 잃다 or 길을 잃어버리다, which are used specifically to mean losing one's way or being geographically lost.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
꺼져 is an informal and blunt command. While the form 꺼지세요 is grammatically polite due to its ending, it is rarely used sincerely and is instead typically used sarcastically to express extreme annoyance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 꺼지세요 uses the polite -세요 ending, though this is generally used for ironic or sarcastic purposes rather than genuine politeness.
How do you pronounce it?
kkeojeo
Did you know?
- If you were to use 꺼져 toward someone older than you, you would not just be being rude, you would be committing a significant social taboo regarding age-based hierarchy.
- Because 꺼져 shares its root with the word for turning off a light, it sounds to a native speaker like you are telling the person to be 'extinguished' or 'switched off'.
- Using the polite ending to say 꺼지세요 is a form of 'aggressive politeness' where the speaker uses formal grammar to mock the listener or add a layer of heavy sarcasm.
Examples in context
- 꺼져.Get lost.This example shows how to use 꺼져 as a direct command.Tatoeba #6305161 by Queserasera, translation #854500 by CK
- 내 눈앞에서 당장 꺼져.nae nun-ap-eseo dang-jang kkeo-jyeo.Get lost from my sight right now.
- 귀찮게 하지 말고 그냥 꺼져.gwi-chan-ge ha-ji mal-go geu-nyang kkeo-jyeo.Don't bother me and just get lost.
Example conversation
A tense confrontation in a school hallway.
- 도현 Do-hyeon너 진짜 짜증 나니까 꺼져.neo jin-jja jja-jeung na-ni-kka kkeo-jyeo.You're really annoying, so get lost.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현아, 갑자기 왜 그래?Do-hyeon-ah, gap-ja-gi wae geu-rae?Dohyun, why are you being like this all of a sudden?
- 도현 Do-hyeon말 걸지 말고 꺼지라고.mal geol-ji mal-go kkeo-ji-ra-go.I said get lost, don't even talk to me.
- 서연 Seo-yeon알았어, 그만할게.a-ra-sseo, geu-man-hal-ge.Okay, I'll stop.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get lost” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
