가서 공부해
gaseo gongbuhae
The English phrase "go study" is translated into Korean as 가서 공부해 (gaseo gongbuhae).
This phrase is an imperative used to tell someone to leave their current location and begin studying. You can also use the related informal phrase 열심히 공부해 to say "study hard".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of the verb 가다 (to go) in the connective form 가서 (go and…) and the verb 공부하다 (to study).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This should only be used with close friends or people younger than you. For a polite version of this command, use 가서 공부하세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix -라 to the end of the phrase, 가서 공부해라, makes it a more forceful or blunt command, often used by elders to children.
How do you pronounce it?
gaseo gongbuhae
Did you know?
- Korean has a specific term 벼락치기 (byeorakchigi), which means 'thunder-hitting', to describe the act of cramming for a test right before the deadline.
- While 가서 공부해 tells someone to go study, students often go to a 독서실 (dokseosil), which is a specialized study cafe with individual soundproof cubicles for total isolation.
- The root word for study 공부 (gongbu) originates from the Chinese word for 'official duty' or 'public service'. In ancient times studying was not a leisure activity but a rigorous requirement for government officials.
Examples in context
- 숙제 다 했으면 가서 공부해.sukje da haesseumyeon gaseo gongbuhae.If you've finished your homework, go study.
- 이제 그만 놀고 가서 공부해.ije geuman nolgo gaseo gongbuhae.Stop playing now and go study.
- 내일 시험이니까 가서 공부해.naeil siheominikka gaseo gongbuhae.Since you have an exam tomorrow, go study.
Example conversation
A sister telling her younger brother to stop playing games.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준아, 게임 그만하고 가서 공부해.Minjun-a, geim geumanhago gaseo gongbuhae.Minjun, stop playing games and go study.
- 민준 Min-jun조금만 더 하고 할게.jogeumman deo hago halge.I'll do it after playing just a little bit more.
- 서연 Seo-yeon안 돼, 빨리 가서 공부해.an dwae, ppalli gaseo gongbuhae.No, go study quickly.
- 민준 Min-jun알았어, 지금 갈게.arasseo, jigeum galge.Okay, I'm going now.
