거기에 가다
geogie gada
The English phrase "go there" is expressed in Korean as 거기에 가다 (geogie gada).
The phrase is used to express the action of moving from one's current location to a specific place.
What does it mean word for word?
거기에 is composed of 거기, meaning "there" and the location particle 에, which means "to" or "at".
Which one should you use?
거기에 가다 emphasizes the destination itself, whereas 거기로 가다 emphasizes the direction, meaning "to go toward there".
How does it change in a sentence?
In daily conversation, the dictionary form 가다 is conjugated into different levels of politeness: 거기에 가요 is used for polite daily speech, 거기에 가 is used in casual speech with friends or younger people and 거기에 갑니다 is used in formal or professional settings.
How do you pronounce it?
geogie gada
Did you know?
- When speaking to someone much older or of higher social status, you would not use 가다 at all. Instead, you would use the honorific verb 가시다 to show respect to the person performing the action.
- The root of the verb 가다 has been recorded in Korean literature since the 15th century in the text 용비어천가, meaning it has been used for hundreds of years in almost the same form.
- The word 거기 is part of a unique system of spatial demonstratives that changes based on whether the location is near the speaker, near the listener, or far from both. This system is more complex than the English 'here', 'there', and 'over there'.
Examples in context
- 거기에 가!Go there!
- 거기로 가!Go to that place!
- 그곳에 가십시오.Please go there.
- 저기로 가세요.Please go to that place.
- 거기에 가다.geogiye gada.To go there.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin새 카페가 정말 예쁘대요.sae kapega jeongmal yeppeudaeyo.I heard the new cafe is really pretty.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo우리 같이 거기에 가다.uri gatchi geogie gada.Let's go there together.
- 수빈 Su-bin언제 갈까요?eonje galkkayo?When shall we go?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo이번 주말에 가요.ibeon jumare gayo.Let's go this weekend.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
