What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 지금 가요 literally translates to "now go" (polite) because Korean uses the verb "to go" where English uses "to come" in this specific context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can make it even more formal and polite by using the ending 갑니다, as in 지금 갑니다 or 제가 갑니다. Conversely, you can make it informal by dropping the polite ending 요 to say 지금 가 when speaking to friends or younger people. There is also a very formal way to notify someone you are on your way to their location by saying 찾아갑니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
To emphasize that you are currently in the middle of the process of traveling toward the person, you can use the progressive form 지금 가고 있어요.
How do you pronounce it?
jigeum gayo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the verb "to come" (오다) by saying 지금 와요, but in Korean, you must use the verb "to go" (가다) to indicate you are moving toward the listener.
Did you know?
- The word 가요 is a homonym that can mean 'to go' or it can refer to 'popular songs' or 'ballads' depending on the context and Hanja used.
- In very casual settings, dropping the 요 to say 지금 가 can be seen as rude if the listener is even slightly older than the speaker, regardless of friendship.
- In many Western cultures, 'coming' implies the destination is the center of attention, but in Korean, the priority is the movement of the subject away from their current position, hence the use of 'to go' (가다).
Examples in context
- 지금 가요.I am coming.This example shows the use of 지금 가요.Tatoeba #13174724 by atitarev, translation #65918 by CK
- 회의장에 바로 찾아갑니다.I am coming directly to the meeting room.
- 나 지금 집에서 나와서 바로 갈게.I am leaving my house now and will come right away.
- 지금 가요, 조금만 기다려 주세요.jigeum gayo, jogeumman gidaryeo juseyo.I am coming, please wait just a little bit.
- 다 준비했어요. 지금 가요!da junbihaesseoyo. jigeum gayo!I am all ready. I am coming now!
Example conversation
Minji is waiting for Dohyeon at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 어디예요?Dohyeon ssi, eodiyeyo?Dohyeon, where are you?
- 도현 Do-hyeon미안해요, 민지 씨. 지금 가요.mianhaeyo, Minji ssi. jigeum gayo.I am sorry, Minji. I am coming now.
- 민지 Min-ji천천히 와도 돼요.cheoncheonhi wado dwaeyo.You can come slowly.
- 도현 Do-hyeon금방 도착할게요.geumbang dochakhalgeyo.I will arrive shortly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가요, 지금, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
