학교에 가요
hakgyo-e gayo
The English phrase "I am going to school" is translated into Korean as 학교에 가요 (hakgyo-e gayo).
This phrase is used to state that you are currently traveling to a place of education, such as a school, university (대학교) or an academy (학원).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 학교에 가요 is composed of 학교 (school), the particle 에 (to/at) and 가요 (go).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can change based on the level of respect and the particles used. The polite form 학교에 가요 uses the ending -요 to show respect. The formal form 저는 학교에 가고 있습니다. uses the ending -습니다 to show respect. In the phrase 저는 학교로 가고 있습니다, the particle 로 is used to indicate direction. The informal version 학교에 가 is used with people younger than you or close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
hakgyo-e gayo
Did you know?
- The word 가요 in your phrase can be a homonym with the Korean word for 'pop songs' or 'ballads'. While in this sentence it means 'go', in a musical context, it refers to a specific genre of popular music.
- If a student is leaving home for school, they might say 다녀오겠습니다, which literally means 'I will go and come back'.
- The word for school, 학교, is composed of Hanja (Sino-Korean characters). The first character 학 means 'learning' and the second 교 means 'teaching' or 'school', literally creating a place of learning and teaching.
Examples in context
- 저는 대학교로 가고 있어요.I am going to the university.
- 지금 학교에 가요.jigeum hakgyoe gayo.I am going to school now.
- 저는 매일 아침 학교에 가요.jeoneun maeil achim hakgyoe gayo.I go to school every morning.
- 조금 이따가 학교에 가요.jogeum ittaga hakgyoe gayo.I am going to school in a little bit.
Example conversation
Two friends meeting on the street in the morning.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 어디에 가요?Hyeon-u ssi, eodie gayo?Hyeon-u, where are you going?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저는 지금 학교에 가요.jeoneun jigeum hakgyoe gayo.I am going to school now.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말요? 저도 학교에 가요.jeongmalyo? jeodo hakgyoe gayo.Really? I am going to school too.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo그럼 같이 가요!geureom gachi gayo!Then let's go together!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가요, CC BY-SA 4.0.
