자러 갈게
jareo galge
In Korean, "I am going to sleep" is said as 자러 갈게 (jareo galge).
This phrase is used to inform someone that you are leaving to go to bed. While the standard Korean word for "to sleep" is 자다, you can also use the formal term 취침하다.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 자다 (to sleep), -러 (in order to), 가다 (to go) and -ㄹ게 (a suffix indicating a promise or intention to the listener).
Which one should you use?
While 자러 갈게 focuses on the action of "going" to sleep, a very common, shorter alternative used in the same casual context is 잘게 (I'll sleep well/I'm going to sleep).
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the polite suffix -요 to the end makes the phrase 자러 갈게요, which is appropriate for speaking to elders or people you are not close with.
How do you pronounce it?
jareo galge
When do people say it?
A common response to 자러 갈게 in a casual setting is 잘 자 (sleep well). A common response to the polite version (자러 갈게요) is 안녕히 주무세요, which is a highly respectful way to say goodnight.
Did you know?
- Korean has a specific word 꿀잠 meaning 'honey sleep', used to describe a deep and sweet slumber.
- When speaking to someone much older, you do not just change the ending of the phrase, but you must switch the entire verb 'to sleep' from 자다 to the honorific 주무시다.
- In Korean culture, telling someone you are going to sleep can sometimes be a way to politely signal that a conversation or a social interaction is ending.
Examples in context
- 취침하겠습니다I am going to sleep
- 나 이제 자러 갈게.na ije jareo galge.I'm going to sleep now.
- 너무 피곤해서 자러 갈게.neomu pigonhaeseo jareo galge.I'm so tired, so I'm going to sleep.
- 내일 봐, 자러 갈게.naeil bwa, jareo galge.See you tomorrow, I'm going to sleep.
Example conversation
A couple chatting on the phone late at night.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현아, 아직 안 자?dohyeon-a, ajik an ja?Dohyeon, are you not sleeping yet?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 조금 더 할 일이 있어.eung, jogeum deo hal iri isseo.Yeah, I have a few more things to do.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼 나 자러 갈게.geureom na jareo galge.Then I am going to sleep.
- 도현 Do-hyeon잘 자, 서연아.jal ja, seoyeon-a.Good night, Seoyeon.
