엄마 보고 싶어요
Eomma bogo sipeoyo
In Korean, 'I miss you mom' is 엄마 보고 싶어요 (Eomma bogo sipeoyo).
This phrase is used to express sadness because you are not with your mother and wish to be with her.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'Mom, I want to see you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The level of formality can be adjusted by changing the noun for 'mother' or the verb ending. Similarly, the informal version 보고 싶어요 becomes 보고 싶어 to create the casual form 엄마 보고 싶어.
How do you pronounce it?
Eomma bogo sipeoyo
Did you know?
- While 보고 in this phrase means 'to see', it is also a Sino-Korean word used for a 'report' or 'information' in professional environments.
- Korean has a specific word 그리움 (geurium) for the feeling of longing that captures a deeper, more poetic ache than the conversational 보고 싶어요.
- While 엄마 is the common word for 'mom', using it as an adult can sometimes sound overly childish or clingy depending on the social context.
Examples in context
- 지금 엄마 보고 싶어요.jigeum eomma bogo sipeoyo.I miss you, mom, right now.
- 너무 엄마 보고 싶어요.neomu eomma bogo sipeoyo.I miss you so much, mom.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are talking on the phone about their family.
- 민준 Min-jun엄마 보고 싶어요?eomma bogo sipeoyo?Do you miss mom?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 엄마 보고 싶어요.ne, eomma bogo sipeoyo.Yes, I miss mom.
- 민준 Min-jun저도 엄마 보고 싶어요.jeodo eomma bogo sipeoyo.I miss mom too.
- 민지 Min-ji우리 다음에 같이 가요.uri daeume gachi gayo.Let's go see her together next time.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 보고, 엄마, CC BY-SA 4.0.
