What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 집 (home), 에 (to/at) and 가고 싶어 (want to go).
Which one should you use?
The default form 집에 가고 싶어 is informal and is used for expressing "I want to go home" in casual speech. In contrast, 집에 가고 싶습니다 is the formal way to express the same desire.
How does it change in a sentence?
Korean speakers use different endings to adjust the politeness and context of this phrase. Adding the suffix 요 to create 집에 가고 싶어요 makes the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors. For writing, such as in a diary or a book or when talking to oneself, the plain form 집에 가고 싶다 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
jibe gago sipeo
When do people say it?
If someone is expressing a difficult situation or a need for encouragement, a common response is 화이팅!, which means "You can do it!"
Did you know?
- The word 집 literally means 'house', but it is also used to describe various types of businesses, such as a 떡볶이집 for a 'tteokbokki house' or restaurant.
- In modern youth slang, 집에 가고 싶다 is often used as a general expression of exhaustion or distress, even when the speaker is already at home.
- While 'home' is 집, if you are specifically talking about your 'country' or 'homeland', you would use a different word, 고향, which carries a stronger sense of nostalgia.
Examples in context
- 집에 가고 싶어.jibe gago sipeo.I wanna go home.
- 너무 피곤해서 집에 가고 싶어.neomu pigonhaeseo jibe gago sipeo.I'm so tired that I wanna go home.
- 지금 당장 집에 가고 싶어.jigeum dangjang jibe gago sipeo.I wanna go home right now.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are at a party that is getting boring.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지야, 나 이제 집에 가고 싶어.Minji-ya, na ije jibe gago sipeo.Minji, I want to go home now.
- 민지 Min-ji벌써? 조금만 더 있다가 가자.beolsseo? jogeumman deo itdaga gaja.Already? Let's stay a little longer.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo졸려서 정말 집에 가고 싶어.jollyeoseo jeongmal jibe gago sipeo.I'm sleepy, so I really want to go home.
- 민지 Min-ji알았어. 그럼 같이 나가자.arasseo. geureom gachi nagaja.Okay. Then let's head out together.
