What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb stem 기다리 (to wait) combined with the future intention/promise suffix -ㄹ게요 (will/shall).
Which one should you use?
기다리겠습니다 is a much more formal and professional version often used in business or public announcements. 기다릴게요 is slightly more polite than the informal 기다릴게, while 기다리겠어요 is a variation that is slightly less formal than 기다리겠습니다 but still carries a polite tone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The ending –요 makes 기다릴게요 suitable for use with acquaintances, colleagues or people older than you. For highly formal or professional situations, use 기다리겠습니다. For informal situations involving close friends or people younger than you, use 기다릴게.
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix -ㄹ게요 implies a promise or a commitment made to the listener, making the statement more personal than a simple statement of future fact. Dropping the –요 from the end of 기다릴게요 results in the informal/casual form 기다릴게.
How do you pronounce it?
gidarilgeyo
Did you know?
- While an English speaker would say 'I am coming' when responding to 기다릴게요, a Korean speaker will typically say 빨리 갈게, which literally means 'I will go quickly'.
- The suffix –게요 used in 기다릴게요 is grammatically restricted to the first person. You can never use this specific ending to describe someone else's act of waiting.
- The formal version 기다리겠습니다 is frequently used by machines and automated systems, such as those found in airports, to transform a human promise into a professional service guarantee.
Examples in context
- 사장님, 저는 기다리겠습니다Sir/Madam, I will wait for you.
- 선배님, 기다리겠어요Senior, I will wait for you.
- 친구야, 기다릴게Hey friend, I will wait for you.
- 오빠, 기다릴게요Hey, older brother, I will wait for you.
- 여기서 기다릴게요.yeogiseo gidarilgeyo.I will wait for you here.
- 역 앞에서 기다릴게요.yeok apeseo gidarilgeyo.I will wait for you in front of the station.
- 천천히 오세요. 기다릴게요.cheoncheonhi oseyo. gidarilgeyo.Take your time. I will wait for you.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo is waiting for Subin at a cafe.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo수빈 씨, 어디예요?Subin-ssi, eodi-ye-yo?Subin, where are you?
- 수빈 Su-bin조금 늦을 것 같아요.jogeum neujeul geot gatayo.I think I will be a little late.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo괜찮아요. 카페에서 기다릴게요.gwaenchannayo. kape-eseo gidarilgeyo.It's okay. I will wait for you at the cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요, 현우 씨.gomawoyo, Hyunwoo-ssi.Thank you, Hyunwoo.
