What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 저리, which means 'over there' or 'that way' and 가, which means 'go'. Literally, it means 'go over there'.
Which one should you use?
While 저리 가 is a direct way to say 'stay away', you can also use 멀리 해 as a casual way to say it among friends or 가까이 오지 말아 to specifically mean 'do not come close'. If you want to emphasize distance, 멀리 떨어지세요 means 'please stay far away'. If someone is touching something they shouldn't, you might use 손 떼 to say 'take your hands off' or 건드리지 말아주세요 to say 'please do not touch' as a way to tell them to stay away.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the command polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you, add the suffix '-세요' to the end to get 저리 가세요. For a more formal tone, you can use 떨어져주세요 to say 'please stay away' or 멀리 떨어지세요 for 'please stay far away'.
How do you pronounce it?
jeori ga
Did you know?
- The word 가 in 저리 가 begins with the very first consonant and first vowel in the alphabetical order of the hangul script.
- The phrase 저리 가 is an example of the banmal or casual speech style. Using it with a stranger or an older person without adding 세요 can be perceived as an intentional insult or a sign of extreme anger.
- In Korean, telling someone to 'stay away' from a person's influence is often described as 거리 두기, which literally means 'distance putting'.
Examples in context
- 멀리 해 (meolli hae). Stay away.Stay away.
- 저리 가, 나 지금 바빠.jeori ga, na jigeum bappa.Stay away, I'm busy right now.
- 저리 가, 귀찮게 하지 마.jeori ga, gwichanke haji ma.Stay away, don't bother me.
Example conversation
Minjun is trying to study and Jieun keeps bothering him.
- 민준 Min-jun지은아, 제발 저리 가.Jieun-a, jebal jeori ga.Jieun, please stay away.
- 지은 Ji-eun왜 그래? 같이 놀자.Wae geurae? Gachi nolja.What's wrong? Let's play together.
- 민준 Min-jun나 지금 진짜 집중해야 돼.Na jigeum jincha jipjung-haeya dwae.I really need to concentrate right now.
- 지은 Ji-eun알았어, 미안해.Arasseo, mianhae.Okay, sorry.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가, 저리, CC BY-SA 4.0.
