내 곁에 있어줘
nae gyeote isseojwo
The English phrase 'stay with me' is translated into Korean as 내 곁에 있어줘 (nae gyeote isseojwo).
This phrase is used to request that someone remains physically or emotionally present by one's side. Using the specific word for 'side' (곁) provides a strong emotional nuance of companionship, rather than just a general request for presence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 내 곁에 있어줘 is composed of 내 (my), 곁에 (by/at the side of) and 있어줘 (please be/stay).
Which one should you use?
While the default form 내 곁에 있어줘 emphasizes the emotional nuance of being 'by one's side', other variations may focus on the act of staying or being beside someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the request polite for someone you are not on intimate terms with, add the suffix '-요' to the end to create 내 곁에 있어줘요.
How do you pronounce it?
nae gyeote isseojwo
Did you know?
- In Korean, the request 있어줘 uses a helper verb meaning 'to give', implying that the person staying is doing a favor or granting a gift of their time.
- The sound 내 (nae) was once the general word for 'smoke' before it was largely displaced by the Sino-Korean word 연기 (yeon'gi) to avoid confusion with its many homophones.
Examples in context
- 내 곁에 있어줘.nae gyeote isseojwo.Stay by my side.
- 제발 내 곁에 있어줘.jebal nae gyeote isseojwo.Please, stay with me.
- 힘들 때 항상 내 곁에 있어줘.himdeul ttae hangsang nae gyeote isseojwo.Always stay by my side when times are hard.
Example conversation
Seoyeon is talking to Dohyeon during a quiet moment at night.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 나중에라도 내 곁에 있어줘.Dohyeon ssi, najure-rado nae gyeote isseojwo.Dohyeon, please stay by my side even later on.
- 도현 Do-hyeon걱정 마, 내가 항상 옆에 있을게.geokjeong ma, naega hangsang yeope isseulge.Don't worry, I will always be by your side.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 고마워.jeongmal gomawo.Thank you so much.
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니야, 내가 더 고마워.aniya, naega deo gomawo.No, I am the one who is thankful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내, CC BY-SA 4.0.
