우리 어디 가요?
uri eodi gayo?
The English phrase "where are we going?" is translated into Korean as 우리 어디 가요? (uri eodi gayo?)
This phrase is used to ask about the destination of a trip or movement. Note that while 어디 means "where", the specific word 어디로 also means "where".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 우리 어디 가요? is composed of 우리 (we), 어디 (where) and 가요 (go/are going).
Which one should you use?
In Korean, the verb 가요 is used to express both the simple present "we go" and the present continuous "we are going".
How does it change in a sentence?
The level of politeness is changed by the verb ending: adding -습니까 makes the question highly formal and respectful, while the -요 ending is the standard polite form. Dropping the -요 from the end of 가요 creates the informal/casual version.
How do you pronounce it?
uri eodi gayo?
Did you know?
- The word 우리 (we) is used much more frequently in Korean than 'we' is in English, often replacing 'my' to describe things like 우리 집 (our house) even when the speaker lives alone.
- The word 가요 can be a homonym meaning 'ballad' or 'folk song' when written with Sino-Korean characters as 歌謠.
- In Korean culture, asking 우리 어디 가요? can sometimes be a polite way to prompt someone to start a planned activity without sounding too demanding.
Examples in context
- 어디로 가시는 건가요? / 박물관에 가려고요.Where are we going? / I'm going to the museum.
- 우리 어디 가요?uri eodi gayo?Where are we going?
- 지금 우리 어디 가요?jigeum uri eodi gayo?Where are we going right now?
- 우리 어디 가요? 알려 주세요.uri eodi gayo? allyeo juseyo.Where are we going? Please let me know.
Example conversation
Two friends are getting into a taxi.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 우리 어디 가요?Jihun ssi, uri eodi gayo?Jihoon, where are we going?
- 지훈 Ji-hun맛있는 식당에 가요.masinneun sikdange gayo.We are going to a delicious restaurant.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 기대돼요!jeongmal gidaedwaeyo!I'm really looking forward to it!
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨도 좋아할 거예요.Seoyeon ssi-do joahal geoyeyo.I'm sure you'll like it too, Seoyeon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가요, 어디, 우리, CC BY-SA 4.0.
