Learning how to say “come here” in Korean is essential for effective communication, whether you’re traveling, studying the language, or simply enjoying Korean media. This phrase, seemingly simple, unlocks a deeper understanding of Korean grammar, politeness levels, and cultural nuances.
Mastering this concept will not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your comprehension of sentence structure and honorifics. This article is tailored for learners of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced students, providing a comprehensive guide to expressing “come here” in various contexts.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition: “Come Here” in Korean
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of “Come Here”
- Examples of “Come Here” in Korean
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition: “Come Here” in Korean
The concept of “come here” in Korean isn’t a single, direct translation. Instead, it involves a spectrum of expressions, each carrying different levels of politeness and formality. The core verb meaning “to come” is 오다 (oda). However, simply using this verb doesn’t suffice; it needs to be conjugated correctly to fit the social context and relationship with the listener. The phrase can range from highly formal commands used in specific situations to casual invitations used among close friends and family.
Understanding the nuances of these variations is crucial. Using the wrong form can be perceived as rude or overly familiar.
The choice depends on factors such as age, social status, and the level of intimacy between the speaker and the listener. Therefore, mastering “come here” in Korean requires not only knowing the basic verb but also grasping the socio-linguistic rules governing its usage.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of “come here” in Korean revolves around the verb 오다 (oda), which means “to come.” The imperative form, which directly commands or requests someone to come, is derived from this verb. However, the ending of the verb changes depending on the level of politeness desired.
Here’s a general breakdown:
- Root Verb: 오- (o-) – This is the stem of the verb 오다 (oda).
- Imperative Ending: This is the crucial part that indicates the level of politeness. Some common endings include:
- -(으)십시오 (-eu)sipsio): Very formal and polite.
- -세요 (-seyo): Standard polite.
- -아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo): Informal polite.
- -아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo) + 봐 (bwa): More casual and intimate, implying “try coming.”
The choice of ending significantly alters the tone and appropriateness of the expression. The correct conjugation depends on the final vowel of the verb stem and the desired level of formality.
Types and Categories of “Come Here”
The phrase “come here” in Korean can be categorized based on politeness levels, each suitable for different situations and relationships.
Formal
The formal form is used in very polite and respectful situations, such as addressing superiors, elders (especially in very formal settings), or in public announcements. It conveys a high level of deference and is generally used when strict etiquette is required. The most common ending for the formal imperative is -(으)십시오 (-eu)sipsio).
Standard Polite
This is the most common and versatile form, suitable for everyday interactions with people you don’t know well, acquaintances, or those slightly older or of higher status than you (but not requiring extreme formality). It uses the ending -세요 (-seyo) and offers a balance between politeness and approachability.
Informal Polite
The informal polite form is used with people you know relatively well but still want to maintain a level of respect, such as close colleagues or friends who are slightly older than you. It employs the -아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo) endings, depending on the verb stem’s vowel. When used alone, it can sound somewhat abrupt, so it’s often softened by adding other polite phrases.
Informal Intimate
This form is reserved for close friends, family members, and significant others. It is considered impolite to use this form with strangers or people you need to show respect to. It also uses the -아/어/여 (-a/eo/yeo) endings, often combined with 봐 (bwa) to create a more casual and inviting tone, like “try coming here.”
Examples of “Come Here” in Korean
Understanding the different forms requires seeing them in context. Here are examples categorized by politeness level.
Formal Examples
These examples demonstrate the highest level of politeness and are used in formal settings.
The following table showcases example sentences using the formal form of “come here.”
| Korean | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 이쪽으로 오십시오. | Ijjogeuro osipsio. | Please come this way. (Very formal) |
| 강당으로 오십시오. | Gangdangeuro osipsio. | Please come to the auditorium. (Very formal) |
| 회의실로 오십시오. | Hoeuisillo osipsio. | Please come to the conference room. (Very formal) |
| 무대로 오십시오. | Mudaero osipsio. | Please come to the stage. (Very formal) |
| 여기까지 오십시오. | Yeogikkaji osipsio. | Please come up to here. (Very formal) |
| 안으로 오십시오. | Anuero osipsio. | Please come inside. (Very formal) |
| 밖으로 오십시오. | Bakkeuro osipsio. | Please come outside. (Very formal) |
| 제 사무실로 오십시오. | Je samusillo osipsio. | Please come to my office. (Very formal) |
| 지금 바로 오십시오. | Jigeum baro osipsio. | Please come right now. (Very formal) |
| 늦지 않게 오십시오. | Neutji anke osipsio. | Please come without being late. (Very formal) |
| 정시에 오십시오. | Jeongsiae osipsio. | Please come on time. (Very formal) |
| 조용히 오십시오. | Joyonghi osipsio. | Please come quietly. (Very formal) |
| 빨리 오십시오. | Ppalli osipsio. | Please come quickly. (Very formal) |
| 천천히 오십시오. | Cheoncheonhi osipsio. | Please come slowly. (Very formal) |
| 편안하게 오십시오. | Pyeonanage osipsio. | Please come comfortably. (Very formal) |
| 준비되면 오십시오. | Junbidwemyeon osipsio. | Please come when you are ready. (Very formal) |
| 확인하고 오십시오. | Hwaginhago osipsio. | Please come after checking. (Very formal) |
| 알려드린 대로 오십시오. | Allyeodeurin daero osipsio. | Please come as informed. (Very formal) |
| 필요한 것을 가지고 오십시오. | Pilhaneun geoseul gajigo osipsio. | Please come with what you need. (Very formal) |
| 예약된 시간에 오십시오. | Yeyakdwen sigane osipsio. | Please come at the reserved time. (Very formal) |
Standard Polite Examples
These examples are suitable for everyday interactions with people you don’t know well.
The following table showcases example sentences using the standard polite form of “come here.”
| Korean | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 이쪽으로 오세요. | Ijjogeuro oseyo. | Please come this way. |
| 여기 와 보세요. | Yeogi wa boseyo. | Come and see here. |
| 저에게 오세요. | Jeoege oseyo. | Come to me. |
| 빨리 오세요. | Ppalli oseyo. | Come quickly. |
| 천천히 오세요. | Cheoncheonhi oseyo. | Come slowly. |
| 제 방으로 오세요. | Je bangeuro oseyo. | Come to my room. |
| 학교에 오세요. | Hakgyoe oseyo. | Come to school. |
| 병원에 오세요. | Byeongwone oseyo. | Come to the hospital. |
| 집에 오세요. | Jibe oseyo. | Come home. |
| 사무실에 오세요. | Samusire oseyo. | Come to the office. |
| 공원에 오세요. | Gongwone oseyo. | Come to the park. |
| 식당에 오세요. | Sikdange oseyo. | Come to the restaurant. |
| 카페에 오세요. | Kapee oseyo. | Come to the cafe. |
| 영화관에 오세요. | Yeonghwagwane oseyo. | Come to the cinema. |
| 도서관에 오세요. | Doseogwane oseyo. | Come to the library. |
| 운동장에 오세요. | Undongjange oseyo. | Come to the playground. |
| 강의실에 오세요. | Ganguisire oseyo. | Come to the lecture room. |
| 회의실에 오세요. | Hoeuisire oseyo. | Come to the meeting room. |
| 여기 앉으세요. | Yeogi anjeuseyo. | Come and sit here. |
| 저기 보세요. | Jeogi boseyo. | Come and look there. |
| 같이 가세요. | Gati gaseyo. | Come and go together. |
| 함께 오세요. | Hamkke oseyo. | Come together. |
| 다 같이 오세요. | Da gati oseyo. | Everyone, come together. |
Informal Polite Examples
These examples are suitable for people you know relatively well but still want to maintain respect.
The following table showcases example sentences using the informal polite form of “come here.”
| Korean | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 이리 와요. | Iri wayo. | Come here. |
| 여기 와 봐요. | Yeogi wa bwayo. | Try coming here. |
| 어서 와요. | Eoseo wayo. | Come quickly. |
| 늦지 않게 와요. | Neutji anke wayo. | Don’t come late. |
| 조심히 와요. | Josimhi wayo. | Come carefully. |
| 빨리 와요. | Ppalli wayo. | Come quickly. |
| 천천히 와요. | Cheoncheonhi wayo. | Come slowly. |
| 준비되면 와요. | Junbidwemyeon wayo. | Come when you’re ready. |
| 시간 맞춰 와요. | Sigan matchwo wayo. | Come on time. |
| 연락하고 와요. | Yeollakhago wayo. | Come after contacting me. |
| 잊지 말고 와요. | Itji malgo wayo. | Don’t forget to come. |
| 꼭 와요. | Kkok wayo. | Make sure to come. |
| 다음에 또 와요. | Daeume tto wayo. | Come again next time. |
| 같이 놀러 와요. | Gati nolleo wayo. | Come hang out together. |
| 언제든지 와요. | Eonjedeunji wayo. | Come anytime. |
| 심심하면 와요. | Simsimhamyeon wayo. | Come if you’re bored. |
| 도와주러 와요. | Dowajureo wayo. | Come to help. |
| 이야기하러 와요. | Iyagihareo wayo. | Come to talk. |
| 기분 전환하러 와요. | Gibun jeonhwaneuro wayo. | Come to change your mood. |
| 차 마시러 와요. | Cha masireo wayo. | Come for tea. |
Informal Intimate Examples
These examples are reserved for close friends, family members, and significant others.
The following table showcases example sentences using the informal intimate form of “come here.”
| Korean | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 이리 와. | Iri wa. | Come here. (Informal) |
| 어서 와. | Eoseo wa. | Come on. (Informal) |
| 빨리 와. | Ppalli wa. | Come quickly. (Informal) |
| 여기 와 봐. | Yeogi wa bwa. | Try coming here. (Informal) |
| 나한테 와. | Nahante wa. | Come to me. (Informal) |
| 집에 와. | Jibe wa. | Come home. (Informal) |
| 내 옆에 와. | Nae yeope wa. | Come next to me. (Informal) |
| 같이 가자. 와. | Gati gaja. Wa. | Let’s go together. Come on. (Informal) |
| 놀러 와. | Nolleo wa. | Come hang out. (Informal) |
| 밥 먹으러 와. | Bap meogeureo wa. | Come eat. (Informal) |
| 영화 보러 와. | Yeonghwa boreo wa. | Come watch a movie. (Informal) |
| 차 마시러 와. | Cha masireo wa. | Come have tea. (Informal) |
| 이야기하러 와. | Iyagihareo wa. | Come talk. (Informal) |
| 힘내러 와. | Himnaereo wa. | Come cheer up. (Informal) |
| 쉬러 와. | Swireo wa. | Come rest. (Informal) |
| 같이 게임하자. 와. | Gati geim haja. Wa. | Let’s play games together. Come on. (Informal) |
| 노래 부르러 와. | Norae bureureo wa. | Come sing. (Informal) |
| 춤추러 와. | Chumchureo wa. | Come dance. (Informal) |
| 바람 쐬러 와. | Baram ssoeureo wa. | Come get some fresh air. (Informal) |
| 드라이브하러 와. | Deuraibeuhareo wa. | Come for a drive. (Informal) |
Usage Rules
The most important rule is to choose the correct politeness level based on the social context. Using a formal expression with a close friend can sound awkward, while using an informal expression with a superior can be considered disrespectful.
Always consider your relationship with the listener and the situation you are in.
Another important rule involves the verb stem. When conjugating 오다 (oda) into the informal polite or informal intimate forms, you need to consider the vowel of the verb stem. Since the stem is 오- (o-), which ends in the vowel ㅗ (o), you add -아 (-a) to form 와 (wa). For verbs with stems ending in other vowels, the conjugation rules may differ.
Finally, remember that adding phrases like 어서 (eoseo) (quickly, hurry) or 빨리 (ppalli) (quickly) can add urgency or emphasis to the command, but they don’t change the fundamental politeness level. Be mindful of the tone you want to convey.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake is using the informal form with someone who requires respect.
Incorrect: 사장님, 이리 와. (Sajangnim, iri wa.) – Boss, come here. (Informal)
Correct: 사장님, 이쪽으로 오십시오. (Sajangnim, ijjogeuro osipsio.) – Boss, please come this way. (Formal)
Another mistake is using the wrong verb ending due to confusion about vowel harmony rules.
Incorrect: 여기 오어요. (Yeogi oeoyo.)
Correct: 여기 와요. (Yeogi wayo.) – Come here. (Informal Polite)
Finally, learners sometimes forget to consider the context and simply use the standard polite form in all situations. While this is generally acceptable, it can sound impersonal in intimate settings.
Less Ideal (with a close friend): 빨리 오세요. (Ppalli oseyo.) – Come quickly. (Standard Polite)
Better (with a close friend): 빨리 와. (Ppalli wa.) – Come quickly. (Informal Intimate)
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these exercises. Choose the correct form of “come here” based on the context provided.
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. You are talking to your best friend. How do you say “Come here”? | 이리 와. (Iri wa.) |
| 2. You are asking your teacher to come to your desk. How do you say “Come here”? | 이쪽으로 오세요. (Ijjogeuro oseyo.) |
| 3. You are making an announcement at a formal event. How do you say “Please come to the stage”? | 무대로 오십시오. (Mudaero osipsio.) |
| 4. You are inviting a colleague you are friendly with to your office. How do you say “Come to my office”? | 제 사무실로 와요. (Je samusillo wayo.) |
| 5. You want your younger sibling to come quickly. How do you say “Come quickly”? | 빨리 와. (Ppalli wa.) |
| 6. You are politely asking a customer to come inside your store. How do you say “Please come inside”? | 안으로 오세요. (Anuero oseyo.) |
| 7. You are telling your child to come home. How do you say “Come home”? | 집에 와. (Jibe wa.) |
| 8. You are inviting a friend to come over and watch a movie. How do you say “Come watch a movie”? | 영화 보러 와. (Yeonghwa boreo wa.) |
| 9. You are formally requesting someone to come to the meeting room. How do you say “Please come to the meeting room”? | 회의실로 오십시오. (Hoeuisillo osipsio.) |
| 10. You are telling a close friend to come over if they are bored. How do you say “Come if you’re bored”? | 심심하면 와. (Simsimhamyeon wa.) |
Advanced Topics
Beyond the basic forms, there are more nuanced ways to express “come here” in Korean. One involves using indirect requests. For example, instead of directly saying “Come here,” you could say “Would you like to come here?” (여기 오시겠어요? – Yeogi osigesseoyo?) This softens the command and makes it more polite.
Another advanced concept is using idioms or figurative language. While there isn’t a direct idiom for “come here,” you can use expressions that imply the same meaning. For example, you could say “Let’s meet up here” (여기서 만나요 – Yeogiseo mannayo), which indirectly invites the person to come to the location.
Furthermore, understanding the cultural context is crucial. In some situations, a simple gesture or facial expression might be enough to convey the meaning of “come here” without saying anything at all.
Pay attention to non-verbal cues and adapt your communication style accordingly.
FAQ
- Q: Is it rude to use the informal form with someone older than me?
A: Yes, generally it is considered rude unless you are very close to them and they have explicitly given you permission to use informal language. Always err on the side of politeness, especially in initial interactions.
- Q: How do I know which politeness level to use?
A: Consider your relationship with the person, their age and social status relative to yours, and the formality of the situation. If in doubt, start with the standard polite form and adjust as needed based on their response.
- Q: What’s the difference between -세요 (-seyo) and -(으)십시오 (-eu)sipsio)?
A: -세요 (-seyo) is standard polite, suitable for most everyday situations. -(으)십시오 (-eu)sipsio) is very formal and should be reserved for situations requiring a high level of respect, such as addressing superiors in a formal setting or making public announcements.
- Q: Can I use 와 (wa) with my parents?
A: It depends on your relationship with your parents. Some parents are comfortable with their children using informal language, while others prefer to maintain a level of respect. It’s best to follow their lead.
- Q: What does 봐 (bwa) add to the phrase?
A: Adding 봐 (bwa) softens the command and makes it more of an invitation or suggestion. It implies “try coming” or “come and see.” It is generally used in informal settings with close friends and family.
- Q: Is there a way to make “Come here” sound less direct?
A: Yes, you can use indirect requests like “Would you like to come here?” (여기 오시겠어요? – Yeogi osigesseoyo?) or “Why don’t you come here?” (여기 오는 게 어때요? – Yeogi oneun ge eottaeyo?) to soften the command.
- Q: What if I accidentally use the wrong politeness level?
A: Apologize immediately and correct yourself. A simple “죄송합니다 (Joesonghamnida)” (I’m sorry) followed by the correct form will usually suffice.
- Q: Are there regional differences in how “come here” is expressed?
A: While the core grammar remains the same, there might be slight variations in pronunciation or the use of specific dialects. However, the forms discussed in this article are widely understood across Korea.
Conclusion
Mastering the various ways to say “come here” in Korean is a critical step towards fluency and cultural understanding. By understanding the different politeness levels and usage rules, you can communicate effectively and appropriately in various social situations.
Remember to consider your relationship with the listener, the formality of the context, and the nuances of the Korean language.
Continue practicing and immersing yourself in the language. Watch Korean dramas and movies, listen to Korean music, and engage in conversations with native speakers.
The more you practice, the more natural and intuitive these expressions will become. With dedication and persistence, you’ll be able to confidently and accurately express “come here” in any situation.