Korean for English speakers Beach · Lesson 5

Going home by bus

Location particles in Korean — -에 (destination) vs -에서 (action location) — 집에 가요 (going home) and 부모님이 기다려요 (parents are waiting).

Conversation

  1. Pishi Pishi

    미라 씨, 어디에 가요?

    Mira ssi, eodie gayo?

    Meera, where are you going?

    Tip: <어디에 가요?> = formal way to say "where are you going?" <N에 가요> = verb "to go to the place N" [Note] Even though 'going' is an action, we do not use the preposition -에서, exceptionally we use -에

  2. Meera Meera

    집에 가요. 부모님이 저를 기다려요.

    Jibe gayo. Bumonimi jeoreul gidaryeoyo.

    I'm going home. My parents are waiting for me.

    Tip: <집> = home, house <부모님> = parents <기다려요> = verb "to wait for"

  3. Pishi Pishi

    집에 어떻게 가요?

    Jibe eotteoke gayo?

    How are you going home?

    Tip: <어떻게> = how

  4. Meera Meera

    버스나 지하철 ... 어, 버스가 와요! 나중에 또 봐요!

    Beoseuna jihacheol ... Eo, beoseuga wayo! Najunge tto bwayo!

    Bus or subway ... uh, there comes the bus! See you later!

    Tip: <버스> = bus <N(이)나> = suffix used after a noun to say "or" <지하철> = subway <N이/가 와요> = formal way to say "There come(s) N" <나중에 또 봐요> = formal way to say "See you again later"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What's the difference between -에 and -에서?

-에 = location/destination (with 가다, 있다). 집에 가요 = 'go home'. -에서 = where an action happens. 집에서 먹어요 = 'eat at home'.

Where are you going in Korean?

어디에 가요? — 어디 (where) + -에 (destination particle) + 가요 (go). Common everyday question.

What is 부모님?

'Parents' — honorific form. 부모 alone is also used. -님 adds respect.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.