보고 (bogo) means "to, at (someone)".
Identifies the person being spoken to.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after a consonant or a vowel.
- Casual speech, with verbs of saying and telling.
Build it
When to use it
Who was told
Orders and requests passed on.
What people call you
Who an opinion is about.
Who it was aimed at
Who a remark was meant for.
Watch out
Only for telling, never for giving.
Too casual for elders. Use 께 kke.
In context
8 examples- 1
엄마가 나보고 공부하래.
Eommaga nabogo gongbuharae.
Mom told me to study.
- 2
누구보고 하는 말이야?
Nugubogo haneun mariya?
Who are you saying that to?
- 3
친구가 나보고 같이 여행 가재.
Chinguga nabogo gachi yeohaeng gajae.
My friend asked me to go on a trip with her.
- 4
선생님이 저보고 발표하라고 하셨어요.
Seonsaengnimi jeobogo balpyoharago hasyeosseoyo.
The teacher asked me to give the presentation.
- 5
왜 나보고만 그래?
Wae nabogoman geurae?
Why are you only picking on me?
- 6
사장님이 너보고 잠깐 오래.
Sajangnimi neobogo jamkkan orae.
The boss wants you to come over for a sec.
- 7
다들 나보고 살 빠졌대.
Dadeul nabogo sal ppajyeotdae.
Everyone says I've lost weight.
- 8
형이 나보고 먼저 가래.
Hyeongi nabogo meonjeo garae.
My brother told me to go ahead without him.
Practice
8 questions친구보고 선물을 줬어.
Chingubogo seonmureul jwosseo.
I gave my friend a present.
Where 보고 comes from
보고 is the verb 보다 boda, "to look at", frozen into a particle. 나보고 nabogo is close to "looking at me, they said". That's why it fits face-to-face talk so well.
The verb is still around, though, and it looks almost the same. The difference is the 을/를 eul/reul:
- 나를 보고 웃었어요. nareul bogo useosseoyo "She looked at me and smiled." The verb: she really looked.
- 나보고 웃으래요. nabogo useuraeyo "She told me to smile." The particle: she told me.
If there's an object particle, it's the verb. If 보고 sits right on the person, it's the particle.
보고 vs 더러 vs 한테
한테 hante is the neutral way to mark the person you tell. 보고 and 더러 deoreo are casual alternatives that only work with saying, telling and asking. Between those two, 보고 is the one you'll hear more today.
- 엄마가 나한테 일찍 오래. eommaga nahante iljjik orae "Mom told me to come home early."
- 엄마가 나보고 일찍 오래. eommaga nabogo iljjik orae Same meaning, a little more pointed.
Hanja in this lesson
Words from the examples that are written with Chinese characters. Tap a character to see its page.
Look it up in the dictionary
The entry for 보고 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
