고 있다 (go itda) means "be doing (-ing)".
Indicates an action currently in progress.
Checked against the official learner dictionary from the National Institute of Korean Language
- Same form after any stem. 있다 itda carries the tense.
Build it
The forms you need
Is doing
하고 있어요hago isseoyoam doingWas doing
하고 있었어요hago isseosseoyowas doingRespectful
하고 계세요hago gyeseyois doing (someone older)Casual
하고 있어hago isseoam doing (to friends)When to use it
Right now
An action happening at this moment.
These days
Something that runs for weeks or months.
Was doing
Past: 고 있었다 go isseotda.
Wearing
With verbs for putting on clothes.
Watch out
Adjectives already describe a state. No 고 있다 go itda.
A state left behind takes 열려 있다 yeollyeo itda.
In context
8 examples- 1
비가 오고 있어요.
Biga ogo isseoyo.
It is raining.
- 2
지금 가고 있어요.
Jigeum gago isseoyo.
I am coming right now.
- 3
뭐 하고 있어?
Mwo hago isseo?
What are you doing?
- 4
요즘 운동을 열심히 하고 있어요.
Yojeum undongeul yeolsimhi hago isseoyo.
I've been working out a lot lately.
- 5
선생님이 교실에서 기다리고 계세요.
Seonsaengnimi gyosireseo gidarigo gyeseyo.
The teacher is waiting in the classroom.
- 6
어제 이 시간에 뭐 하고 있었어요?
Eoje i sigane mwo hago isseosseoyo?
What were you doing at this time yesterday?
- 7
친구가 빨간 모자를 쓰고 있어요.
Chinguga ppalgan mojareul sseugo isseoyo.
My friend is wearing a red hat.
- 8
지금 회의하고 있으니까 나중에 전화할게.
Jigeum hoeuihago isseunikka najunge jeonhwahalge.
I'm in a meeting right now, so I'll call you later.
Practice
8 questions저는 지금 피곤하고 있어요.
Jeoneun jigeum pigonhago isseoyo.
I'm tired right now.
고 있다 vs 아/어 있다
고 있다 go itda is an action in progress. 아/어 있다 is the state left over once an action is done.
- 의자에 앉고 있어요. uijae ango isseoyo "I'm sitting down." You're in the middle of it.
- 의자에 앉아 있어요. uijae anja isseoyo "I'm seated." It's already done.
See the 고 있다 vs 아/어 있다 comparison for more pairs.
Two meanings with clothes
With 입다 ipda, 신다 sinda, 쓰다 sseuda and other wearing verbs, 고 있다 go itda has two readings. Context tells you which:
- 지금 옷을 입고 있어요. jigeum oseul ipgo isseoyo "I'm getting dressed right now."
- 오늘 파란 옷을 입고 있어요. oneul paran oseul ipgo isseoyo "She's wearing blue today."
The second one is far more common.
When you don't need it
The plain present often means "-ing" already. 지금 뭐 해요? jigeum mwo haeyo is a perfectly normal "What are you doing now?". Reach for 고 있다 go itda when you want to stress that something is ongoing, or when you're describing a scene.
Compare with similar particles
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 고 있다 in two trusted Korean dictionaries.
