Simply Learn Korean

Hi everyone! 👋 Welcome back to Simply Learn Korean.

When you meet a friend on the street in Seoul, or when a taxi driver asks about your destination, what is the phrase you’ll hear the most? In English, you ask, “Where are you going?”

In everyday Korean, the natural way to ask this is by using 어디에 가요? (eo-di-e ga-yo).

In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to use 어디에 가요? to talk about destinations and travel plans like a pro!

💡 What Does “어디에 가요?” Mean?

• 어디 (eo-di): Where
• 에 (e): To (direction / location marker)
• 가요 (ga-yo): Go (polite present tense of 가다 – to go)

Combined together, 어디에 가요? literally means “Where are you going?” or “Where are you heading?”

In casual speech, you can also drop the particle 에 and simply say 어디 가요?, which is super common among native speakers!

1. Asking About Destinations with Specific Places

You can attach a place name right before 에 가요 to state or ask where someone is going.

• 집 (home) + 에 가요➔ 집에 가요 (I am going home. / Are you going home?)
• 회사 (company / work) + 에 가요➔ 회사에 가요 (I am going to work.)
• 한국 (Korea) + 에 가요➔ 한국에 가요 (I am going to Korea.)

🎧 Pronunciation Tip:

When asking a question, make sure your voice goes up slightly at the very end. When answering a statement, keep your voice flat or lower it slightly.

💡 Bonus Grammar: “How” do you go there? (Transportation)

When someone asks where you are going, you often add how you are getting there. You can use the particle (으)로 (by means of / toward) with transportation words:

• 버스 (Bus) + 로 👉 버스로 (By bus)
• 지하철 (Subway) + 로 👉 지하철로 (By subway)
• 걸어서 (Walking) 👉 (Special expression for on foot)

💬 Sample Dialogue

• A: 어디에 가요? (Where are you going?)
• B: 회사에 가요. (I’m going to work.)
• A: 어떻게 가요? (How are you getting there?)
• B: 지하철로 가요. (I’m going by subway.)

🎯 Quick Practice Quiz!

Match the Korean sentence to its English meaning:

1. 어디에 가요?
2. 집에 가요.
3. 한국에 가요.

• A. I am going home.
• B. Where are you going?
• C. I am going to Korea.

💬 Practice with Me!

Try using 어디에 가요? or answering where you are heading in the comments below!

Example: 저는 카페에 가요! (I am going to a cafe!)

If you want to practice real spoken Korean with personalized conversation feedback, feel free to book a 1:1 lesson with me! Happy learning!