If you’re learning Korean, one of the first verbs you’ll want to know is 가다 (gada), meaning “to go.”
It appears everywhere in everyday Korean. You can use it to say you’re going home, ask where someone is going, talk about future plans, or build useful expressions such as “go out,” “go back,” and “go up.”
The verb itself is simple. What makes it especially useful is how easily it combines with different endings and other verbs.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use 가다 naturally, from basic conjugations to common everyday expressions.
How to Say “Go” in Korean: 가다
The basic Korean verb for “to go” is:
가다 (gada) — to go
Like most Korean verbs in their dictionary form, 가다 ends in -다 (-da). When you use the verb in conversation, the ending changes depending on politeness, tense, and meaning.
For example:
- 학교에 가다 (hakgyoe gada) — to go to school
- 집에 가다 (jibe gada) — to go home
- 서울에 가다 (Seoure gada) — to go to Seoul
Notice the particle 에 (e) after the destination. When 가다 means physically going somewhere, 에 commonly marks the place you’re going to.
Three Common Ways to Say “Go”
The form of 가다 changes depending on how formally you’re speaking.
Formal: 갑니다 (Gamnida)
갑니다 (gamnida) is the formal polite form of 가다.
You’ll hear it in formal presentations, announcements, interviews, customer service situations, and other contexts where a more official tone is appropriate.
- 지금 사무실에 갑니다.
(Jigeum samusire gamnida.)
I’m going to the office now. - 다음 역으로 갑니다.
(Daeum yeogeuro gamnida.)
We are going to the next station.
For most everyday conversations, however, you won’t need to speak this formally.
Polite: 가요 (Gayo)
가요 (gayo) is the standard polite form and one of the most useful versions to learn first.
You can comfortably use it with people you don’t know well, coworkers, shop staff, teachers, and many other people in everyday situations.
- 주말에 부산에 가요.
(Jumare Busane gayo.)
I’m going to Busan this weekend. - 매일 지하철로 회사에 가요.
(Maeil jihacheollo hoesae gayo.)
I go to work by subway every day. - 어디에 가요?
(Eodie gayo?)
Where are you going?
If you’re unsure which speech level to use, 가요 is usually the safest choice.
Informal: 가 (Ga)
With close friends, younger family members, or people you’ve agreed to speak casually with, 가요 becomes simply:
가 (ga) — go / am going
For example:
- 나 먼저 가.
(Na meonjeo ga.)
I’m going first. - 어디 가?
(Eodi ga?)
Where are you going?
Because 가 is informal, avoid using it with strangers or people who expect polite speech.
Present, Past, and Future Forms of 가다
Once you know the basic polite form, learning the most common tenses is straightforward.
Present: 가요
가요 can describe something happening now, a habitual action, or a scheduled plan when the context makes the timing clear.
- 지금 집에 가요.
(Jigeum jibe gayo.)
I’m going home now. - 금요일마다 헬스장에 가요.
(Geumyoilmada helseujange gayo.)
I go to the gym every Friday.
Past: 갔어요 (Gasseoyo)
The polite past tense is:
갔어요 (gasseoyo) — went
- 어제 친구 집에 갔어요.
(Eoje chingu jibe gasseoyo.)
I went to my friend’s house yesterday. - 작년에 제주도에 갔어요.
(Jangnyeone Jejudoe gasseoyo.)
I went to Jeju Island last year.
Future: 갈 거예요 (Gal Geoyeyo)
A very common way to talk about future plans is:
갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) — will go / am going to go
- 내일 병원에 갈 거예요.
(Naeil byeongwone gal geoyeyo.)
I’m going to the hospital tomorrow. - 다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요.
(Daeum dare Hangug-e gal geoyeyo.)
I’m going to Korea next month.
These three forms are especially useful to memorize together:
가요 → 갔어요 → 갈 거예요
go → went → will go
How to Say “Go Somewhere to Do Something”
One of the most useful patterns with 가다 is:
verb + -(으)러 가다
It means “to go somewhere in order to do something.”
For verbs whose stem ends in a vowel, add -러. For many stems ending in a consonant, add -으러.
For example:
- 밥 먹으러 가요.
(Bap meogeureo gayo.)
I’m going to eat. - 친구를 만나러 가요.
(Chingureul mannareo gayo.)
I’m going to meet a friend. - 영화 보러 갈까요?
(Yeonghwa boreo galkkayo?)
Shall we go watch a movie? - 커피 마시러 가자!
(Keopi masireo gaja!)
Let’s go get coffee!
This pattern is extremely common in spoken Korean.
Saying How You Go Somewhere
To say what means of transportation you use, Korean commonly uses -(으)로.
For example:
- 버스로 가요.
(Beoseuro gayo.)
I go by bus. - 택시로 갈 거예요.
(Taeksiro gal geoyeyo.)
I’ll go by taxi. - 걸어서 가요.
(Georeoseo gayo.)
I go on foot.
You can combine the destination and transportation in the same sentence:
공항에 지하철로 가요.
(Gonghange jihacheollo gayo.)
I go to the airport by subway.
가다 vs. 다니다: Two Ways to Talk About Going
Another verb learners frequently encounter is 다니다 (danida).
Although both 가다 and 다니다 can involve “going,” they aren’t interchangeable.
가다 generally focuses on going somewhere on a particular occasion.
다니다 often means attending or regularly going to a place.
Compare:
오늘 도서관에 가요.
(Oneul doseogwane gayo.)
I’m going to the library today.
매일 도서관에 다녀요.
(Maeil doseogwane danyeoyo.)
I go to the library every day.
Another common example is:
한국어 학원에 다녀요.
(Hangugeo hagwone danyeoyo.)
I attend a Korean language academy.
If you’re describing a regular routine, school, workplace, gym, or other place you repeatedly attend, 다니다 may sound more natural.
Common Korean Verbs Built with 가다
Learning 가다 also opens the door to many useful compound verbs.
Instead of memorizing them as one long list, it helps to group them by meaning.
Moving In and Out
나가다 (nagada) — to go out / leave
- 잠깐 밖에 나가요.
(Jamkkan bakke nagayo.)
I’m going outside for a moment.
들어가다 (deureogada) — to go in / enter
- 먼저 들어가세요.
(Meonjeo deureogaseyo.)
Please go in first.
Moving Up and Down
올라가다 (ollagada) — to go up
- 엘리베이터를 타고 5층으로 올라가요.
(Ellibeiteoreul tago ocheungeuro ollagayo.)
I take the elevator up to the fifth floor.
내려가다 (naeryeogada) — to go down
- 지하 1층으로 내려가세요.
(Jiha ilcheungeuro naeryeogaseyo.)
Please go down to basement level one.
Going Back or Around
돌아가다 (doragada) — to go back / return
- 이제 집에 돌아갈게요.
(Ije jibe doragalgeyo.)
I’ll go back home now.
돌아다니다 (doradanida) — to go around / wander around
- 하루 종일 서울을 돌아다녔어요.
(Haru jongil Seoureul doradanyeosseoyo.)
I walked around Seoul all day.
Following or Passing
따라가다 (ttaragada) — to follow / go along with someone
- 제가 길을 아니까 따라오세요.
(Jega gireul anikka ttaraoseyo.)
I know the way, so follow me.
When the movement is toward the speaker, Korean often uses 따라오다 rather than 따라가다.
지나가다 (jinagada) — to pass by
- 매일 아침 이 카페 앞을 지나가요.
(Maeil achim i kape apeul jinagayo.)
I pass by this café every morning.
Taking People or Things Somewhere
데려가다 (deryeogada) — to take someone somewhere
- 아이들을 공원에 데려갔어요.
(Aideureul gongwone deryeogasseoyo.)
I took the children to the park.
가져가다 (gajyeogada) — to take something with you
- 우산을 가져가세요.
(Usaneul gajyeogaseyo.)
Take an umbrella with you.
A useful distinction is:
데려가다 → used for people or animals
가져가다 → used for things
What About 떠나가다?
You may also encounter 떠나가다 (tteonagada), meaning “to leave” or “to go away.”
In ordinary conversation, 떠나다 (tteonada) is often enough to express “leave” or “depart.” 떠나가다 can place more emphasis on someone or something moving away and may sound more emotional or literary depending on the context.
For example:
기차가 천천히 떠나갔어요.
(Gichaga cheoncheonhi tteonagasseoyo.)
The train slowly went away.
You’ll encounter this kind of expression more often in storytelling, lyrics, or descriptions than in basic conversations about where you’re going.
Essential Expressions with “Go”
Here are some practical expressions worth learning as complete phrases:
- 집에 가다 (jibe gada) — go home
- 밖에 나가다 (bakke nagada) — go outside
- 돌아가다 (doragada) — go back
- 들어가다 (deureogada) — go in
- 올라가다 (ollagada) — go up
- 내려가다 (naeryeogada) — go down
- 걸어가다 (georeogada) — go on foot / walk there
- 건너가다 (geonneogada) — go across
- 따라가다 (ttaragada) — follow / go along
- 지나가다 (jinagada) — pass by
- 계속 가다 (gyesok gada) — keep going
- 곧장 가다 (gotjang gada) — go straight
- 장 보러 가다 (jang boreo gada) — go grocery shopping
- 놀러 가다 (nolleo gada) — go somewhere for fun
- 여행 가다 (yeohaeng gada) — go on a trip
- 먹으러 가다 (meogeureo gada) — go to eat
- 보러 가다 (boreo gada) — go to see/watch
- 가자! (gaja!) — let’s go!
Rather than trying to memorize all of them at once, start with the expressions that match your daily routine.
“Let’s Go!” in Korean: 가자 (Gaja)
One expression deserves special attention:
가자! (gaja!) — Let’s go!
This is casual, so it’s best used with friends or people you’re close to.
For example:
이제 가자!
(Ije gaja!)
Let’s go now!
밥 먹으러 가자!
(Bap meogeureo gaja!)
Let’s go eat!
For a polite alternative, you can say:
가요! (gayo!)
Let’s go!
Or, when making a polite suggestion:
갈까요? (galkkayo?)
Shall we go?
이제 갈까요?
(Ije galkkayo?)
Shall we go now?
Useful Questions with 가다
A few simple questions with 가다 can immediately make your Korean more practical.
어디 가요?
(Eodi gayo?)
Where are you going?
어떻게 가요?
(Eotteoke gayo?)
How do I/you get there?
언제 갈 거예요?
(Eonje gal geoyeyo?)
When are you going?
같이 갈까요?
(Gachi galkkayo?)
Shall we go together?
여기에서 어떻게 가요?
(Yeogieseo eotteoke gayo?)
How do I get there from here?
These short patterns are especially useful when traveling in Korea.
Tips for Practicing 가다 Naturally
The best way to remember 가다 is to connect it to places and activities in your own life.
Describe where you’re going.
When you leave home, make a simple Korean sentence:
회사에 가요.
I’m going to work.
마트에 가요.
I’m going to the supermarket.
Say why you’re going.
Practice the -(으)러 가다 pattern:
점심 먹으러 가요.
I’m going to eat lunch.
책 사러 가요.
I’m going to buy a book.
Change the tense.
Take one sentence and practice it in the present, past, and future:
서울에 가요.
I’m going to Seoul.
서울에 갔어요.
I went to Seoul.
서울에 갈 거예요.
I’m going to go to Seoul.
This gives you much more practical speaking practice than memorizing isolated vocabulary.
Wrapping Up
The Korean verb 가다 may simply mean “to go,” but it’s one of the building blocks of everyday Korean.
Start by remembering the three forms you’ll use most often:
갑니다 — formal
가요 — polite
가 — casual
Then add the basic tense forms:
가요 — go / am going
갔어요 — went
갈 거예요 — will go
From there, expressions such as 나가다 (go out), 돌아가다 (go back), and -(으)러 가다 (go to do something) will greatly expand what you can say.
You don’t need to memorize every expression at once. Start with a few that fit your daily life and use them repeatedly.
The more you use 가다, the easier it becomes to keep your Korean moving forward.
계속 가요! (Gyesok gayo!) — Keep going!
