-보고
To Someone in Speech
Attach -보고 to a person or living thing to show who you are speaking to or directing an action at. It is commonly used with verbs like 말하다 (to speak) or 묻다 (to ask).
How It Works
Usage Rules:
- Attach -보고 directly to a noun representing a person or animal.
- It is most frequently used with speech verbs: 말하다 (to speak), 묻다 (to ask), 이야기하다 (to talk), 소리치다 (to shout).
- It can also be used with verbs showing directed action or emotion: 웃다 (to smile/laugh at), 화내다 (to get angry at).
Important Restrictions:
- Unlike 한테 or 에게, you cannot use -보고 with verbs of giving or receiving (like 주다, 받다, 가르치다).
- It is primarily used in spoken Korean and casual contexts.
Common Usage in Quoted Speech:
-보고 is very commonly used when reporting what someone told you to do, often paired with -라고 하다 or -다고 하다.
Examples (5)
- 선생님이 저보고 반장이라고 하셨어요.
The teacher called me the class president. (The teacher said to me that I am the class president.)
Word by Word: Teacher me-to class president-is said.
Used with the speech verb 하다 (to say) to indicate the speaker is the recipient of the statement.
- 모르는 것이 있으면 저보고 물어보세요.
If you have anything you don't know, ask me.
Word by Word: Not knowing thing exists-if me-to ask.
Attached to '저' (me) to show who should be asked.
- 왜 나보고 화를 내요?
Why are you getting angry at me?
Word by Word: Why me-at anger express?
Works well with verbs like 화를 내다 (to get angry) to show the target of the emotion.
- 엄마가 동생보고 청소하라고 했어요.
Mom told my younger sibling to clean up.
Word by Word: Mom younger sibling-to clean-to-do said.
Very commonly used with -라고 to report a command given to someone.
- 아기가 저보고 웃었어요.
The baby smiled at me.
Word by Word: Baby me-at smiled.
Used with 웃다 (to smile/laugh) to indicate the direction of the action.
Common Mistakes
Using -보고 with verbs of giving or receiving.
Not Quite친구보고 선물을 줬어요.Better친구한테 선물을 줬어요.-보고 cannot be used with verbs like 주다 (to give). You must use 한테 or 에게 instead.
Using -보고 with inanimate objects or places.
Not Quite학교보고 갔어요.Better학교에 갔어요.-보고 is only used with people or living things. For destinations or inanimate objects, use 에.
Learn This First
To understand -보고 in reported speech, learners need the idea of marking a person as the recipient or addressee, plus the basic reported command pattern.
Related Patterns
- 한테To, For
Both mean 'to' a person, but 한테 is more versatile and can be used with giving/receiving verbs, whereas -보고 is restricted to speech and directed actions.
- -라고 하다Said That, Told to
-보고 is frequently used together with -라고 하다 to report commands, meaning 'told [someone] to do [something]'.
- -다고 하다Said That, Reported That
-보고 is often used with -다고 하다 to report statements, meaning 'said to [someone] that...'.
- 께To (Honorific)
께 is the honorific version of 'to a person'. -보고 is not honorific, so 께 should be used when speaking to or about respected elders.
- -더러To, Toward (Someone)
Both mark the person a command, request, or statement is aimed at. -보고 is more common in everyday casual speech, while -더러 can sound more pointed or old-fashioned.