가져가다 vs 가져오다: Direction and Subject Difference

가져가다 (ga-jyeo-ga-da, gajyeogada) · 가져오다 (ga-jyeo-o-da, gajyeooda)

가져가다 and 가져오다 differ based on the perspective of starting point and destination when moving objects or people.

Comparison of Korean verbs 가져가다 and 가져오다 showing direction and subject differences

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

가져가다(ga-jyeo-ga-da, gajyeogada)

Means to take something or someone from the current location to another place.

When to use

Movement from starting point, Moving something elsewhere, Away from speaker's location

The nuance

Used when moving something away from the speaker's current location or point of reference to another place.

가져오다(ga-jyeo-o-da, gajyeooda)

Means to bring something or someone from another place to the current location.

When to use

Movement toward destination, From elsewhere to current place, Closer to speaker's location

The nuance

Used when bringing something or someone from another place to the speaker's current location or reference point.

Real-world examples

  • 나는 책을 집에 가져갔다.

    na-neun chaek-eul jip-e ga-jyeo-gass-da., na neun chaek eul jip e ga jyeo gass da.

    The speaker moved the book from current location to home, so '가져갔다' is appropriate.

  • 나는 친구 집에서 책을 가져왔다.

    na-neun chin-gu jip-e-seo chaek-eul ga-jyeo-wass-da., na neun chin gu jip e seo chaek eul ga jyeo wass da.

    The book was brought from friend's house to current location, so '가져왔다' is correct.

  • 나는 집에서 책을 가져왔다.

    na-neun jip-e-seo chaek-eul ga-jyeo-wass-da., na neun jip e seo chaek eul ga jyeo wass da.

    '가져왔다' means bringing from elsewhere to current place, but '집에서' implies starting at home, so '가져갔다' is correct.

  • 나는 학교에 가방을 가져왔다.

    na-neun hak-gyo-e ga-bang-eul ga-jyeo-wass-da., na neun hak gyo e ga bang eul ga jyeo wass da.

    If school is not speaker's current location, '가져왔다' is incorrect; '가져갔다' should be used.

  • 그는 사무실에 서류를 가져갔다.

    geu-neun sa-mu-sil-e seo-ryu-reul ga-jyeo-gass-da., geu neun sa mu sil e seo ryu reul ga jyeo gass da.

    He moved documents from current location to office, so '가져갔다' is suitable.

  • 그녀는 시장에서 과일을 가져왔다.

    geu-nyeo-neun si-jang-e-seo gwa-il-eul ga-jyeo-wass-da., geu nyeo neun si jang e seo gwa il eul ga jyeo wass da.

    She brought fruit from market to current location, so '가져왔다' is correct.

  • 나는 친구 집에 음식을 가져왔다.

    na-neun chin-gu jip-e eum-sik-eul ga-jyeo-wass-da., na neun chin gu jip e eum sik eul ga jyeo wass da.

    '가져왔다' means bringing to current place; moving food to friend's house requires '가져갔다'.

  • 나는 사무실에서 노트를 가져갔다.

    na-neun sa-mu-sil-e-seo no-teu-reul ga-jyeo-gass-da., na neun sa mu sil e seo no teu reul ga jyeo gass da.

    '가져갔다' means moving away from current place; if taking notebook from office to here, '가져왔다' is correct.

Quick quiz

  1. Which sentence correctly uses '가져가다'?

    다음 중 '가져가다'를 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjung'ga-jyeo-ga-da'reulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung'gajyeogada'reulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
  2. Which sentence appropriately uses '가져오다'?

    '가져오다'가 적절한 문장은?('ga-jyeo-o-da'gajeok-jeol-hanmun-jang-eun?, 'gajyeooda'gajeokjeolhanmunjangeun?)
  3. Fill in the blank: '나는 친구 집에 음식을 ___.'

    '나는 친구 집에 음식을 ___.' 빈칸에 들어갈 말은?('na-neunchin-gujip-eeum-sik-eul___.'bin-kan-edeul-eo-galmal-eun?, 'naneunchingujipeeumsikeul___.'binkanedeuleogalmaleun?)

More comparisons to explore

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