이렇게 vs 저렇게 vs 그렇게: Differences in Demonstrative Direction and Distance

이렇게 (i-reoh-ge, ireohge) · 저렇게 (jeo-reoh-ge, jeoreohge) · 그렇게 (geu-reoh-ge, geureohge)

이렇게, 저렇게, 그리고 그렇게 differ based on the spatial or contextual distance between speaker, listener, and the referenced object or action.

Comparison of Korean demonstratives 이렇게, 저렇게, 그리고 그렇게 with examples

Word-by-word breakdown

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

이렇게(i-reoh-ge, ireohge)

Used to indicate something close to the speaker or an action/state the speaker is directly performing.

When to use

Speaker proximity, Direct action description, Method presentation

The nuance

Used when referring to something near the speaker or describing a direct action or state by the speaker.

저렇게(jeo-reoh-ge, jeoreohge)

Used to refer to something distant from both the speaker and listener.

When to use

Far from speaker and listener, Out of sight object, Remote indication

The nuance

Used when referring to something far from both speaker and listener, often out of sight or distant.

그렇게(geu-reoh-ge, geureohge)

Used to refer to something close to the listener or a method/state known to the listener.

When to use

Listener proximity, Listener-known situation, Indirect explanation

The nuance

Used when referring to something related or known to the listener, suitable for indirect explanation or listener-centered expressions.

Real-world examples

  • 이렇게 하면 일이 더 빨리 끝나요.

    i-reoh-ge ha-myeon il-i deo ppal-ri kkeut-na-yo., i reoh ge ha myeon il i deo ppal ri kkeut na yo.

    '이렇게' is appropriate when the speaker directly suggests a method.

  • 저렇게 하면 일이 더 빨리 끝나요.

    jeo-reoh-ge ha-myeon il-i deo ppal-ri kkeut-na-yo., jeo reoh ge ha myeon il i deo ppal ri kkeut na yo.

    '저렇게' is used when referring to a method far from both speaker and listener.

  • 그렇게 하면 일이 더 빨리 끝나요.

    geu-reoh-ge ha-myeon il-i deo ppal-ri kkeut-na-yo., geu reoh ge ha myeon il i deo ppal ri kkeut na yo.

    '그렇게' fits when referring to a method known or close to the listener.

  • 이렇게 저렇게 다 좋아요.

    i-reoh-ge jeo-reoh-ge da joh-a-yo., i reoh ge jeo reoh ge da joh a yo.

    Appropriate to include both near and far from speaker.

  • 그렇게 저렇게 다 좋아요.

    geu-reoh-ge jeo-reoh-ge da joh-a-yo., geu reoh ge jeo reoh ge da joh a yo.

    '그렇게' implies listener proximity, '저렇게' implies distance; mixing them is inconsistent.

  • 저렇게 그렇게 할 필요 없어요.

    jeo-reoh-ge geu-reoh-ge hal pil-yo eop-eo-yo., jeo reoh ge geu reoh ge hal pil yo eop eo yo.

    '저렇게' and '그렇게' express different distances, causing confusion when combined.

  • 이렇게 그럴 수 있어요.

    i-reoh-ge geu-reol su iss-eo-yo., i reoh ge geu reol su iss eo yo.

    Suitable to describe a situation near the speaker.

  • 그렇게 이렇게 하면 안 돼요.

    geu-reoh-ge i-reoh-ge ha-myeon an dwae-yo., geu reoh ge i reoh ge ha myeon an dwae yo.

    Mixing expressions with opposite distance senses makes the sentence awkward.

Quick quiz

  1. Which is appropriate to describe an action near the speaker?

    화자 가까이서 하는 행동을 말할 때 적절한 표현은?(hwa-jaga-kka-i-seoha-neunhaeng-dong-eulmal-halttaejeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, hwajagakkaiseohaneunhaengdongeulmalhalttaejeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)
  2. Which is used to point to something far from both speaker and listener?

    화자와 청자 모두 멀리 있는 대상을 가리킬 때 쓰는 말은?(hwa-ja-wacheong-jamo-dumeol-riiss-neundae-sang-eulga-ri-kilttaesseu-neunmal-eun?, hwajawacheongjamodumeolriissneundaesangeulgarikilttaesseuneunmaleun?)
  3. Which is suitable when referring to a method known to the listener?

    청자가 알고 있는 방법을 말할 때 적합한 표현은?(cheong-ja-gaal-goiss-neunbang-beop-eulmal-halttaejeok-hap-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, cheongjagaalgoissneunbangbeopeulmalhalttaejeokhaphanpyohyeoneun?)

More comparisons to explore

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