가다
저는 매일 아침 학교에 가요.
I go to school every morning.
To move from one place to another, typically by walking or using a vehicle.
저는 시장에 가요.
I go to the market.
그는 학교에 걸어가요.
He walks to school.
Can be used with various transportation methods (e.g., 가다 by car = 차를 타고 가다).
To proceed or continue in a certain direction or manner.
이 길이 어디로 가요?
Where does this road go?
일이 잘 안 가요.
Things aren't going well.
Often used in abstract contexts (e.g., 'how is it going?').
To leave a place or depart.
그는 이미 집에 갔어요.
He already went home.
Past tense: 갔어요. Future tense: 갈 거예요.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Conjugations
가다 conjugates regularly in present tense (가요), past tense (갔어요), and future tense (갈 거예요). Memorize these forms early as they are used in almost every conversation.
Gold Rule
Directional Particles
Use -에 with 가다 to indicate destination (e.g., 학교에 가다 'to go to school'). Use -으로/-로 for direction (e.g., 오른쪽으로 가다 'to go to the right').
Word Origin
From Middle Korean 가-, derived from Old Korean *kara (to go). Proto-Korean *kara is reconstructed from Middle Korean forms and is related to other Tungusic and Altaic verbs meaning 'to go'.
Usage Notes
가다 is one of the most common verbs in Korean and is used in countless expressions. It can be combined with other verbs to form compound verbs (e.g., 가다 + 보다 = 가보다 'to try going').