Korean word

그이

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeui

Meaning

  • pronounhe

Example

그이가 바로 옆에 있어요.keu i ga pa ro yeo pe i sseo yo

He is right next to me.

Illustration for 그이 (he)

More examples

그이가 보고 싶어요.keu i ga po go si peo yo

I miss him.

Core concept

A literary third-person pronoun that points to a person already known from the context.

Common phrases

  • 그이가 보고 싶다keu i ga po go sip tta

    miss him

  • 그이를 생각하다keu i reul saeng ga ka da

    think about him

  • 그이에게 부탁하다keu i e ge pu ta ka da

    ask him for a favor

Similar words

그keu: A demonstrative used when the person being indicated is clear from shared context.
그분keubun: A courteous pronoun for mentioning another person with respect.
저cheo: A demonstrative for someone located away from the speaker and listener.
이i: A demonstrative for someone located close to the speaker.

Definition in Korean

그이는 글이나 격식 있는 자리에서 쓰이는 문어적 삼인칭 대명사로 보통 그나 그 사람과 같은 뜻으로 쓰인다.keu i neun keu ri na kyeok ssik in neun cha ri e seo sseu i neun mu neo jeok sa min ching tae myeong sa ro po tong keu na keu sa ram gwa ka teun tteu seu ro sseu in da

Word origin

그이 (geui, "that person") developed from 그 (geu, "that") and 이 (i, "person reference element") and remains chiefly a written or formal third-person form.

Usage tips

  • Recognizing its literary register helps explain why it appears in written descriptions of people but is less natural in relaxed everyday speech.

Opposites

  • 이사람isaramthis personpronoun

Related words

  • 그사람keusaramthat personpronoun
  • 그분들keubundeulthose peoplepronoun

Word lists with this word