A2 Collocation Neutre

친구를 기다리다.

chingureul gidarida.

To wait for a friend.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A fundamental phrase for social life in Korea, used when you are anticipating a friend's arrival at a meeting spot.

  • Means: To wait for a friend (physically or metaphorically).
  • Used in: Cafes, stations, or when waiting for a text response.
  • Don't confuse: With 'staying' (머무르다) or 'meeting' (만나다).
👤 + ⏳ + {친구|親舊} = 친구를 기다리다

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple phrase. 'Chingu' means friend. 'Gidarida' means wait. You use it when you are at a place and your friend is not there yet. You can say 'Chingu gidaryeoyo' to your teacher or 'Chingu gidaryeo' to your brother. It is one of the first things you learn to say when meeting people.
At this level, you should use the object marker 'reul'. You can also use time words like 'han sigan' (one hour) or 'jamkkan' (a moment). You should know how to say 'I am waiting' using 'gidarigo isseoyo'. This phrase helps you explain why you are standing alone in a public place or why you are late to another appointment.
Intermediate learners can use this phrase with connecting words. For example, 'Chingureul gidarineun dongan' (while waiting for a friend). You can also express feelings about waiting, such as being bored or excited. You should understand the difference between waiting for a friend and 'meeting' a friend, and use the appropriate particles for each situation.
Upper-intermediate learners should use idiomatic expressions like 'mogi ppajige' (waiting eagerly). You can discuss the cultural nuances of punctuality in Korea and use the phrase in more complex grammatical structures like 'gidarida motae' (unable to wait any longer). You should also be able to use the honorific version 'bun-eul gidarisida' when referring to someone older.
At an advanced level, you can analyze the nuance of 'gidarida' versus 'daegihada' or 'meomureuda'. You can use the phrase in literary contexts, discussing the 'aesthetics of waiting' in Korean poetry. You understand how the concept of 'Jeong' influences the social expectation of waiting for a friend and can use the phrase to navigate complex social hierarchies and subtle emotional states.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the cognitive linguistics behind 'gidarida' (leaning toward). You can engage in philosophical debates about how the digital age has transformed the 'space of waiting' in Korean society. You use the phrase with perfect register control, from street slang to high-level academic or poetic discourse, reflecting a deep internalization of Korean social values.

Signification

The act of anticipating the arrival of a friend.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The 'Pali-pali' culture makes waiting a sensitive issue. Being more than 10-15 minutes late without a text is often considered rude, though 'Jeong' allows for some flexibility among close friends. Subway station exits are the most common waiting spots. Each exit often has a specific 'vibe' (e.g., Gangnam Exit 10 for meeting friends, Exit 11 for business). Waiting for a '1' to disappear on KakaoTalk is a modern form of 'chingureul gidarida'. It can cause 'Kakaotalk anxiety' if the wait is too long. In the past, waiting for a friend who was traveling from a distant province was a major event, often involving preparing a meal in advance.

💡

Use the Progressive

When you are currently in the act of waiting, always use '기다리고 있어요' instead of '기다려요'.

⚠️

Age Matters

Remember that 'chingu' is only for people your age. Use titles for others.

Signification

The act of anticipating the arrival of a friend.

💡

Use the Progressive

When you are currently in the act of waiting, always use '기다리고 있어요' instead of '기다려요'.

⚠️

Age Matters

Remember that 'chingu' is only for people your age. Use titles for others.

🎯

Shorten it

In casual texts, you can just write '기다리는 중' (In the middle of waiting).

💬

The '10-minute' Rule

In Korea, it's polite to text when you are 5 minutes away if you know you'll be late.

Teste-toi

Fill in the correct object marker and verb form (present progressive).

저는 지금 카페에서 친구___ ___________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 를 기다리고 있어요

The object marker for '친구' is '를', and 'am waiting' is '기다리고 있어요'.

Which sentence is the most natural when telling a friend you will wait for them?

Choose the best option:

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 여기서 너를 기다릴게.

In a casual setting with a friend, using '너' (you) or omitting the subject and using the '-ㄹ게' (promise) ending is most natural.

Complete the dialogue.

가: 왜 아직 안 들어갔어요? 나: ________________________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 친구를 기다리고 있어요

The question asks 'Why haven't you gone in yet?', so 'I am waiting for a friend' is the logical answer.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You have been waiting for 2 hours and are very tired.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 친구를 목이 빠지게 기다렸어요.

'목이 빠지게' is the idiom for waiting a long time with great anticipation or exhaustion.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Wait vs. Meet vs. See off

기다리다 (Wait)
Before arrival 도착 전
만나다 (Meet)
At arrival 도착 시
배웅하다 (See off)
After meeting 만남 후

Questions fréquentes

12 questions

Yes, but replace '친구' with '버스'. '버스를 기다리다'.

The phrase itself is neutral. The formality depends on the verb ending (e.g., -ㅂ니다 vs -어).

You can say '친구들을 기다리다' using the plural marker '들'.

Use '기다리다 지쳤어요'.

For elders, use the honorific '기다리시다'.

It's grammatically correct but sounds like you are waiting 'on behalf of' them. Just use '친구를 기다리다'.

답장을 기다리다.

나 기다리지 마.

It means 'until your neck falls out', like a crane stretching its neck to see far away.

Use '손님을 기다리다' or '대기하다' instead of '친구'.

Usually yes, but in busy places, they might ask you to wait outside until the friend arrives.

누구를 기다리고 있어요?

Expressions liées

🔗

친구를 만나다

similar

To meet a friend

🔗

친구를 마중하다

specialized form

To go out to meet a friend

🔗

친구를 배웅하다

contrast

To see a friend off

🔗

기다리다 지치다

builds on

To be tired of waiting

🔗

연락을 기다리다

similar

To wait for contact

Où l'utiliser

☕

At a Cafe

Staff: 주문하시겠어요? (Would you like to order?)

You: 아니요, 친구를 기다리고 있어요. (No, I'm waiting for a friend.)

informal
📱

On the Phone

Friend: 나 지금 가고 있어! (I'm on my way!)

You: 응, 역 앞에서 친구를 기다리고 있을게. (Okay, I'll be waiting for you [friend] in front of the station.)

informal
💬

Texting

You: 언제 와? 나 30분째 친구를 기다리고 있어. (When are you coming? I've been waiting for you for 30 minutes.)

Friend: 미안! 금방 가! (Sorry! I'll be there soon!)

informal
✈️

At the Airport

Stranger: 누구 찾으세요? (Are you looking for someone?)

You: 네, 외국에서 오는 친구를 기다려요. (Yes, I'm waiting for a friend coming from abroad.)

neutral
🍜

At a Restaurant

Waiter: 몇 분이세요? (How many people?)

You: 두 명인데, 아직 친구를 기다려야 해요. (Two people, but I still have to wait for my friend.)

neutral
📚

In a Library

Classmate: 왜 안 가고 있어? (Why aren't you leaving?)

You: 같이 공부하기로 한 친구를 기다려. (I'm waiting for a friend I'm supposed to study with.)

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Gidarida' sounding like 'Get-a-reader'. You 'get a reader' (book) to pass the time while you wait for a friend.

Visual Association

Imagine yourself leaning (Gida-) against a lamp post at a subway exit, looking at your watch and then at the crowd, searching for a familiar face.

Rhyme

Chingu-reul gidaryeo, coffee-reul masyeo. (Wait for a friend, drink a coffee.)

Story

You are at Gangnam Station. You see a sign that says 'Gida' (Lean). You lean against the wall because you are tired. Why are you leaning? Because you are waiting for your 'Chingu' (Friend). Together, you are 'Chingureul Gidarida'.

Word Web

친구 (Friend)기다리다 (Wait)약속 (Appointment/Promise)카페 (Cafe)늦다 (To be late)도착하다 (To arrive)연락하다 (To contact)

Défi

Next time you are waiting for someone, say 'Chingureul gidarigo isseoyo' out loud 5 times.

In Other Languages

Japanese high

友達を待つ (Tomodachi o matsu)

Japanese honorifics for 'wait' (omachisuru) are used differently than Korean 'gidarisida'.

Spanish moderate

Esperar a un amigo

Korean doesn't have the 'hope' double meaning.

French high

Attendre un ami

French doesn't have the strict age-based 'friend' definition.

German partial

Auf einen Freund warten

The requirement of a preposition in German vs. an object marker in Korean.

Arabic moderate

انتظار صديق (Intizar sadiq)

Arabic grammar structures for waiting are quite different (VSO/SVO).

Chinese high

等朋友 (Děng péngyǒu)

Chinese lacks the complex verb conjugations and honorifics found in Korean.

Portuguese moderate

Esperar por um amigo

The use of 'por' vs. the Korean object marker 'reul'.

English moderate

Waiting for a friend

English uses 'for', Korean uses the object marker 'reul'.

Easily Confused

친구를 기다리다. vs 친구를 기대하다

Sounds similar to 'gidarida'.

Gidae-hada means 'to expect/look forward to' (mental), while Gidari-da is 'to wait' (physical/time).

친구를 기다리다. vs 친구와 있다

Learners use this to mean they are waiting with/for a friend.

'Wa itda' means 'to be with'. 'Gidarida' is the action of waiting for their arrival.

FAQ (12)

Yes, but replace '친구' with '버스'. '버스를 기다리다'.

The phrase itself is neutral. The formality depends on the verb ending (e.g., -ㅂ니다 vs -어).

You can say '친구들을 기다리다' using the plural marker '들'.

Use '기다리다 지쳤어요'.

For elders, use the honorific '기다리시다'.

It's grammatically correct but sounds like you are waiting 'on behalf of' them. Just use '친구를 기다리다'.

답장을 기다리다.

나 기다리지 마.

It means 'until your neck falls out', like a crane stretching its neck to see far away.

Use '손님을 기다리다' or '대기하다' instead of '친구'.

Usually yes, but in busy places, they might ask you to wait outside until the friend arrives.

누구를 기다리고 있어요?

C'tait utile ?

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