When you use 귀가하다 (gwiga-hada), you're specifically talking about going back to your own home or residence. It's more formal than just saying 'go home' in English. You might hear it used in news reports or more formal conversations.
While 집에 가다 (jibe gada) also means 'to go home,' 귀가하다 carries a slightly more official or established nuance, focusing on the act of returning to one's domicile. So, if you're talking about a child returning from school, 집에 가다 is perfectly natural. But if you're discussing someone's official return to their residence after an event, 귀가하다 could be used. It emphasizes the 'return' aspect more directly than simply 'going.'
귀가하다 in 30 Seconds
- Use for returning to your own home.
- Commonly used in formal or neutral contexts.
- Often paired with time expressions or reasons for returning.
Examples by Level
퇴근 후에 바로 귀가해서 가족과 저녁 식사를 했어요.
After work, I immediately returned home and had dinner with my family.
늦은 시간이었지만, 안전하게 귀가할 수 있어서 다행이었어요.
Although it was late, I was relieved to be able to return home safely.
주말에는 보통 일찍 귀가해서 집에서 쉬는 편이에요.
On weekends, I usually return home early and rest at home.
아이들이 학교에서 귀가하면 간식을 챙겨줘요.
When the children return home from school, I prepare snacks for them.
여행에서 귀가한 후에는 짐을 풀고 바로 잠자리에 들었어요.
After returning home from the trip, I unpacked and went straight to bed.
친구들과 모임이 끝난 후에는 대중교통을 이용해서 귀가했어요.
After the gathering with friends ended, I returned home using public transportation.
밤늦게까지 일하고 귀가하는 길이 항상 피곤해요.
The way home after working late at night is always tiring.
명절에는 고향으로 귀가하는 사람들이 많아 길이 막혀요.
During holidays, many people return to their hometowns, so the roads are jammed.
Tips
Basic Meaning of 귀가하다
귀가하다 (gwi-ga-ha-da) literally means 'to return home'. The verb 하다 is a common addition to many Korean nouns to turn them into verbs. In this case, 귀가 means 'return home' as a noun.
Formal Contexts for 귀가하다
While 'to return home' is the definition, 귀가하다 is often used in more formal or official contexts. For everyday conversations, Koreans often use other phrases.
Everyday Alternative: 집에 가다
For simply saying 'I'm going home' or 'I went home', you'll more commonly hear 집에 가다 (ji-be ga-da). 집 (jip) means 'house' and 에 (~e) is a location particle, while 가다 (ga-da) means 'to go'.
Everyday Alternative: 돌아가다 / 돌아오다
Another common phrase is 돌아가다 (do-ra-ga-da) or 돌아오다 (do-ra-o-da). Both mean 'to return'. 돌아가다 implies returning to a place you are not currently at, while 돌아오다 implies returning to the speaker's location. For returning home, either can be used depending on context.
Conjugation of 귀가하다
Like all Korean verbs ending in 하다, it conjugates regularly. Present tense informal: 귀가해요 (gwi-ga-hae-yo). Past tense informal: 귀가했어요 (gwi-ga-haess-eo-yo). Future tense informal: 귀가할 거예요 (gwi-ga-hal geo-ye-yo).
Example Sentence: News Report
경찰은 늦은 밤에 귀가하는 사람들에게 주의를 당부했습니다. (The police urged people returning home late at night to be careful.) This shows its use in a more formal, public announcement style.
Example Sentence: Work Context
업무를 마치고 바로 귀가했습니다. (After finishing work, I immediately returned home.) Again, the formal tone fits a work-related report.
Focus on Context
The key to using 귀가하다 correctly is understanding its formal or impersonal context. Think of official statements, news reports, or when you want to sound more detached.
Don't Overuse It
As a beginner, it's safer to stick to 집에 가다 or 돌아가다/돌아오다 for most everyday conversations about going home. You'll sound more natural.
Don't Confuse with 귀가 (Ear)
Be careful not to confuse 귀가 (gwi-ga) meaning 'return home' with 귀가 (gwi-ga) meaning 'ear'. While they sound the same, the Hanja and context clearly differentiate them.
Test Yourself 6 questions
This sentence means 'I return home.' '저는' is 'I', '집에' means 'to home', and '귀가해요' is 'return home'.
This sentence asks 'When will you return home?' '언제' is 'when', and '귀가할 거예요' means 'will return home'.
This sentence means 'Please don't return home late.' '늦게' means 'late', and '귀가하지 마세요' means 'please don't return home'.
/ 6 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
귀가하다 means to return home and is a practical term to know for daily Korean conversations.
- Use for returning to your own home.
- Commonly used in formal or neutral contexts.
- Often paired with time expressions or reasons for returning.
Basic Meaning of 귀가하다
귀가하다 (gwi-ga-ha-da) literally means 'to return home'. The verb 하다 is a common addition to many Korean nouns to turn them into verbs. In this case, 귀가 means 'return home' as a noun.
Formal Contexts for 귀가하다
While 'to return home' is the definition, 귀가하다 is often used in more formal or official contexts. For everyday conversations, Koreans often use other phrases.
Everyday Alternative: 집에 가다
For simply saying 'I'm going home' or 'I went home', you'll more commonly hear 집에 가다 (ji-be ga-da). 집 (jip) means 'house' and 에 (~e) is a location particle, while 가다 (ga-da) means 'to go'.
Everyday Alternative: 돌아가다 / 돌아오다
Another common phrase is 돌아가다 (do-ra-ga-da) or 돌아오다 (do-ra-o-da). Both mean 'to return'. 돌아가다 implies returning to a place you are not currently at, while 돌아오다 implies returning to the speaker's location. For returning home, either can be used depending on context.
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사고
A2An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
주소
A1Address, the details of where a building is located.
오전
A1Morning, A.M.
약속
A1Appointment; Promise
사월
A1April; the fourth month of the year.
밤에
A2during the night; at night
다니다
A1To attend; to commute to.
팔월
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나쁘게
A2Badly; in an unsatisfactory or improper way.
가방
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