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Korean
Vocabulary
귀가하다

A2 verb #6,500 most common 9 min read

귀가하다

gwihagada Top 6,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 귀가하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 귀가하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you likely learned '집에 가요' (I go home). '귀가하다' is the more 'grown-up' version of this. Think of it as the difference between saying 'I'm going home' and 'I am returning to my residence.' In A1, you don't need to use this word often, but you might see it on signs or in simple stories. It's a '하다' verb, so it follows the same rules as '공부하다' or '요리하다'. If you see '귀가' in a sentence, look for the '가' (house) part to remember it means something about going home. It's a good word to start recognizing so you can understand more formal announcements in Korea, like on the bus or subway when they talk about people going home after work.

At the A2 level, you are expanding your vocabulary beyond basic daily needs. '귀가하다' is a key word for describing routines in a more formal way. You should use it when writing formal essays, taking tests, or speaking to someone in a professional setting. It is often used with time expressions like '일찍' (early) and '늦게' (late). You will also start to see it in compound forms like '귀가 시간' (return home time). At this level, you should be able to conjugate it into past, present, and future tenses. For example, '저는 보통 7시에 귀가해요' (I usually return home at 7). It helps you sound more precise and shows you understand the difference between casual and formal Korean registers.

At the B1 level, you should understand the social and cultural contexts of '귀가하다'. This includes terms like '안심 귀가' (safe return home), which is a common public service in Korea. You will encounter this word in news articles and more complex reading passages. It's important to distinguish it from other 'return' verbs like '귀국하다' (return to one's country) and '복귀하다' (return to a position). You should also be comfortable using it with various grammar connectors like '-다가' (while returning home) or '-기 전에' (before returning home). Using '귀가하다' instead of '집에 가다' in your writing will significantly improve your formal writing score. It conveys a sense of completion and officiality that the native Korean phrase lacks.

At the B2 level, '귀가하다' is a standard part of your professional vocabulary. You will see it in legal reports, newspaper headlines, and formal speeches. You should understand nuanced phrases like '귀가 조치' (the administrative action of sending someone home). This level requires you to understand the Hanja roots (歸家) and how they relate to other words. You might encounter it in the context of social issues, such as the 'work-life balance' (워라밸) and how it affects people's '귀가 시간'. You should be able to use the word in complex sentences with honorifics, such as '사장님께서 업무를 마치고 귀가하셨습니다' (The CEO has returned home after finishing work). Your understanding should extend to how the word sets a specific tone in literature and media.

At the C1 level, you should be able to appreciate the stylistic choices an author makes when using '귀가하다'. In literature, it might be used to emphasize a character's sense of duty or the clinical, detached tone of a narrator. You should also be aware of more obscure related terms like '귀소 본능' (homing instinct). In professional or academic writing, you will use '귀가' as a noun in statistical reports (e.g., '귀가 시간의 변화' - changes in return home times). You should also understand its use in historical contexts or formal protocols. At this level, the word is not just a verb but a conceptual tool to describe the movement of populations and the boundaries between public and private life in Korean society.

At the C2 level, your mastery of '귀가하다' is native-like. You understand all its legal, social, and literary implications. You can use it fluently in high-level discussions about urban safety, labor laws, or sociological trends. You recognize how it functions in classical-style Korean or highly formal diplomatic language. You can distinguish the subtle difference in 'feeling' between '귀가', '귀택' (a very high honorific for returning to a residence), and '귀저' (returning to a mansion/abode). You can use the word to construct sophisticated metaphors or to provide precise testimony in a legal setting. For you, '귀가하다' is one of many tools used to navigate the complex hierarchy and register system of the Korean language perfectly.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

귀가하다 in 30 Seconds

A formal Sino-Korean verb meaning to return home.
Commonly used in news, official reports, and adult routines.
Derived from Hanja: 歸 (return) and 家 (home).
Often paired with '시간' (time) or '길' (way/path).

The Korean verb 귀가하다 (gwiga-hada) is a Sino-Korean word composed of the characters 歸 (귀 - return) and 家 (가 - home), followed by the active verb suffix 하다. In its most literal sense, it means 'to return to one's house.' While the native Korean phrase '집에 가다' is used in almost every casual situation, 귀가하다 carries a slightly more formal, objective, or descriptive tone. It is the kind of word you will encounter in news reports, official documents, police statements, or when a person is speaking formally about their daily routine. For example, if a news anchor is reporting on a missing person, they might say, 'The individual has not yet returned home,' using 귀가하다 instead of the casual '집에 안 왔어요.'

Formal Context: Used in news, police reports, and formal schedules to describe the act of going back home after an event.
Daily Nuance: While '집에 가다' is the default, '귀가하다' is used when focusing on the 'return' as a recorded or significant action.

어젯밤 늦게 귀가하다가 지갑을 잃어버렸어요. (I lost my wallet while returning home late last night.)

Understanding the distinction between 'going home' as a simple movement and 'returning home' as a formal concept is key for A2 learners transitioning to B1. In Korean society, especially in urban environments like Seoul, the concept of 'Safe Return Home' (안심 귀가) is very prominent. You will see signs for 'Safe Return Services' for women and students late at night. In these public safety contexts, the word 귀가 is almost exclusively used. It implies the completion of a journey from an outside location back to the safety and privacy of one's residence.

학생들은 보충 수업을 마치고 모두 귀가했습니다. (The students all returned home after finishing their supplementary classes.)

News Reporting: '피의자는 조사를 마치고 귀가했습니다' (The suspect returned home after the investigation).

Furthermore, the word is often paired with time-related nouns. '귀가 시간' (return home time/curfew) is a common phrase parents use with their children. If a parent asks, 'What is your 귀가 시간 today?', they are asking when you plan to be back in the house. This demonstrates that the word isn't just a verb but part of a larger vocabulary set related to domestic life and social boundaries.

오늘 귀가 시간이 어떻게 되니? (What time are you coming home today?)

Using 귀가하다 correctly involves understanding its conjugation and the particles it typically takes. Since it is a '하다' verb, it follows standard conjugation patterns. In polite spoken Korean (Haeyo-che), it becomes 귀가해요. In formal settings (Hapsyo-che), it is 귀가합니다. Because it describes a movement toward a destination, it is often used with the destination particle -에, though since the 'home' (가) is already built into the word, the phrase '집으로 귀가하다' (to return toward home) or '집에 귀가하다' is technically redundant but occasionally used for emphasis. Most commonly, it stands alone as 'to return home'.

Past Tense: 귀가했다 (Plain), 귀가했어요 (Polite), 귀가했습니다 (Formal).
Future Tense: 귀가할 것이다 (Plain), 귀가할 거예요 (Polite), 귀가하겠습니다 (Formal).

회식을 마치고 동료들과 함께 귀가했습니다. (After finishing the company dinner, I returned home with my colleagues.)

When describing the manner of returning home, you can add adverbs. Common ones include '일찍' (early), '늦게' (late), '무사히' (safely), and '즉시' (immediately). For instance, '무사히 귀가하다' is a very standard expression used to reassure others that you got home without any trouble. This is particularly common in text messages after a night out with friends.

모두 무사히 귀가했는지 확인해 주세요. (Please check if everyone returned home safely.)

Another important structural use is the 'while' form '-다가'. Because returning home is a process/journey, many things can happen '귀가하다가' (while on the way home). This is a frequent setup for stories or reporting incidents. '귀가하던 중에' (in the middle of returning home) is a more formal variant of this. Furthermore, in administrative or legal contexts, you might see '귀가 조치', which means 'the action of sending someone home.' This is used when the police release a suspect or a school sends a sick student home.

폭우로 인해 학생들은 조기 귀가 조치되었습니다. (Due to heavy rain, students were sent home early.)

Honorific Usage: 부모님께서 일찍 귀가하셨어요. (My parents returned home early.)

While you might not hear a toddler say 귀가하다, you will hear it constantly in adult social life, media, and official announcements. One of the most common places is on the **news**. Whether it's a report about traffic patterns during the Chuseok holiday or a story about a local hero, the word 귀가 is the standard term for the movement of people back to their residences. For example, '퇴근길 귀가 차량으로 도로가 정체되고 있습니다' (Roads are congested with vehicles returning home from work).

Public Transportation: Announcements about extended subway hours for 'late-night returning citizens' (심야 귀가 시민).
Workplace: In emails or formal chats: '업무 종료 후 즉시 귀가하시기 바랍니다' (Please return home immediately after finishing work).

서울시는 여성들의 안심 귀가 서비스를 운영하고 있습니다. (Seoul City is operating a 'Safe Return Home' service for women.)

In **K-Dramas**, you'll often hear this word in scenes involving the police or parents. A detective might ask a witness, '몇 시에 귀가하셨습니까?' (What time did you return home?). This sounds much more professional than the casual '집에 언제 왔어요?'. Similarly, in a melodrama, a strict father might shout at his daughter about her late '귀가 시간'. It sets a tone of authority or seriousness. You will also hear it in **GPS navigation systems** or taxi apps. When a taxi driver is finishing their shift, they might set their status to '귀가' or '귀가 차', meaning they are only taking passengers going in the direction of their own home.

경찰은 실종자가 어제 오후 10시쯤 귀가하는 모습이 CCTV에 포착되었다고 밝혔습니다. (Police stated that the missing person was caught on CCTV returning home around 10 PM yesterday.)

Finally, in the context of the **COVID-19 pandemic** or other health crises, the term '귀가 조치' became extremely common. If a student showed symptoms at school, the news would report that they were 'sent home' using this formal term. It implies an official decision made by an institution rather than a personal choice to go home. Understanding this word helps you navigate the formal side of Korean life, from reading news headlines to understanding announcements in a subway station during a holiday rush.

Emergency Situations: 가스 누출 사고로 주민들이 긴급 귀가했습니다. (Residents urgently returned home due to a gas leak accident.)

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 귀가하다 in overly casual settings where '집에 가다' or '집에 오다' would be much more natural. For example, if you are texting a close friend to say 'I'm going home now,' saying '나 지금 귀가해' sounds oddly stiff, almost like you are a robot or a news reporter. In that situation, '나 이제 집에 가' is the correct choice. Use 귀가하다 when you want to sound formal, professional, or when you are describing the *concept* of returning home.

Confusion with '귀국하다': Learners often mix up '귀가' (home) and '귀국' (country). If you say you '귀국' after work, it sounds like you flew to another country every evening!
Redundancy: Saying '집으로 귀가하다' is common but slightly redundant because '가' (家) already means house. However, '집에 귀가하다' is acceptable in emphasizing the destination.

Incorrect: 친구야, 나 지금 귀가할게!
Correct: 친구야, 나 이제 집에 갈게!

Another mistake is the confusion between 귀가 (returning home) and 귀성 (returning to one's hometown). During major holidays like Chuseok or Seollal, Koreans '귀성' (return to their roots/hometowns to visit family). While you are technically going to a 'house,' the social meaning is different. If you use '귀가' during Chuseok, it sounds like you are just going to your own apartment in the city rather than traveling back to your parents' house in the countryside.

명절에는 귀성 인파로 고속도로가 매우 붐빕니다. (During holidays, highways are very crowded with crowds returning to their hometowns.)

Lastly, watch out for the direction. 귀가하다 always means going *to* your home. You cannot use it to mean 'returning to the office' or 'returning to school.' For those, you would use '복귀하다' (return to post) or '등교하다' (go to school). If you are at home and someone calls you to ask where you are, you wouldn't say 'I have 귀가-ed' in a casual way; you'd simply say '집에 왔어' (I came home).

Grammar Trap: Mixing up '귀가' (noun) and '귀가하다' (verb). Use the noun form with '길' (way) as in '귀가길' (the way home).

When learning 귀가하다, it is essential to compare it with other 'returning' or 'going home' verbs to expand your vocabulary and understand the nuances of Korean register. The most direct alternative is '집에 가다' (to go home) or '집에 돌아가다' (to return home). While '집에 가다' is neutral and universal, '집에 돌아가다' emphasizes the act of returning after being away for a while. 귀가하다 is the Sino-Korean, formal version of these.

귀가하다 vs. 집에 가다: '귀가하다' is formal/written/objective. '집에 가다' is casual/spoken/natural.
귀가하다 vs. 귀국하다: '귀가' is to your house. '귀국' is to your country (e.g., returning from studying abroad).
귀가하다 vs. 귀성하다: '귀성' is specifically for returning to a hometown during a holiday season.

유학생은 방학을 맞아 고국으로 귀국했습니다. (The international student returned to their home country for the break.)

For more specific 'returns,' consider '귀영하다' (returning to a military camp) or '복귀하다' (returning to a position/duty). If a soldier is going back to their base, they wouldn't say '귀가'; they would say '귀영' or '부대로 복귀'. Similarly, if an athlete returns to the field after an injury, they '복귀' to the team. These Sino-Korean words all share the '귀' (歸) root, meaning 'to return,' making them a powerful word family to learn together.

부상당했던 선수가 드디어 팀에 복귀했습니다. (The injured player finally returned to the team.)

In literary or poetic contexts, you might see '귀소' (returning to a nest/home), often used for animals or in metaphorical writing about humans finding their way back to where they belong. However, for daily life and standard proficiency tests like TOPIK, 귀가하다 is the most vital formal word to master. It bridges the gap between basic 'movement' verbs and professional 'descriptive' verbs.

Summary of 'Return' Verbs: 집에 가다 (Casual)
귀가하다 (Formal/House)
귀국하다 (Country)
복귀하다 (Duty/Post)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 歸 (귀) also appears in the word for 'marriage' in ancient contexts (귀가), implying a woman 'returning' to her new home/family.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ɡɥi.ɡa.ɦa.da

US ɡwi.ɡɑ.hɑ.dɑ

The stress is balanced across syllables, but a slight emphasis can be placed on the first syllable '귀' (Gwi).

Rhymes With

국가하다 (gukkahada) 추가하다 (chugahada) 참가하다 (chamgahada) 통가하다 (tonggahada) 평가하다 (pyeonggahada) 인가하다 (ingahada) 허가하다 (heogahada) 가공하다 (gagonghada)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '귀' as 'Goo-ee' (two syllables) instead of one 'Gwi'.
Confusing '가' (Ga) with 'ka' (stronger aspiration).
Dropping the 'h' in 'hada' in fast speech.
Misplacing stress on the last syllable.
Vocalizing the 'g' too strongly like a hard English 'G'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize once you know 'Ga' (house).

Writing 3/5

Requires knowing when to use it over casual alternatives.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of 'Gwi' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Common in news and announcements.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

집 (House) 가다 (Go) 하다 (Do) 시간 (Time)

Learn Next

귀국하다 (Return to country) 복귀하다 (Return to post) 외출하다 (Go out)

Advanced

귀소본능 (Homing instinct) 귀향 (Returning to hometown)

Grammar to Know

하다 Verbs

귀가하다, 공부하다, 운동하다

Destination Particle -에

집에 귀가하다

Honorific -시-

귀가하시다

While doing -다가

귀가하다가

After doing -(으)ㄴ 후에

귀가한 후에

Examples by Level

저는 6시에 귀가해요.

I return home at 6.

Present tense polite form.

일찍 귀가하세요.

Please return home early.

Imperative polite form.

어제 몇 시에 귀가했어요?

What time did you return home yesterday?

Past tense question.

저는 친구와 귀가해요.

I return home with a friend.

With particle '와'.

지금 귀가하고 있어요.

I am returning home now.

Present progressive form.

집에 무사히 귀가했어요.

I returned home safely.

Adverb '무사히' used.

학교 끝나고 귀가해요.

I return home after school ends.

Temporal clause.

내일은 늦게 귀가할 거예요.

I will return home late tomorrow.

Future tense.

부모님께서 일찍 귀가하셨습니다.

My parents returned home early.

Honorific past tense.

귀가하는 길에 빵을 샀어요.

I bought bread on the way home.

Modifier form '-는 길에'.

오늘 귀가 시간이 언제예요?

When is your return home time today?

Noun '귀가 시간'.

비가 와서 빨리 귀가했어요.

I returned home quickly because it rained.

Causal connector '-아서'.

버스를 타고 귀가해요.

I return home by bus.

Method connector '-고'.

저녁 식사 전에 귀가해야 해요.

I must return home before dinner.

Obligation form '-해야 하다'.

어젯밤 늦게 귀가해서 피곤해요.

I'm tired because I returned home late last night.

Compound sentence.

안전하게 귀가하는 것이 중요해요.

It is important to return home safely.

Gerund form '-는 것'.

밤늦게 귀가할 때는 조심해야 합니다.

You must be careful when returning home late at night.

Temporal connector '-을 때'.

회식이 끝나고 모두 각자 귀가했습니다.

After the company dinner, everyone returned home individually.

Adverb '각자'.

경찰은 실종자가 무사히 귀가했다고 발표했습니다.

The police announced that the missing person returned home safely.

Indirect speech '-고 발표하다'.

안심 귀가 서비스를 이용해 보세요.

Try using the 'Safe Return Home' service.

Imperative polite '이용해 보다'.

그는 퇴근 후 즉시 귀가하는 편이에요.

He tends to return home immediately after work.

Tendency form '-는 편이다'.

귀가하던 중에 우연히 친구를 만났어요.

I ran into a friend while on my way home.

Interruption form '-다가/던 중에'.

아이들의 귀가 지도를 돕고 있습니다.

I am helping with the guidance of children returning home.

Noun phrase '귀가 지도'.

너무 늦게 귀가하지 않도록 하세요.

Please make sure not to return home too late.

Admonition form '-지 않도록 하다'.

피의자는 조사를 마친 후 귀가 조치되었습니다.

The suspect was sent home after finishing the investigation.

Passive form '조치되다'.

폭설로 인해 직장인들의 귀가 시간이 빨라졌습니다.

Due to heavy snow, the time workers return home has become earlier.

Causal '로 인해'.

명절 귀가 행렬로 인해 고속도로가 정체 중입니다.

Highways are congested due to the procession of people returning home for the holiday.

Noun '행렬' (procession).

그는 술에 취해 귀가하다가 길에서 잠이 들었다.

He fell asleep on the street while returning home drunk.

Narrative style '-다'.

청소년들의 심야 귀가를 제한하는 조례가 검토되고 있다.

An ordinance to limit the late-night return of youth is being reviewed.

Passive progressive '-고 있다'.

귀가 후에도 업무 연락을 받는 직장인들이 많다.

There are many office workers who receive work calls even after returning home.

Noun modifier '-는 직장인'.

그녀는 매일 정해진 시간에 귀가하는 규칙적인 생활을 한다.

She leads a disciplined life, returning home at a fixed time every day.

Descriptive clause.

사고 현장을 목격하고 귀가하던 시민의 제보가 있었다.

There was a report from a citizen who was returning home after witnessing the accident scene.

Complex noun modifier.

가장은 무거운 어깨를 이끌고 늦은 밤 귀가했다.

The head of the household returned home late at night, dragging his heavy shoulders (metaphor for burden).

Literary expression.

그의 갑작스러운 귀가는 가족들에게 큰 놀라움을 안겨주었다.

His sudden return home brought great surprise to his family.

Noun usage '귀가'.

정부는 귀가 곤란자들을 위한 임시 숙소를 마련했다.

The government prepared temporary lodging for those having difficulty returning home.

Compound noun '귀가 곤란자'.

작가는 고독한 귀가길의 감성을 소설에 담아냈다.

The author captured the emotions of a lonely path home in the novel.

Abstract usage.

조기 귀가를 종용하는 사회적 분위기가 형성되고 있다.

A social atmosphere encouraging early return home is being formed.

Formal word '종용하다' (encourage/urge).

범인은 피해자가 귀가하는 틈을 타 범행을 저질렀다.

The culprit committed the crime by taking advantage of the moment the victim was returning home.

Idiomatic '틈을 타다'.

현대인들에게 귀가는 단순한 이동이 아닌 휴식으로의 복귀를 의미한다.

For modern people, returning home signifies a return to rest, not just simple movement.

Philosophical comparison.

그는 평생을 바친 타향 살이를 접고 마침내 귀가했다.

He ended his life in a foreign land and finally returned home (metaphorically to his roots).

Metaphorical usage.

귀가 조치된 피의자의 행방이 묘연해져 수사에 차질이 생겼다.

The whereabouts of the suspect who was sent home became mysterious, causing a setback in the investigation.

Legal/Journalistic style.

도시의 소음이 잦아드는 심야, 만인의 귀가가 완료된 거리는 적막했다.

In the middle of the night when city noise fades, the streets where everyone's return was complete were desolate.

Highly descriptive literary style.

귀가라는 행위 속에 내포된 안식의 의미를 고찰해 볼 필요가 있다.

It is necessary to contemplate the meaning of rest inherent in the act of returning home.

Academic/Philosophical style.

전쟁터에서 사선을 넘나들던 병사들에게 귀가는 유일한 희망이었다.

For soldiers who crossed the line between life and death on the battlefield, returning home was their only hope.

Historical/Emotional context.

귀가 시간의 엄격한 준수는 가부장적 질서의 한 단면을 보여준다.

Strict adherence to return home times shows one aspect of patriarchal order.

Sociological analysis.

그는 자신의 과오를 뉘우치며 참회하는 마음으로 귀가했다.

He returned home with a heart of repentance, reflecting on his mistakes.

Moral/Ethical context.

재난 상황에서 시민들의 질서 정연한 귀가는 피해를 최소화하는 데 기여했다.

The orderly return of citizens in a disaster situation contributed to minimizing damage.

Administrative reporting style.

귀가길의 가로등 불빛은 지친 영혼을 달래주는 유일한 위안이었다.

The streetlights on the way home were the only comfort that soothed the weary soul.

Poetic/Metaphorical style.

Common Collocations

조기 귀가

귀가 시간

무사히 귀가하다

심야 귀가

즉시 귀가하다

귀가길에

안심 귀가

귀가 조치

늦은 귀가

귀가 동행

Common Phrases

귀가길 조심하세요

— Be careful on your way home. Used as a polite parting remark.

어두우니까 귀가길 조심하세요.

일찍일찍 귀가하다

— To return home early consistently. Often used in nagging.

학생이면 일찍일찍 귀가해야지.

귀가가 늦어지다

— To be delayed in returning home.

회의 때문에 귀가가 늦어질 것 같아요.

귀가 차량

— Vehicles heading home.

고속도로가 귀가 차량으로 가득합니다.

귀가 본능

— Homing instinct. Used jokingly when someone always wants to go home.

그는 귀가 본능이 강해서 술자리에서 일찍 일어난다.

귀가 거부

— Refusing to go home. Used in social work or child psychology.

가출 청소년의 귀가 거부 문제가 심각하다.

귀가 준비

— Preparing to go home.

다들 귀가 준비를 서두르세요.

귀가 유도

— Inducing or guiding someone to go home.

경찰은 취객의 귀가를 유도했다.

귀가 전쟁

— The 'war' of returning home (heavy traffic).

명절 끝날의 귀가 전쟁이 시작되었다.

귀가 완료

— Return home complete.

모든 대원들이 귀가 완료했습니다.

Often Confused With

귀가하다 vs 귀국하다

Means returning to one's country, not just home.

귀가하다 vs 귀성하다

Specifically for holiday travel to hometowns.

귀가하다 vs 복귀하다

Returning to a job or position, not a house.

Idioms & Expressions

"귀가 번쩍 뜨이다"

— This actually uses '귀' (ear), not '귀가' (return home). It means to have one's attention caught.

그 소식에 귀가 번쩍 뜨였다.

Common Idiom

"귀가 가렵다"

— Also uses '귀' (ear). Means someone is talking about you.

누가 내 욕을 하나? 귀가 가렵네.

Common Idiom

"귀가 얇다"

— Uses '귀' (ear). To be gullible.

그는 귀가 얇아서 사기를 잘 당한다.

Common Idiom

"귀가 따갑다"

— Uses '귀' (ear). To be sick of hearing something.

그 소리는 귀가 따갑도록 들었다.

Common Idiom

"집 나가면 개고생"

— Leaving home is just suffering. Implies why '귀가' is so important.

역시 집 나가면 개고생이야. 빨리 귀가하자.

Slang/Proverb

"까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다"

— Coincidence. Not related to '귀가' but shares the '귀' sound.

오비이락이라더니, 내가 귀가하자마자 정전이 됐어.

Proverb

"금의환향"

— Returning home in glory (wearing gold clothes). Related to the concept of '귀'.

그는 성공해서 금의환향했다.

Hanja Idiom

"수구초심"

— A fox turning its head toward its home hill when dying. The ultimate '귀가'.

고향을 그리워하는 것은 수구초심의 마음이다.

Literary Hanja

"귀가길이 구만리"

— The way home is very long (90,000 li).

눈이 너무 많이 와서 귀가길이 구만리 같다.

Hyperbole

"집이 최고다"

— Home is the best. The reason for '귀가'.

여행도 좋지만 역시 집이 최고야.

Common Saying

Easily Confused

귀가하다 vs 귀가

Sounds like 'ear' (귀) + 'is' (가).

'귀가' as a word means return home. '귀가...' as a subject means 'the ear is...'. Context is key.

귀가 아파요 (My ear hurts) vs. 귀가 시간이 늦었어요 (The return home time is late).

귀가하다 vs 귀댁

Both mean home.

'귀댁' is a highly honorific noun for 'your house'. '귀가' is a verb/noun for the act of returning.

귀댁의 평안을 빕니다.

귀가하다 vs 귀향

Both mean returning.

'귀향' is returning to one's countryside/hometown to live or visit. '귀가' is daily return.

그는 은퇴 후 귀향했다.

귀가하다 vs 퇴근

Both happen at the end of the day.

'퇴근' is leaving the office. '귀가' is arriving/returning home. You can '퇴근' but go to a bar instead of '귀가'.

퇴근은 했지만 아직 귀가는 안 했어요.

귀가하다 vs 회귀

Both mean return.

'회귀' is a more scientific or philosophical 'return' or 'cycle'.

연어의 모천 회귀.

Sentence Patterns

[Time]에 귀가해요.

7시에 귀가해요.

[Adverb] 귀가하세요.

일찍 귀가하세요.

귀가하는 길에 [Action].

귀가하는 길에 친구를 만났어요.

귀가하다가 [Incident].

귀가하다가 사고를 봤어요.

무사히 귀가했는지 [Verification].

무사히 귀가했는지 전화해 봐.

[Reason]으로 귀가 조치되다.

고열로 귀가 조치되었습니다.

귀가가 늦어지는 [Noun].

귀가가 늦어지는 이유를 설명해라.

귀가에 내포된 [Concept].

귀가에 내포된 안식의 의미.

Word Family

Nouns

귀가 (Return home)

귀가객 (Person returning home)

귀가길 (Path home)

귀가제 (Homecoming festival - rare)

Verbs

귀가시키다 (To send someone home)

귀가하다 (To return home)

귀국 (Return to country)

귀성 (Return to hometown)

귀영 (Return to camp)

귀환 (Return/Homecoming)

복귀 (Return to post)

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in written and formal spoken Korean.

Common Mistakes

Using '귀가' when you mean 'ear'. → Check context.
If the sentence is about pain, it's 'ear'. If it's about time, it's 'returning home'.
Saying '나 지금 귀가해' to a boyfriend/girlfriend. → 나 이제 집 가.
It sounds too cold and formal for romantic partners.
Confusing '귀가' and '귀국'. → 귀가 (Home), 귀국 (Country).
Don't tell your boss you're 'returning to your country' at 6 PM daily.
Using it for returning to a shop. → 다시 가다 / 돌아가다.
'귀가' is strictly for your own home.
Incorrect honorifics. → 귀가하시다.
Always use '-시-' when talking about elders returning home.

Tips

Use in Writing

Whenever you write a report or a formal letter, replace '집에 가다' with '귀가하다'.

Home is Sanctuary

The word '귀가' carries a nuance of returning to a safe place after the day's struggles.

The 'Gwi' Root

Learn 'Gwi' (歸) to unlock words like 귀국, 귀환, and 복귀.

Emergency Use

In emergencies, officials will use '귀가' to tell people to go home immediately.

Conjugation

Remember it's a '하다' verb. It conjugates just like '공부하다'.

Polite Parting

Saying '조심히 귀가하세요' is a very polite way to say goodbye at night.

Office Talk

Use it when asking a colleague about their commute/schedule.

Hanja Power

Knowing 家 (Ga) as house helps you recognize many words like 가구 (furniture) and 가족 (family).

News Keywords

It's a high-frequency keyword in crime and weather reports.

Key to the Gate

Gwi (Key) + Ga (Gate/Garage) = Return home.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Gwi (sounds like 'Key') + Ga (sounds like 'Garage'). You need your **Key** to get into your **Garage** when you **Return Home** (귀가).

Visual Association

Imagine a bright green 'Exit' sign in a subway station, but instead of 'Exit', it says 'Gwi-Ga' pointing towards a cozy house with a warm light.

Word Web

집 (House) 돌아가다 (Return) 퇴근 (Leave work) 안전 (Safety) 밤 (Night) 가족 (Family) 휴식 (Rest) 길 (Path)

Challenge

Try to use '귀가하다' in your next Korean diary entry instead of '집에 가다' and see how much more professional it looks!

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Korean roots (Hanja). 歸 (귀) means 'to return' or 'to go back to'. 家 (가) means 'house' or 'family'.

Original meaning: The original meaning is 'returning to the house'. It has been used for centuries to describe the movement of scholars, soldiers, and citizens back to their domestic sphere.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-derived vocabulary).

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use '귀가 조치' when talking about a guest leaving your house; it sounds like you are a police officer releasing a prisoner.

In English, we just say 'going home' regardless of the setting. In Korean, using '귀가하다' shows you understand formal social boundaries.

News headlines: '명절 귀가 행렬 시작' (Holiday return home procession begins). K-Drama 'Misaeng': Depicts the exhaustion of office workers during their nightly 귀가. Safety Apps: '서울시 안심이' app provides 귀가 services.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News Reports

귀가 조치되었습니다
귀가하던 중
귀가 시간
무사히 귀가

Public Safety

안심 귀가 서비스
심야 귀가
귀가길 조심
안전 귀가

Workplace

퇴근 후 귀가
조기 귀가
귀가가 늦다
즉시 귀가

Family

몇 시에 귀가하니?
일찍 귀가해라
귀가 시간 엄수
귀가길에 사와

Police/Legal

귀가 조치
귀가 시각
귀가 경로
귀가 여부

Conversation Starters

"보통 몇 시에 귀가하세요? (What time do you usually return home?)"

"어제는 왜 그렇게 늦게 귀가했어요? (Why did you return home so late yesterday?)"

"귀가하는 길에 마트에 들를까요? (Shall we stop by the mart on the way home?)"

"안심 귀가 서비스에 대해 들어본 적 있어요? (Have you ever heard of the Safe Return Home service?)"

"오늘 일찍 귀가해서 같이 저녁 먹을까요? (Shall we have dinner together since you're returning home early today?)"

Journal Prompts

오늘 귀가하는 길에 본 풍경에 대해 써 보세요. (Write about the scenery you saw on your way home today.)

당신에게 '귀가'는 어떤 의미인가요? (What does 'returning home' mean to you?)

가장 늦게 귀가했던 날의 기억을 떠올려 보세요. (Recall a memory of the day you returned home the latest.)

무사히 귀가하는 것이 왜 중요한지 적어 보세요. (Write about why returning home safely is important.)

귀가 후 가장 먼저 하는 일은 무엇인가요? (What is the first thing you do after returning home?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It's better to use '집에 가'. '귀가하다' sounds too formal for close friends.

Yes, it is used, but '귀가하다' alone is usually enough because '가' means home.

It means being sent home by an authority, like a school or the police.

No, but it sounds the same as '귀' (ear) + '가' (subject particle).

Use '귀국' when you are returning to your home country from abroad.

Yes, it can be a noun (return home) or part of a verb (귀가하다).

Use '안심 귀가' (Ansim Gwiga).

Usually no. It implies your actual residence.

It means 'the way home'.

Yes, it is a standard Sino-Korean term used in both Koreas.