Korean

Syllable

게 • ‎(ge)

1. A Hangul syllabic block made up of ㄱ and ㅔ.

Etymology 2

Particle

게 • ‎(ge)

1. A shortened form of the dative particle 에게 (ege); to, (for, by)

Usage notes

• Like 에게 (ege), 게 (ge) is only used only with nouns denoting animate objects (usually people or animals). This shortened form is only used with a few common words that end in a vowel, such as 내 (nae, “I”) (alternate form), 네 (ne, “you”) (alternate form), or 제 (je, “I”) (humble, alternate form).

  내게 사랑을 주세요.‎

  Naege sarang-eul juseyo.

  Please give me love.

• For nouns denoting inanimate objects, 에 (e) is used instead.

Etymology 3

Contraction of 거이.

Noun

게 • ‎(ge)

1. thing (nominative case)

Synonyms

• 것이 ‎(geosi)

Etymology 4

Contraction of 거기. First attested in the Seokbo sangjeol (釋譜詳節 / 석보상절), 1447, as 그ᅌᅥ긔 (Yale: ku.nge.kuy). Later shortened into 그ᅌᅦ (Yale: Ku.ngey)

Pronoun

게 • ‎(ge)

1. there

   게 누구 있느냐?‎

   Ge nugu inneunya?

   Is someone there?

See also

Etymology 5

First attested in the Gugeupbang eonhae (救急方諺解 / 구급방언해), 1466, as 게 (Yale: key). Words with similar shapes exist in the region, compare Jeju 깅이 ‎(ging-i), Japanese 蟹 ‎(kani), Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d-k(j)aːj ~ d-k(j)an ‎(“crab”), Old Chinese 蟹 ‎(*m-kˁreʔ).

Noun

게 • ‎(ge)

1. crab

Related terms

• 게장 (gejang)

Etymology 6

First attested in the Worin cheongangjigok (月印千江之曲 / 월인천강지곡), 1449, as 긔 (Yale: kuy).

Suffix

게 • ‎(ge)

1. an adverbial suffix

   하늘이 붉게 물들었다.‎

   Haneuri bulge muldeureotda.

   The sky turned red.

2. so that; to the extent where

   물 마시게 컵 좀.‎

   Mul masige keop jom.

   A cup please, so I can have water.

   그의 몸에 꼭 맞게 맞춘 옷이 배달되어 왔다.‎

   Geuui mome kkok matge matchun osi baedaldoeeo watda.

   The clothes, which were made to fit him perfectly, were delivered.

Usage notes

The suffix 게 (ge) is directly appended to the stem of a verb, an adjective, or 이다 (ida), and if the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), it does not drop out.

When used right before 하다 (hada, “to do”), it may make the preceding verb causative, and it may imply a slight passiveness if right before 되다 (doeda, “to become”).

나중에 또 만나게 되면 더 맛난 거 먹게 해 줄게.‎

Najung-e tto mannage doemyeon deo mannan geo meokge hae julge.

I'll let you eat more yummy things when we meet again someday.

See also

• 게끔 (gekkeum)

Etymology 7

Of native Korean origin.

Suffix

게 • ‎(ge)

1. a familiar style imperative suffix

   말하게. 그날 자네는 뭘 하고 있었나?‎

   Malhage. Geunal janeneun mwol hago isseonna?

   Please tell me. What were you doing that day?

Usage notes

The suffix 게 (ge) is directly attached to the stem of a verb, and if the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), it does not drop out.

See also

• 게나 (gena)

Etymology 8

Of native Korean origin.

Suffix

게 • ‎(ge)

1. Are you going to...?

   지금 가게? 너무 이르지 않아?‎

   Jigeum gage? Neomu ireuji ana?

   Are you going now? Isn't it too early?

2. Guess what/if...!

   누구게?‎

   Nuguge?

   Guess who!

3. used to sarcastically deny the possibility of being true

   말만 하면 다 되게?‎

   Malman hamyeon da doege?

   Will it be all done just by saying?

   네가 검사면 난 판사게? 차라리 대통령이라고 해라!‎

   Nega geomsamyeon nan pansage? Charari daetongnyeong-irago haera!

   Were you to be the prosecutor, then would I be the judge? More plausible if you have said the president!

Usage notes

The suffix 게 (ge) is directly appended to the stem of a verb, an adjective, or 이다 (ida, “to be”), and if the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ (l), it does not drop out.

See also

• 려고 (ryeogo)

Etymology 9

Reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

게 (ge)

1. 偈, 卟, 憩, 掲, 揭, 碣