-게
ge
Grammar · 3 senses
so that, in a way that
Examples
저녁 같이 먹게 빨리 오세요.
Come quickly so that we can eat dinner together.
사람들이 모두 보게 안내문 벽에 붙였다.
They put up a notice on the wall so that everyone could see it.
When you'd hear it
Common in everyday spoken requests and instructions, including dialogue in dramas and casual workplace talk. It also appears in concise written directions, though more formal writing often favors other connective forms.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse this with -게 하다: bare -게 links an intended outcome to the following action, while -게 하다 means to make or let someone do something.
in a ... manner, -ly
Examples
오늘 학교 늦게 갔어요.
I went to school late today.
머리를 짧게 잘랐어요.
I cut my hair short.
입 크게 벌리고, 아 하세요.
Open your mouth wide and say "ah."
When you'd hear it
This is an everyday ending used in speech and writing, from casual conversations to polite workplace or school speech. It commonly appears with descriptive verbs when describing how an action is done or the resulting state.
What learners get wrong
English-speaking learners may expect every -게 phrase to mean a fixed “-ly” adverb, but 머리를 짧게 means “short,” not “shortly.” Read it as describing the manner or result of the action, depending on context.
하게체 Command
Examples
자네 이것 좀 보게.
Take a look at this.
김 서방인가? 어서 들어오게.
Is that Mr. Kim? Come on in.
When you'd hear it
하게체 is associated with older speakers, superiors, or male characters addressing juniors; it often appears in dramas and traditional workplace or military-like settings. With close friends or in ordinary polite conversation, it can sound authoritative or old-fashioned.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse this with the adverbial ending -게 in 예쁘게. Sentence-final -게 in 자네 이것 좀 보게 is a 하게체 command, while 예쁘게 modifies a following verb.
Ask Ipsae about -게
You looked up -게 — Ipsae makes sure you still know it in three weeks.
No account needed to try.