Meaning
아이고
aigo
Oh dear / Gosh
Real Feeling
What Koreans really mean
아이고 is an incredibly common and versatile interjection in Korean, used by people of all ages. Its exact meaning is heavily dependent on the context and tone of voice. It can express sympathy when someone is in pain ('아이고, 많이 아파요?'), frustration at a difficult task ('아이고, 이것 좀 봐'), or even relief ('아이고, 다행이다!'). It's often used when addressing an elder or a child with affection, but can also be a simple sigh of exasperation.
💬 Used in real life
• Said when seeing an elderly person struggling to carry heavy bags, often followed by an offer to help.
• Used when accidentally dropping something and making a mess, indicating mild frustration or self-reproach.
How It's Used
Real example sentences — tap any bubble to explore it
Similar Expressions
Related feelings and meanings — click to explore
Tags
Korean expressions carry layers of meaning that direct translation misses. The real meaning lives in the emotion, context, and cultural moment.
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