Meaning
여보세요
yeoboseyo
Hello (on the phone) / Excuse me (to get attention)
Real Feeling
What Koreans really mean
This is the standard way to answer a phone call in Korea. It's also used to get someone's attention if they aren't looking at you, similar to 'Excuse me!' in English, especially if you're trying to get a store clerk's attention or confirm someone is present.
💬 Used in real life
• Said immediately after picking up a ringing phone.
• Used when you need to get the attention of a waiter in a restaurant who is looking away.
How It's Used
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Similar Expressions
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Grammar Breakdown
Part by part — learn the structure, not just the meaning
여기yeogiadverb/pronoun
adverb/pronoun
Literally 'here', but in this context, it functions to draw attention.
-보세요-boseyoverb ending (command/request)
verb ending (command/request)
A polite imperative ending meaning 'please look' or 'please see'. Combined with '여기', it creates '여보세요'.
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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