How to say “I miss you” in Korean
- 보고 싶어요bogo sipeoyo
I miss you
"I miss you" in Korean is 보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo), or 보고 싶어요 (bogo sipeoyo) when you want to be polite. Literally it means "I want to see you," which is exactly how Koreans express missing someone.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 보고 싶어 bogo sipeo | Casual | To a partner, close friend or family member. This is the one you hear most in dramas and texts. |
| 보고 싶어요 bogo sipeoyo | Polite | Polite and still warm. Good for someone older, like a grandparent or teacher, or anyone you are not close with yet. |
| 보고 싶습니다 bogo sipseumnida | Formal | Formal. Used in speeches, letters or when addressing a crowd, like an idol speaking to fans. |
| 너무 보고 싶어 neomu bogo sipeo | Casual | "I miss you so much." 너무 (neomu) adds strong feeling. |
| 그리워요 geuriwoyo | Polite | "I long for you." Deeper and more nostalgic, often for someone far away, someone who has passed away, or a place or time. |
Examples
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Texting a partner at night
Calling a grandmother
A friend who moved abroad
Tips
보고 싶다 literally means "want to see." Koreans use it for people they miss, but in other sentences it can simply mean wanting to watch something, like 영화 보고 싶어 (I want to see a movie).
Write it with a space: 보고 싶어, not 보고싶어. Many Koreans skip the space in texts, but the spaced version is correct. In speech it sounds like "bo-go si-peo."
The natural reply is 나도 보고 싶어 (nado bogo sipeo), "I miss you too," or 저도 보고 싶어요 (jeodo bogo sipeoyo) to be polite.
More on 보고 싶어 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you say "I miss you too" in Korean?
Say 나도 보고 싶어 (nado bogo sipeo) casually, or 저도 보고 싶어요 (jeodo bogo sipeoyo) politely.
What does bogo sipeo mean?
보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo) means "I miss you." Word for word it is "I want to see you."
Is 그리워요 the same as 보고 싶어요?
Both express missing someone, but 그리워요 (geuriwoyo) is more nostalgic and poetic. For everyday texts and calls, 보고 싶어 is what Koreans say.