What does 보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo) mean?
- 보고 싶어bogo sipeo
I miss you
Casual: friends and people younger than you
보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo) means "I miss you" in Korean. Word for word it is "I want to see (you)," and it is the casual form you use with partners, friends and family. It also simply means "I want to see it," for example a movie.
Where it comes from
보다 (boda) means "to see" and -고 싶다 (-go sipda) means "to want to." Together, 보고 싶다 is "to want to see," and 싶어 is the casual ending.
How to use 보고 싶어
Korean has no separate verb for "to miss someone." Wanting to see them is how you say it, so 보고 싶어 covers both "I miss you" and "I want to see you."
It is casual, so keep it for people you are close to. With parents or older people, add 요: 보고 싶어요.
Learners often hear "bogoshipo" in songs. The standard spelling is 보고 싶어, with a space, though many people type it as 보고싶어 in texts.
Examples
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Texting a partner who is away
A student living away from home
Meeting a friend after a long time
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 보고 싶어요 | I miss you (polite) | Add 요 for politeness. |
| 보고 싶다 | I miss you / I want to see | Plain form; often said to yourself or written in a post. |
| 보고 싶었어 | I missed you | Past tense, said when you finally meet. |
| 너무 보고 싶어 | I miss you so much | Very common in texts. |
| 보고싶어 | I miss you | Common typed version without the space. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
- 사랑해 너만 보고 싶어 이런 말 듣고 싶잖아?I love you, I only want to see you, you want to hear these words, right?Hi High · LOONA
- 보고 싶어 다시 너의 미소가 듣고 싶어 다시 너의 소리가 쓰담아 주고 싶어 너를 정말 ye ye ye ye yeI miss you, I long to see your smile again, I yearn to hear your voice once more, I truly want to caress you, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.Love Untold · Hyunjin
Questions learners ask
Is it bogoshipo or bogo sipeo?
They are the same phrase, 보고 싶어. "Bogo sipeo" follows the official romanization, and "bogoshipo" is a popular spelling that matches how it sounds.
Can I say bogo sipeo to a friend?
Yes. It is not only romantic; friends and family say it to each other all the time.