Dictionary — Entry No. 0353
저기
jeogi · interjection
저기
jeogi
[JUH-gi]
interjectionbeginner
Meaning
저기 serves two distinct roles: as a location word meaning ‘over there’ (far from both speaker and listener), and as a social interjection meaning ‘um,’ ‘excuse me,’ or ‘hey’ used to gently get someone’s attention. This dual function makes it uniquely practical for both navigation and everyday social interaction.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
저기요! is the standard way to call a waiter or flag down a stranger in Korea — you’ll hear it constantly in restaurant scenes across K-dramas like My Love from the Star and Vincenzo. aespa’s atmospheric visual world often plays with the feeling of pointing toward something unreachable, the same emotional distance that 저기 captures spatially.
Example Sentences
저기요, 주문할게요.
Jeogiyo, jumunhalgeyo.
Excuse me, I’d like to order. (저기요 is the polite, universally accepted way to call service staff in any setting)
저기 봐, 저게 뭐야?
Jeogi bwa, jeoge mwoya?
Look over there — what is that? (casual speech while pointing to something far away from both speakers)
저기… 할 말이 있어.
Jeogi… hal mari isseo.
Um… I have something to tell you. (hesitation before a serious confession; the pause adds charged emotional weight)
⚠️ Don’t use jeogi when…
Don’t skip 저기요 when calling staff — shouting 야! (ya!) sounds rude and will draw uncomfortable stares. Also, when used as ‘over there,’ 저기 refers to a place far from BOTH you and the listener, not just far from you personally — using it for something right in front of the other person is a spatial mismatch.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star (별에서 온 그대) — Cheon Song-yi frequently blurts ‘저기요!’ at the aloof Do Min-joon when he ignores her, turning the word into one of the series’ most memorable comedic running gags.
- K-Pop: aespa — Next Level
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.