Dictionary — Entry No. 0155
가자
gaja · expression
가자
gaja
[gah-JAH]
expressionbeginner
Meaning
The hortative form of 가다 (to go), meaning “Let’s go!” It invites others to move or act together and is one of the most energetic, high-frequency phrases in casual Korean. Unlike the plain imperative 가 (“go!”), 가자 is inclusive — it pulls everyone along.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
가자 is a staple of K-drama action and romance scenes whenever characters dash toward something meaningful. BTS’s rallying anthem “Not Today” captures the same collective, forward-charging spirit that 가자 embodies in everyday speech. It is also the phrase fans spontaneously shout at concerts the moment an artist signals the performance is about to begin.
Example Sentences
빨리 가자, 늦겠어!
Ppalli gaja, neutgesseo!
“Let’s go quickly, we’ll be late!” — the frantic energy K-drama fans know from every chase or escape sequence.
우리 같이 가자.
Uri gachi gaja.
“Let’s go together.” — a warm, inclusive invitation that carries friendship and solidarity.
콘서트에 가자!
Konseoteu-e gaja!
“Let’s go to the concert!” — exactly the sentence you will text your best friend before a K-Pop show.
⚠️ Don’t use gaja when…
1) 가자 is casual — use 갑시다 (gapsida) with elders, teachers, or strangers to avoid sounding rude. 2) Don’t confuse 가자 (“let’s go”) with the plain imperative 가 (“go!”), which is a command directed at one person, not an invitation to go together.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Crash Landing on You — Ri Jeong-hyeok urgently says 가자 as he and Yoon Se-ri flee through the North Korean countryside, making the word feel breathless and high-stakes.
- K-Pop: BTS — “Not Today” — the song’s rallying, we-move-together energy is the sonic equivalent of 가자 shouted at full volume.
💡 Did You Know? The -자 ending is a productive hortative suffix in Korean, so once you know it you can instantly form dozens of phrases: 먹자 (“let’s eat”), 자자 (“let’s sleep”), 보자 (“let’s meet/see”) — 가자 is your gateway into a whole grammar pattern.
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.