Korean Directional Verbs:데려오다, 모셔오다, 데려가다, 가져가다, 가져오다

Korean Directional Verbs, 데려오다, 모셔오다, 데려가다, 가져가다, 가져오다, express movement and direction, but they differ in what is being moved, the direction relative to the speaker, and the level of respect shown. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for natural Korean expression.

1. 데려오다 (deryeo-oda) – “to bring (someone)”

Definition

To bring a person or animal TO the speaker’s location or a location closer to the speaker.

Examples

Korean: 친구를 집에 데려왔어요.

English Translation: I brought my friend to my house.

Vocabulary: 친구 (friend), 집 (house/home)

Grammar: Subject + Object + Location + 데려오다 (past tense: 데려왔다)

Korean: 아이들을 학교에서 데려올게요.

English Translation: I’ll bring the children from school.

Vocabulary: 아이들 (children), 학교 (school)

Grammar: Future tense with -ㄹ게요 ending

Korean: 강아지를 병원에서 데려왔습니다.

English Translation: I brought the dog from the hospital.

Vocabulary: 강아지 (puppy/dog), 병원 (hospital)

Grammar: Formal past tense with -습니다 ending

Korean: 학생들을 공항에서 데려오려고 해요.

English Translation: I’m planning to bring my students from the airport. Vocabulary: 학생들(students), 공항 (airport)

Grammar: Intention form with -려고 하다

2. 모셔오다 (moshyeo-oda) – “to bring (someone with respect)”

Definition

To bring a person TO the speaker’s location with respect and honor. This is the honorific form used for elders, superiors, or anyone deserving of respect.

Examples

Korean: 할아버지를 병원에서 모셔왔습니다.

English Translation: I respectfully brought grandfather from the hospital.

Vocabulary: 할아버지 (grandfather), 병원 (hospital)

Grammar: Honorific form showing respect + formal past tense with -습니다

Korean: 선생님을 공항에서 모셔올게요.

English Translation: I will respectfully bring the teacher from the airport.

Vocabulary: 선생님 (teacher), 공항 (airport)

Grammar: Honorific + future tense with -ㄹ게요

Korean: 사장님을 회의실로 모셔와 주세요.

English Translation: Please respectfully bring the CEO to the conference room.

Vocabulary: 사장님 (CEO/boss), 회의실 (conference room)

Grammar: Honorific + request form with -아/어 주세요

Korean: 어머니를 집에 모셔오려고 합니다.

English Translation: I plan to respectfully bring mother home.

Vocabulary: 어머니 (mother), 집 (home)

Grammar: Honorific + intention form with -려고 하다

Comparison: 데려오다 vs. 모셔오다

데려오다 (Neutral/Casual):

Used for equals, juniors, children, pets
No special respect implied
More casual register

모셔오다 (Respectful/Honorific):

Used for elders, superiors, honored guests
Shows respect and deference
More formal register

Example Comparison:

친구를 데려왔어요. (I brought my friend.) – Casual
교수님을 모셔왔습니다. (I respectfully brought the professor.) – Respectful

3. 데려가다 (deryeo-gada) – “to take (someone)”

Definition

To take a person or animal AWAY from the speaker’s location or to a location farther from the speaker.

Examples

Korean: 아이를 놀이터에 데려갔어요.

English Translation: I took the child to the playground.

Vocabulary: 아이 (child), 놀이터 (playground)

Grammar: Subject + Object + Location + 데려가다 (past tense: 데려갔다)

Korean: 할머니를 병원에 모셔가야 해요.

English Translation: I need to take grandmother to the hospital.

Vocabulary: 할머니 (grandmother), 병원 (hospital)

Grammar: Obligation form with -아야 하다

Korean: 고양이를 수의사에게 데려가세요.

English Translation: Please take the cat to the veterinarian.

Vocabulary: 고양이 (cat), 수의사 (veterinarian)

Grammar: Imperative form with -세요

Korean: 친구들을 파티에 데려갈 거예요.

English Translation: I will take my friends to the party.

Vocabulary: 친구들 (friends), 파티 (party)

Grammar: Future tense with -ㄹ 거예요

4. 가져가다 (gajyeo-gada) – “to take (something)”

Definition

To take an object or thing AWAY from the speaker’s location or to a location farther from the speaker.

Examples

Korean: 책을 도서관에 가져갔어요.

English Translation: I took the book to the library.

Vocabulary: 책 (book), 도서관 (library)

Grammar: Subject + Object + Location + 가져가다 (past tense: 가져갔다)

Korean: 우산을 가져가는 걸 잊었어요.

English Translation: I forgot to take the umbrella.

Vocabulary: 우산 (umbrella), 잊다 (to forget)

Grammar: Gerund form with -는 것 + past tense of 잊다

Korean: 점심을 사무실로 가져가겠습니다.

English Translation: I will take lunch to the office.

Vocabulary: 점심 (lunch), 사무실 (office)

Grammar: Formal future tense with -겠습니다

Korean: 선물을 파티에 가져가지 마세요.

English Translation: Don’t take the gift to the party.

Vocabulary: 선물 (gift), 파티 (party)

Grammar: Negative imperative with -지 마세요

5. 가져오다 (gajyeo-oda) – “to bring (something)”

Definition

To bring an object or thing TO the speaker’s location or a location closer to the speaker.

Examples

Korean: 커피를 사무실로 가져왔어요.

English Translation: I brought coffee to the office.

Vocabulary: 커피 (coffee), 사무실 (office)

Grammar: Subject + Object + Location + 가져오다 (past tense: 가져왔다)

Korean: 숙제를 내일 가져올게요.

English Translation: I’ll bring the homework tomorrow.

Vocabulary: 숙제 (homework), 내일 (tomorrow)

Grammar: Future tense with -ㄹ게요

Korean: 약을 집에서 가져와야 해요.

English Translation: I need to bring medicine from home.

Vocabulary: 약 (medicine), 집 (home)

Grammar: Obligation form with -아야 하다

Korean: 카메라를 가져오는 것을 잊지 마세요.

English Translation: Don’t forget to bring the camera.

Vocabulary: 카메라 (camera), 잊다 (to forget)

Grammar: Negative command with gerund form

Key Distinctions

1. Person vs. Object

데려오다/데려가다: Used for people and animals (neutral/casual)
모셔오다: Used for people deserving respect (honorific)
가져오다/가져가다: Used for objects and things

2. Level of Respect

데려오다: Neutral, used for equals, juniors, children, pets
모셔오다: Respectful, used for elders, superiors, honored guests

3. Direction

오다 (come): Movement toward the speaker
가다 (go): Movement away from the speaker

4. Perspective

The choice depends on the speaker’s viewpoint and location:

If you’re at the destination: use 데려오다/모셔오다/가져오다
If you’re at the starting point: use 데려가다/가져가다

5. Usage Guidelines for Respect Levels

Use 모셔오다 for:

Parents, grandparents, elders
Teachers, professors
Bosses, superiors at work
Customers, clients
Religious figures
Distinguished guests

Use 데려오다 for:

Friends, siblings
Children
Pets, animals
People younger than you
Casual situations

Respect Level Examples

Same Action, Different Respect Levels:

Bringing a child: Korean: 아이를 집에 데려왔어요.

English Translation: I brought the child home.

Bringing an elder: Korean: 할머니를 집에 모셔왔습니다.

English Translation: I respectfully brought grandmother home.

Bringing a friend: Korean: 친구를 파티에 데려갔어요.

English Translation: I took my friend to the party.

Bringing a VIP: Korean: 귀빈을 호텔에 모셔갔습니다.

English Translation: I respectfully escorted the VIP to the hotel.

Grammar Patterns

Sentence Structure

Subject + [Object/Person] + [을/를] + [Location] + [에/에서/로] + Verb

Common Endings

Past tense: -았/었어요
Future tense: -ㄹ게요, -ㄹ 거예요
Obligation: -아야/어야 해요
Intention: -려고 해요
Imperative: -세요
Negative: 안 + verb or verb + -지 않다

Particles

을/를: Object marker
에: To (destination)
에서: From (starting point)
로: Direction/method

Practice Tips

Remember the pattern:
- People/Animals (casual) → 데려-
- People/Animals (respectful) → 모셔-
- Objects → 가져-
Think about direction:
- Coming to you → -오다
- Going away → -가다
Consider respect levels:
- Is this person older, higher status, or deserving of respect? → Use 모셔오다
- Is this person equal, younger, or a casual relationship? → Use 데려오다
Consider your perspective: Where are you in relation to the movement?
Practice with daily situations: Use these verbs when describing bringing/taking things or people in your daily routine.
Cultural context: Korean culture emphasizes respect for elders and social hierarchy, so using 모셔오다 appropriately is important for natural Korean communication.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Using Korean Directional Verbs

Don’t use 가져오다/가져가다 for people
Don’t confuse the direction (오다 vs 가다)
Don’t use 데려오다 when 모셔오다 is more appropriate – this can be considered rude
Don’t overuse 모셔오다 – using it for casual situations sounds unnatural
Pay attention to your perspective as the speaker
Remember that these verbs require objects (use 을/를 particles)
Consider the social relationship – age, status, and formality level matter in Korean