고

See also: 卫, ヱ, and 𠀄

고 U+ACE0, 고 HANGUL SYLLABLE GO Composition: ㄱ + ㅗ Dubeolsik input: r-h ← 곟 [U+ACDF] Hangul Syllables 곡 → [U+ACE1]

Korean

Etymology 1

고곡곢곣곤곥곦 곧골곩곪곫곬곭 곮곯곰곱곲곳곴 공곶곷곸곹곺곻
계 ←	→ 과

Syllable

고 • (go)

1. A Hangul syllabic block made up of ㄱ and ㅗ.

Etymology 2

From Middle Korean 고 (kwo) probably from Old Korean 遣, although the Old Korean phonology involved is somewhat problematic.

Suffix

—고 • (-go)

1. and then

   In this sense, usually a single subject governs two clauses. 고 (go) is attached to the stem of the final verb of the first clause.

   • 저는 밥을 먹고 갈 거예요.

     Jeoneun babeul meokgo gal geoyeyo.

     I will eat and then study.

2. and

   In this sense, usually two clauses with different subjects express coordinated actions or descriptions. 고 (go) is attached to the stem of the final verb of the first clause.

   • 나는 한국어를 공부하고, 그는 영어를 공부해요.

     Naneun han-gugeoreul gongbuhago, geuneun yeong-eoreul gongbuhaeyo.

     I am studying Korean, and he is studying English.

   • 오늘 고객이 많고 분위기가 좋아요.

     Oneul gogaegi manko bunwigiga joayo.

     Today there are a lot of customers and the atmosphere is good.

3. (in the process of) -ing

   In this sense, 고 (go) is attached to the stem of the verb and is followed by 있다 (itda, “to exist”).

   • 저는 한국말을 공부하고 있습니다.

     Jeoneun han-gungmareul gongbuhago itseumnida.

     I am (in the process of) studying Korean.

4. a suffix used to join a main verb/adjective and its auxiliary verb/adjective.
   • 하고 싶다 (hago sipda, “to want to do”)
   • 하고 나다 (hago nada, “to finish doing”)
   • 하고 들다 (hago deulda, “to do fiercely”)
   • 하고 보다 (hago boda, “to do without much thinking”)
   • 하고 말다 (hago malda, “to end up doing; to finally succeed to do”)

Usage notes

• In the sense of “and then”, -고 and -아/어서 have similar meanings. The difference is that -고 has a nuance that the actions have no particular connection to each other, whereas -아/어서 has a nuance that the next action happens precisely because the previous action made it possible.
• In the sense of “and”, -고 and -며 have similar meanings. The difference is that -며 is more formal than -고.

Synonyms

• -아서/-어서 (aseo/eoseo, “and then”)
• -며 (myeo, “and”)

Etymology 3

Cognate with -라고 (rago) used for making a direct quotation and also for an indirect quotation ending in 이다 (ida) or 아니다 (anida).

Suffix

—고 • (-go)

1. that (marking an indirect quotation)

Usage notes

In the indirect quotation sense, -고 (go) is attached to a 해라체 (haerache, “plain”) form of the quoted verb and is followed by a clause ending in a verb related to speech or 하다 (hada, “to do”).

• If -고 (go) is attached to a plain indicative form of the verb, the following 하다 (hada) may translate as a form of “to say that...”.
• If -고 (go) is attached to a plain interrogative form (-냐 (nya)/느냐 (neunya)), the following 하다 (hada) may translate as a form of “to ask [whether, who, what, when, which, how, why]...”.
• If -고 (go) is attached to a plain imperative form (-라 (ra)), the following 하다 (hada) may translate as a form of “to command to...”.
• If -고 (go) is attached to a plain proposative form (-자 (ja)), the following 하다 (hada) may translate as a form of “to suggest to...”.

In standard Korean grammar, combined suffixes such as -다고, -냐고, -라고, -자고 are analyzed as a whole to be individual ones, therefore listed in dictionary respectively.

Etymology 4

Reading of various Chinese characters

Determiner

고 • (go) (hanja 故)

1. late
2. deceased

Syllable

고 • (go)

1. 估, 侤, 凅, 刳, 古, 叩, 吿, 告, 呱, 咎, 咕, 嚳, 固, 塙, 姑, 孤, 尻, 庫, 拷, 攷, 故, 敲, 暠, 杲, 枯, 栲, 槀, 槁, 槹, 櫜, 沽, 牯, 痼, 皋, 皐, 盬, 睾, 瞽, 稁, 稿, 箍, 篙, 糕, 罟, 羔, 羖, 翱, 翺, 考, 股, 胯, 脵, 膏, 苦, 苽, 菰, 藁, 蠱, 袴, 觚, 詁, 誥, 賈, 辜, 郜, 酤, 鈷, 錮, 雇, 靠, 顧, 骷, 高, 髙, 鯝, 鴣, 鷱, 鼓