I told my friend to buy dinner (Using, to (someone))

The particle ~보고 is a colloquial way to mark the person who is the recipient of a command, request, or message. It's the spoken equivalent of ~에게 or ~한테 in the context of quoted speech.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: It translates to "to (a person)" or indicates that you "told (a person)" to do something. It functions as an indirect object marker specifically for quoted commands, requests, or messages.

When to use: Use it in everyday conversation with friends, family, or close colleagues. It's most commonly used when relaying a message from a third party. For example, "엄마가 나보고 집에 빨리 오라고 했어" (Mom told me to come home quickly). It feels more natural in speech than using ~에게 in this context.

Conjugation Rules

Rule: ~보고 is a particle, so it attaches directly to the end of a noun (usually a person or title) without any changes. It doesn't matter if the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.

Noun + 보고

~보고 is almost exclusively used with verbs that indicate telling, asking, or suggesting something to someone. It forms a chunk with quoting grammar patterns.

~보고 ~(으)라고 하다 (Command)

Context: This is the most classic combination. It's used to relay a command or a direct instruction from a third party.

Example: 선배가 나보고 이걸 오늘까지 끝내라고 했어. (The senior told me to finish this by today.)

~보고 ~아/어 달라고 하다 (Request)

Context: Use this pattern to relay a request for a favor. The action requested benefits the original speaker.

Example: 민준이가 너보고 자기를 좀 도와달라고 했어. (Minjun asked you to help him.)

~보고 ~자고 하다 (Suggestion)

Context: This is for relaying a suggestion to do something together.

Example: 친구가 우리보고 같이 영화 보자고 했어. (My friend suggested we see a movie together.)

~보고 + ~(으)라고 하다 = Tell (someone) to do (something)

A common mistake is thinking ~보고 is a general substitute for ~한테 (to). ~보고 is specifically used for the recipient of a spoken or written message, request, or command.

For Communication Only

Use ~보고 when someone tells, asks, or suggests something to another person.

Do not use it for physical actions like giving an object. For that, use ~한테 or ~에게.

Correct: 친구보고 오라고 했어. (I told my friend to come.)

Incorrect: 친구보고 선물을 줬어. (I gave a present to my friend.) -> Use 친구한테.

Who is Being Told?

~보고 clearly marks the person who is being addressed or commanded.

In the dialogue, Jina tells Minjun: "지혜보고 오는 길에 얼음이랑 음료수 좀 사 오라고 해 줘." (Tell Jihye to buy ice and drinks on her way.) Here, Jihye is the one who will receive the command.

Another example: "회장 선배가 동현씨보고 회의록 확인하고... 알려 달라고 했어요." (The club president asked Donghyun to check the minutes...). Donghyun is the recipient of the request.

우리보고 뭐 필요한 거 없냐고 물어보네. / 선배가 너보고 오래.

When someone relays a request or command to you using ~보고, you typically respond by acknowledging the message and confirming you'll complete the task.

Casual & Friendly Responses

When a friend relays a message, you can use informal language. Minjun responds to Jina's request to pass on a message by saying:

알았어. 지금 바로 문자 할게. (Got it. I'll text her right now.)

Formal & Polite Responses

In a more formal setting, like with a senior (선배), use polite endings like -(스)ㅂ니다 or -아/어요.

When Yuna relays messages from the president and professor, Donghyun replies:

알겠습니다. 지금 바로 처리할게요. (Understood. I'll take care of it right away.)

바로 보내고 회의록도 확인하겠습니다. (I'll send it right away and check the minutes too.)

알았어. 지금 바로 문자 할게. / 알겠습니다. 지금 바로 처리할게요.

The choice between ~보고, ~한테, and ~에게/~께 depends entirely on the situation's formality and your relationship with the listener.

~보고 (Colloquial/Spoken)

Context: This is the most common and natural choice for everyday, spoken Korean among friends, family, and peers. Using ~에게 in a casual conversation can sound a bit stiff or like you're reading from a book.

Example: 친구보고 나 먼저 간다고 전해 줘. (Tell my friend I left first.)

~한테 (Neutral/Spoken)

Context: ~한테 is also very common in spoken Korean and is a safe, neutral choice. It can be used in most situations where ~보고 is used, but ~보고 is slightly more specific to relaying messages or commands. ~한테 can be used for giving things in general, not just messages.

~에게 / ~께 (Written/Formal)

Context: ~에게 is the standard written form and is also used in formal speech (like presentations or news reports). ~께 is the honorific version of ~에게, used when the recipient is someone of high status (e.g., a professor, grandparent, or CEO). Using these in casual chat is uncommon.

Casual: 동생보고 오라고 했어 / Neutral: 동생한테 오라고 했어 / Formal: 선생님께 여쭤보라고 했어요