Jagi/Jagiya (차기) Korean Meaning (For Relationships)

Ever heard the term jagi (차기) or jagiya (자기야) when you were in Korea?

It's easily one of the most well-known terms of endearment in the Korean language. It's also often misunderstood by foreigners who are trying to understand its meaning and application.

Jagi (차기) literally translates to "self" or "oneself".

For example, 자기 소개 (jagi sogae) means "self-introduction".

However, it's not used as a direct translation when directed at someone you love. Instead, it's used as a term of endearment.

You'll often hear it translated as "honey", "dear" or "darling" in English.

Who knows how this came to be - perhaps it's because "self" is intimate. 🤷‍♂️

Both 차기 and 자기야 (with the -ya suffix) are used in the same way, but 자기야 is more for getting someone's attention (think of -ya as "hey").

차기 is used irrespective of relationship status. In other words, whether you're married or just started dating, you can use it. 😊

What if I'm married?

An alternative of this term is 여보 (yeobo), which is used exclusively for married (or engaged) couples. You would never use 여보 for someone you're casually dating.

As you can see, 차기 (and 자기야) are important terms in Korean relationships and can be used safely regardless of your relationship status.

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