-보고

Colloquial particle marking the person a remark, request or label is aimed at: 'to (someone)', with verbs of saying. Often carries a note of complaint or surprise.

조사Particles

Han: 보고 marks only the person spoken to; for giving use 한테/에게.

Examples

왜 자꾸 나보고 그 일을 하라고 해?Why do you keep telling me to do that job?

엄마가 나보고 일찍 들어오래.Mom told me to come home early.

친구들이 저보고 가수 같대요.My friends say I look like a singer.

Don’t mix up

-보고vs-한테한테 works for any action aimed at a person (giving, phoning, saying); 보고 is limited to speaking and telling: 친구한테 전화했어요 / 친구보고 와 달라고 했어요.

-보고vs-보다보다 compares; 보고 marks the addressee: 형보다 커요 'taller than my brother' vs 형보고 말했어요 'I told my brother.'

How to build it

N (person)+보고

친구 → 친구보고; 나 → 나보고; 저 → 저보고; 동생 → 동생보고

Used with verbs of saying and telling (말하다, 하다, 묻다, 그러다, 시키다) and in quoted speech: 나보고 가래요 'They told me to go.'
Not used with verbs of giving or sending: 친구한테 선물을 줬어요, not 친구보고.
Spoken and informal; in writing use 에게. It carries no honour, so for someone you must respect 께 (or 에게) is the polite choice.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~어제 친구보고 생일 선물을 줬어요.~~

Right: 어제 친구한테 생일 선물을 줬어요.

보고 marks only the person spoken to; for giving use 한테/에게.

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