-거라

A plain (해라체) command ending with an old-fashioned, warm or dignified tone, used by parents, grandparents and teachers to children and juniors, and common in novels and historical dramas.

문장 끝·말투Endings & speech style

Han: -거라 is used only to juniors; to a teacher or anyone senior use -(으)세요.

Examples

먼 길이니 몸조심하고 잘 가거라.It's a long way, so take care of yourself and go safely.

울지 말거라. 곧 다시 만날 수 있을 테니.Don't cry. We'll be able to see each other again soon.

얘야, 날이 저물었으니 이제 그만 집에 가거라.Child, it's getting dark, so go home now.

Don’t mix up

-거라vs-아/어라-아/어라 is the ordinary plain command; -거라 adds a gentle, dignified, old-fashioned tone: 빨리 먹어라 (a busy parent) vs 많이 먹거라 (a grandmother).

-거라vs-(으)라-(으)라 is impersonal, for exam instructions, slogans and quotes: 알맞은 것을 고르라; -거라 speaks to a specific person in front of you.

How to build it

V+거라 (오다 → 오너라 traditional)

negative: V+지 말거라

가다 → 가거라; 자다 → 자거라; 먹다 → 먹거라; 있다 → 있거라; 하다 → 하거라; 오다 → 오너라 (or 와라)

Only downward, to people clearly younger or junior in a close or traditional relationship; it sounds like an elder speaking. Never to equals or seniors.
More old-fashioned than -아/어라; today it is heard from grandparents, in letters, historical dramas and fixed farewells: 잘 가거라, 잘 있거라.
It now attaches to any action verb (먹거라, 읽거라). For 오다 the traditional form is 오너라 (이리 오너라); 와라 is the everyday one.
A prohibition is -지 말거라 (alongside 말아라/마라): 울지 말거라.

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~선생님, 조심히 가거라.~~

Right: 선생님, 조심히 가세요.

-거라 is used only to juniors; to a teacher or anyone senior use -(으)세요.

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