Meaning and Usage
"아이고" is a common Korean exclamation expressing surprise, sympathy, pain, or frustration. It is often used in everyday conversation to react to unfortunate or unexpected situations.
Tone and Register
This expression is informal and widely used in spoken Korean. It conveys empathy or mild distress without being overly formal or serious.
Common Collocations
- 아이고, 아파요! (Oh dear, it hurts!) — expressing physical pain
- 아이고, 어떡해요? (Oh no, what should I do?) — showing worry or confusion
- 아이고, 힘들겠다. (Oh dear, that must be hard.) — expressing sympathy
Usage Tips
"아이고" is often used at the beginning of a sentence to soften the tone or show emotional reaction. Learners sometimes confuse it with "아이구," which is a similar exclamation but slightly less intense. Using "아이고" appropriately adds naturalness and warmth to your Korean speech.