나 귀여워?
na gwiyeowo?
The phrase 나 귀여워? (na gwiyeowo?) is how you say "am I cute?" in Korean.
This phrase is used to ask someone if they find you cute.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 나 (I/me) and 귀여워? (am cute/is cute?).
Which one should you use?
You might also encounter 내가 귀여워? or 나 귀엽지? in informal settings or the more formal 저 귀엽다고 생각하세요?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 나 귀여워? is in the banmal (informal/casual) register, which is used with friends, people younger than you or those you are close to. To ask the same question more politely or to someone you aren't close with, use 저 귀여워요? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the subject 나 (I) is often omitted in natural conversation if the context is clear, so you can simply say 귀여워?
How do you pronounce it?
na gwiyeowo?
Did you know?
- Using the phrase 나 귀여워? with someone older or of higher status is a bold social move because it uses banmal and can be seen as flirting or acting like a child.
- In Korean culture, calling an adult 귀여워 (cute) can be a high compliment or a subtle way to describe someone with a charming and innocent personality.
- The word 나 belongs to a group of ancient pronouns including 너 (you) and 누 (who) that may have all evolved from a single original root through a vowel change called ablaut.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are sitting in a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun나 귀여워?na gwiyeowo?Am I cute?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 엄청 귀여워.eung, eomcheong gwiyeowo.Yes, you are very cute.
- 민준 Min-jun진짜? 다행이다.jinjja? dahaengida.Really? That's a relief.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준이는 항상 귀여워.Minjun-ineun hangsang gwiyeowo.Minjun, you are always cute.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나, CC BY-SA 4.0.
