너야?
neoya?
The English phrase "are you" can be translated into Korean as 너야? (neoya?)
A question used to ask if the person being spoken to is the one being referred to.
What does it mean word for word?
The ending 야? (ya?) is the informal interrogative form of the verb "to be", functioning as "is it / are you?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
너야? is used only with friends, people younger than you or those you are very close to.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the subject "you" is often omitted if the context is clear, so 너야? can be translated simply as "Is it you?" or "Are you?"
How do you pronounce it?
neoya?
Did you know?
- In Korean cinema, villains often use 너야? to create a menacing atmosphere by intentionally stripping away the listener's social status.
- Even when you want to say 'Are you?', using the word 'you' (너, neo) can actually sound aggressive or confrontational in certain settings. It is often safer to use the person's name or title instead of the direct pronoun.
- If you were to use 'are you' in a formal setting like a business meeting, you would swap 너야? for the much longer and more polite ~이십니까? (i-sim-ni-kka?).
Examples in context
- 어머니께서는 집에 계세요?Is your mother at home?
- 너는 한국인이니?Are you Korean?
- 오빠는 지금 놀러왔니?Did you come here to hang out, older brother?
- 지금 전화한 사람이 너야?jigeum jeonhwahan sarami neoya?Are you the person who called just now?
- 아까 내 이름을 부른 게 너야?akka nae ireumeul bureun ge neoya?Were you the one who called my name earlier?
Example conversation
Minjun sees someone hiding behind a door.
- 민준 Min-jun거기 누구 있어? 너야?geogi nugu isseo? neoya?Who is there? Is it you?
- 민지 Min-ji응, 나야. 놀랐어?eung, naya. nollasseo?Yes, it's me. Were you surprised?
- 민준 Min-jun진짜 깜짝 놀랐잖아!jinjja kkamjjak nollatjana!You really startled me!
- 민지 Min-ji미안해, 장난친 거야.mianhae, jangnanchin geoya.Sorry, I was just joking.
