미녀
minyeo[ˈmi(ː)ɲʌ̹]
The English phrase 'beautiful lady' is translated into Korean as 미녀 (minyeo).
미녀 is used to describe a woman who is physically attractive. It often appears in formal contexts such as news headlines, literature or titles to categorize or describe a woman of great beauty.
Which one should you use?
While 미녀 is a formal noun, 예쁜 여자 is a more common and descriptive way to say 'pretty woman' in everyday conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
미녀 is a formal, somewhat literary noun used to describe a beautiful woman rather than a casual way to address someone. For a more refined and formal way to refer specifically to a beautiful woman, you can use 미인. For a standard and formal way to say 'beautiful lady', use 아름다운 여인. In casual settings, 예쁜 여자 is a common way to say 'pretty woman' and younger individuals may use the informal expression 이쁜 누나 to refer to an older woman they find beautiful.
How do you pronounce it?
minyeo
Did you know?
- Because 미녀 is a formal noun, calling a woman a 미녀 to her face can feel like you are labeling her as an object or an icon rather than giving a personal compliment.
- In modern slang, the term 미녀 is sometimes combined with others to create 'beauty' categories, such as 천연 미녀 for a 'natural beauty' who has not had plastic surgery.
- The word 미녀 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning it is derived from Chinese characters, specifically 美 for 'beautiful' and 女 for 'female'.
Examples in context
- 저기 계신 아름다운 여인께서는 누구신가요?Who is the beautiful lady over there?
- 그 미인이 항상 자신감을 가지고 있어요.That beautiful lady always carries herself with confidence.
- 오늘 저녁에 예쁜 여자와 함께 갈래?Do you want to go out with a beautiful lady tonight?
- 그녀는 정말 미녀예요.geunyeoneun jeongmal minyeoyeyo.She is a real beautiful lady.
- 사진 속의 미녀는 제 동생이에요.sajin sogui minyeoneun je dongsaengieyo.The beautiful lady in the photo is my younger sister.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a celebrity news article on a phone.
- 민준 Min-jun이 배우 정말 미녀네요.i baeu jeongmal minyenyeyo.This actress is a real beautiful lady.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 정말 예쁘시네요.majayo, jeongmal yeppeusineyo.That's right, she is very pretty.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨도 미녀예요.subin ssido minyeoyeyo.Subin, you are a beautiful lady too.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 너무 과찬이에요.minjun ssi, neomu gwachanieyo.Minjun, you are flattering me too much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 미녀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 미녀, CC BY-SA 4.0.
