나 싫어해?
The English phrase "do you hate me?" is translated into Korean as 나 싫어해?
This phrase is used to ask if someone has feelings of hatred or dislike toward you. In Korean, the subject "you" is often omitted from the sentence, as the question is understood through the context and the specific verb ending used.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 나, meaning "me" and 싫어해?, which is the informal question form of the verb "to hate/dislike".
Which one should you use?
While the English sentence includes the subject "you", in the Korean phrase 나 싫어해?, the subject is typically left out.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 나 싫어해? is the informal way to ask the question. If you are speaking to someone older or someone in a higher social position, you should use the polite form 저 싫어하세요? instead. For a formal way to ask, you can use 저를 싫어하십니까?
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 나 싫어해? is in the banmal (informal) style, which is used when speaking to close friends or to someone younger.
Did you know?
- Asking 나 싫어해? is a common 'aegyo' trope in Korean pop culture. It is often said in a cute or whining tone to seek reassurance from a partner rather than to express genuine distress.
- Because Korean is a pro-drop language, omitting 'you' in 나 싫어해? is not just a shortcut. Including the word for 'you' 너 can actually make the sentence sound unnaturally aggressive or overly blunt.
- In Korean, expressing 'hate' is often softened by using the phrase 'not like' 안 좋아해. Using the direct verb 싫어해 is considered much more confrontational and emotionally heavy than in English.
Examples in context
- 저를 싫어하십니까?
아니요, 전 절대로 그렇게 생각하지 않습니다.Do you hate me?
No, I never think of you that way. - 나 싫어해?na sil-eo-hae?Do you hate me?
- 설마 나 싫어해?seol-ma na sil-eo-hae?Don't tell me you hate me?
- 갑자기 나 싫어해?gap-ja-gi na sil-eo-hae?Do you suddenly hate me?
Example conversation
A young woman asks her boyfriend why he is acting cold toward her.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현아, 혹시 나 싫어해?do-hyeon-a, hok-si na sil-eo-hae?Dohyun, do you hate me by any chance?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아니, 전혀 그렇지 않아.a-ni, jeon-hyeo geu-reot-ji a-na.No, not at all.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 왜 연락이 없어?geu-reom wae yeon-rak-i eop-seo?Then why haven't you contacted me?
- 도현 Do-hyeon그냥 너무 바빴을 뿐이야.geu-nyang neo-mu ba-ppat-eul ppun-i-ya.I was just too busy.
