잘생기다
jalsaenggida[t͡ɕa̠ɭsʰɛŋɡida̠]
The English word 'handsome' can be translated into Korean as 잘생기다 (jalsaenggida). If unsure, use 잘생기다. Wiktionary also lists 멋있다 (meositda).
Meaning: of man: attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 잘생기다 | jalsaenggida | [t͡ɕa̠ɭsʰɛŋɡida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [t͡ɕa̠ɭsʰe̞ŋɡida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 멋있다 | meositda | [mʌ̹ɕʰit̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [mʌ̹dit̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term is used to describe an attractive man. 멋있다 is broader than 잘생기다 and can refer to a man's overall style, aura or coolness, rather than just his facial features.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 잘생기다 is a combination of 잘 (well) and 생기다 (to be formed/to arise), literally meaning 'to be well-formed'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone is handsome in a polite, standard way, use the form 잘생겼어요. To say someone is cool or handsome in a polite, standard way, use the form 멋있어요.
How do you pronounce it?
jalsaenggida
Did you know?
- While 잘생겼어요 is used to describe someone who is handsome now, it is grammatically in the past tense. This is because a person's facial features were 'formed' in the past.
- In modern Korean pop culture, the term 얼굴 천재 literally means 'face genius'. It is used as a superlative for a man whose handsomeness is so perfect it seems like a talent or skill.
- When praising a man's looks, Koreans may use the word 꽃미남, which combines 'flower' and 'handsome man'. This highlights a cultural appreciation for soft and delicate masculine beauty.
Examples in context
- 어제 데이트한 남자 친구가 정말 잘생겼어!The guy I went on a date with yesterday was really handsome!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handsome” translations and entries 잘생기다, 멋있다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
