그는 잘생겼어
geuneun jalsaenggyeosseo
The phrase for "he is handsome" in Korean is 그는 잘생겼어 (geuneun jalsaenggyeosseo).
This phrase is used to say that a man is physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The core verb stems from 잘생겼다, which is composed of the adverb 잘 (well) and the verb 생기다 (to be formed/to arise), literally meaning "to be well-formed".
Which one should you use?
While 잘생겼다 specifically refers to a man's facial features, the word 예쁘다 (pretty) or 멋있다 (cool/stylish) is more commonly used for women or to describe a general "cool" vibe.
How do you pronounce it?
geuneun jalsaenggyeosseo
Did you know?
- In modern Korean pop culture, the term 꽃미남 (flower boy) is used for men with a soft, feminine beauty, which is a distinct aesthetic from the classic masculinity of 잘생겼어.
- When describing a man as handsome, Koreans may avoid using the subject 그는 (he) entirely if the person is already known, as using pronouns can sometimes feel unnatural or like a translation from English.
- Korean has a specific term 훈남 for a man who is not necessarily a 'model' handsome, but has a warm, approachable and attractive image.
Examples in context
- 저 분은 정말로 잘 생겼습니다.He is really handsome.
- 외모가 멋지십니다.His appearance is great.
- 그는 정말 잘생겼어He is really handsome
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are talking about a male actor.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이 배우 정말 멋지지 않아?i baeu jeongmal meotjiji ana?Isn't this actor really cool?
- 민준 Min-jun응, 내 생각에도 그래.eung, nae saenggage-do geurae.Yes, I think so too.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그는 잘생겼어.geuneun jalsaenggyeosseo.He is handsome.
- 민준 Min-jun맞아, 정말 매력적이야.maja, jeongmal maeryeokjeogiya.True, he is very charming.
