안녕 잘생긴 오빠
annyeong jalsaenggin oppa
The English phrase "hello handsome" can be translated into Korean as 안녕 잘생긴 오빠 (annyeong jalsaenggin oppa).
This phrase is a flirtatious greeting used by a woman to address an attractive man.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of annyeong (hello), jalsaenggin (handsome/good-looking) and oppa (older brother/term for an older male).
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong jalsaenggin oppa
Did you know?
- While 안녕 is a common greeting, its literal roots refer to 'peace' or 'tranquility'. In a sense, you are wishing the person a state of peaceful repose rather than just saying 'hi'.
- The term 잘생긴 (handsome) is derived from the verb 잘생기다, which literally means 'to be well-formed'. This implies that beauty is a matter of correct proportions and structure.
- If you were to use this phrase with a stranger who is older than you, it might sound overly aggressive or 'cheeky'. In formal settings, the word 안녕 would need to be upgraded to 안녕하세요 to avoid appearing rude.
Examples in context
- 안녕하십니까? 잘생긴 분이시네요.Hello, you are very handsome.
- 안녕! 잘 생겼어.Hi! You look handsome.
Example conversation
Ji-eun sees Hyun-woo at a cafe and greets him playfully.
- 지은 Ji-eun안녕 잘생긴 오빠!annyeong jalsaenggin oppa!Hello, handsome oppa!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은아, 안녕. 갑자기 왜 그래?Ji-eun-a, annyeong. gapjagi wae geurae?Hi, Ji-eun. Why are you being like this all of a sudden?
- 지은 Ji-eun그냥 기분 좋아서.geunyang gibun josaseo.Just because I'm in a good mood.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo너 오늘 정말 귀엽다.neo oneul jeongmal gwiyeopda.You are really cute today.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안녕, 오빠, CC BY-SA 4.0.
