안녕 예쁜아
annyeong yeppeuna
The English phrase "hey beautiful" is translated into Korean as 안녕 예쁜아 (annyeong yeppeuna).
안녕 예쁜아 is an informal greeting used to address a woman or girl that the speaker finds attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 안녕, which means "Hi" in an informal context and 예쁜아, which means "beautiful one" or "pretty one".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is highly informal and should only be used with someone you are close to or in a very casual, flirtatious setting.
How does it change in a sentence?
In 예쁜아, the particle 아 is added to the end of the adjective form to indicate that you are addressing that person directly as a vocative.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong yeppeuna
Did you know?
- Using 예쁜아 to a stranger in Korea is far riskier than saying 'hey beautiful' in English. Because Korean society relies heavily on social hierarchy, using this informal level with a non-acquaintance can be perceived as aggressive or disrespectful rather than flirtatious.
- In Korean, there is a distinct difference between 예쁘다 ('to be pretty') and 아름답다 ('to be beautiful'). While 예쁜아 is used for cute or lovely beauty, 아름답다 is reserved for a more profound, sublime, or artistic beauty.
- The word 안녕 is also used as a way to say 'goodbye', meaning that the greeting and the parting wish are linguistically identical.
Examples in context
- 안녕 예쁜아, 잘 지냈어?annyeong yeppeuna, jal jinaesseo?Hey beautiful, how have you been?
- 안녕 예쁜아, 오늘 정말 멋지다.annyeong yeppeuna, oneul jeongmal meotjida.Hey beautiful, you look great today.
- 안녕 예쁜아, 뭐 하고 있어?annyeong yeppeuna, mwo hago isseo?Hey beautiful, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo meets Jieun at a cafe.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우: 안녕 예쁜아, 오래 기다렸어?Hyunwoo: Annyeong yeppeuna, orae gidaryeosseo?Hey beautiful, have you been waiting long?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은: 아니, 나도 방금 왔어.Jieun: Ani, nado banggeum wasseo.No, I just got here too.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우: 오늘 스타일 너무 좋다.Hyunwoo: Oneul seutail neomu jota.Your style is so great today.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은: 고마워, 너도 멋있어.Jieun: Gomawo, neodo meosisseo.Thanks, you look great too.
