너무 슬퍼요
neomu seulpeoyo
The English phrase "I am so sad" is expressed in Korean as 너무 슬퍼요 (neomu seulpeoyo).
This phrase is used to express that you are feeling a great deal of sorrow or unhappiness. You can use the word 너무 as an intensifier to express a deeper level of sadness.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 너무 슬퍼요, 너무 means "too much" or "so" and 슬퍼요 is the polite form of the adjective meaning "to be sad".
Which one should you use?
While 너무 슬퍼요 is the standard polite version, you might encounter 완전 슬퍼. to mean "I am completely sad" or 진짜 슬퍼. to mean "I am really sad."
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the phrase with close friends or people younger than you, you can drop the polite ending -요 to say 너무 슬퍼. For a highly formal/honorific tone, use 너무 슬픕니다. The word 완전 can also be used as an intensifier to express a deeper level of sadness.
How do you pronounce it?
neomu seulpeoyo
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, expressing sadness through 한 (han) refers to a collective, deep-seated grief and resentment that transcends a simple feeling of being 'sad'.
- While 너무 슬퍼요 expresses sadness, Koreans often use the word 서럽다 for a specific type of sadness caused by unfairness or injustice.
- In traditional Korean grammar, 너무 was used only for negative situations, meaning 'excessively' in a bad way.
Examples in context
- 친구와 헤어져서 너무 슬퍼요.chinguwa hee-eo-jyeoseo neomu seulpeoyo.I am so sad because I broke up with my friend.
Example conversation
Ji-eun is telling Min-jun about her lost pet.
- 지은 Ji-eun강아지를 잃어버려서 너무 슬퍼요.gangajireul ireobeoryeoseo neomu seulpeoyo.I am so sad because I lost my puppy.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 안타깝네요, 지은 씨.jeongmal antakgapneyo, Jieun ssi.That is truly heartbreaking, Ji-eun.
- 지은 Ji-eun다시 만날 수 있을까요?dasi mannal su isseulkkayo?Do you think I can see it again?
- 민준 Min-jun분명히 찾을 수 있을 거예요.bunmyeonghi chajeul su isseul geoyeyo.I am sure you will be able to find it.
