What does it mean word for word?
The expression is a combination of 맛, meaning "taste" and 있어요, meaning "to exist" or "to have". Literally, the phrase means "Does taste exist?"
Which one should you use?
While 맛있어요? focuses on whether something is delicious, other forms like 좋습니까?, 좋은가요? and 좋아? are used for the more general "is it good?" To specifically ask if something is delicious in different registers, you can use 맛있습니까? for high formality or 맛있어? for casual settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
맛있습니까? is a highly formal version used in professional settings or when addressing someone of much higher status. For casual situations, such as speaking with friends or people younger than you, use the informal version 맛있어? The phrase 좋아? is also an informal way to ask "is it good?"
How do you pronounce it?
masisseoyo?
When do people say it?
When someone asks if your food is delicious, a common positive response is 네, 맛있어요. (Yes, it is delicious.). If you wish to say that something tastes bad, you can use the antonym 맛없어요 (it is tasteless/not tasty).
Did you know?
- If you are eating something extremely delicious, you might use the word 꿀맛, which literally translates to 'honey taste' to express that it is amazing.
- To express that something is 'too' delicious, Koreans may use the slang term 존맛 (JMT), which is a vulgar but extremely common intensifier among youth.
- Asking 맛있어요? can sometimes be a social lubricant used by a host to ensure a guest is comfortable, regardless of whether the host actually cares about the flavor.
Examples in context
- 이 음식은 맛있습니까?Is this food delicious?
- 이 영화는 좋은가요?Is this movie good?
- 이 음식은 좋아?Is this food good?
- 정말 맛있어요?jeongmal masisseoyo?Is it really good?
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Jihoon are eating at a new restaurant.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 이거 맛있어요?Jihoon ssi, igeo masisseoyo?Jihoon, is this good?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 정말 맛있어요!ne, jeongmal masisseoyo!Yes, it is really good!
- 서연 Seo-yeon다행이네요.dahaeng-ineyo.That's a relief.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨도 드셔 보세요.Seoyeon ssi-do deusyeo boseyo.Seoyeon, you should try some too.
