이거 너야?
igeo neoya?
In Korean, "is this you?" is translated as 이거 너야? (igeo neoya?)
This phrase is specifically used when pointing at a physical object or a digital image (like a photo) to confirm identity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 이거 (this thing), 너 (you) and the copula 야 (is/am/are) in an informal form.
Which one should you use?
The informal way to say 'Is this you?' is 이게 너야?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 이거 너야? is used only with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the question polite, change the informal ending 야 to the polite ending 예요, resulting in 이거 너예요?
How do you pronounce it?
igeo neoya?
Did you know?
- To avoid the potential rudeness of using 너, Koreans often replace 'you' with the person's name or a title like 언니 ('older sister') when asking 이거 [name]예요?
- While English speakers use 'this' to refer to a person in a photo, using 이거 (this thing) in Korean might sound slightly dehumanizing to a beginner if they do not realize it is a common contraction for a physical object like a photo.
- In Korean, calling someone 너 ('you') can be seen as aggressive or rude if the person is even slightly older or higher in rank than the speaker, even if the question 이거 너야? is asked in a friendly context.
Examples in context
- 이 사진 속의 사람, 이거 너야?i sajin sogui saram, igeo neoya?The person in this photo, is this you?
- 이 그림 속 캐릭터, 이거 너야?i geurim sok kaerikteo, igeo neoya?The character in this drawing, is this you?
- 옛날 사진인데, 이거 너야?yenal sajininde, igeo neoya?It is an old photo, is this you?
Example conversation
Dohyun shows Minji a childhood photo on his phone.
- 도현 Do-hyeon민지야, 이 사진 속의 어린아이, 이거 너야?Minji-ya, i sajin sogui eorinai, igeo neoya?Minji, this child in the photo, is this you?
- 민지 Min-ji맞아, 정말 어릴 때 모습이야.maja, jeongmal eolil ttae moseubiya.That's right, it's really how I looked when I was young.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 귀엽다!jeongmal gwiyeopda!So cute!
- 민지 Min-ji고마워, 도현아.gomawo, Dohyun-a.Thanks, Dohyun.
