아름다워요
areumdawoyo
The English phrase "it is beautiful" is translated into Korean as 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo).
This phrase is used to describe something that is visually pleasing or aesthetically attractive. While you can use the related term 예쁘다 to say "it is pretty" in a general sense, 아름다워요 carries a sense of profound or classical beauty.
Which one should you use?
While 아름다워요 implies a sense of profound or classical beauty, 예뻐요 is more commonly used for things that are simply "pretty" or "cute".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on the level of formality required. For a highly formal setting, use 아름답습니다. For a polite but casual tone, use 아름다워요. For a non-polite version used with friends or those younger than you, use 아름다워.
How do you pronounce it?
areumdawoyo
Did you know?
- The word 아름답다 shares its root with the Korean word for 'size' or 'extent', which is 아름. This suggests that beauty was historically conceptualized through the scale or completeness of a thing.
- When Koreans describe a 'beautiful' lie, they use 아름다운 거짓말, a phrase popularized by a famous song and film to describe a lie told to protect someone's feelings.
- The grammar of 아름다워요 involves a 'descriptive verb' rather than a simple adjective. This means the word itself acts as a predicate, making the English word 'is' part of the word's own structure.
Examples in context
- 이 그림은 아름답습니다.This painting is beautiful.
- 저 도시는 매우 아름답습니다.That city is very beautiful.
- 그 옷은 아름다워요.That outfit is beautiful.
- 너의 눈은 정말 예쁘다.Your eyes are really beautiful.
- 노을이 정말 아름다워요.no-euri jeong-mal a-reum-da-wo-yo.The sunset is truly beautiful.
- 이 꽃은 참 아름다워요.i kko-cheun cham a-reum-da-wo-yo.This flower is quite beautiful.
- 풍경이 아주 아름다워요.pung-gyeong-i a-ju a-reum-da-wo-yo.The scenery is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a painting in an art gallery.
- 민준 Min-jun그림이 정말 아름다워요.geu-rim-i jeong-mal a-reum-da-wo-yo.The painting is truly beautiful.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 색깔이 아름다워요.ma-ja-yo, saek-kkal-i a-reum-da-wo-yo.That's right, the colors are beautiful.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨도 그렇게 생각해요?Su-bin ssi-do geu-reot-ge saeng-gak-hae-yo?Do you think so too, Subin?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 정말 아름다운 작품이에요.ne, jeong-mal a-reum-da-un jak-pum-i-e-yo.Yes, it is a truly beautiful work.
