멋있어
meos-isseo
In Korean, "it is cool" is expressed as 멋있어 (meos-isseo).
This phrase is used to describe someone's appearance, a person's character or an impressive object/action.
Which one should you use?
You can also use 좋아 as an informal way to convey that something is cool, or 진짜 멋져 to specifically mean "really cool" in informal conversations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite, you can add the suffix '-요' to the end, resulting in 멋있어요. For the most formal level, the form 멋있습니다 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
meos-isseo
Did you know?
- While 멋있어 describes a 'cool' appearance, Koreans use 시원하다 to describe the 'cool' feeling of a breeze or a refreshing drink. Using 멋있어 to describe a cold beverage would be nonsensical to a native speaker.
- If someone does something 'cool' or impressive, a Korean speaker might respond with 대박, which literally means 'big hit' or 'jackpot'. This is often used as a standalone exclamation of amazement instead of a full sentence like 멋있어.
- If you want to say someone is cool in a way that feels trendy or 'hip', you might use the slang term 간지 (ganji), which originated from a Japanese word.
Examples in context
- 너 오늘 정말 멋있어!You look really cool today!
- 이 그림은 진짜 멋져!This painting is really cool!
- 공연이 너무 멋있었어!The performance was so cool!
- 그 옷 정말 멋있어.geu ot jeongmal meosit-eo.That outfit is really cool.
- 그의 스타일은 참 멋있어.geu-ui seutail-eun cham meosit-eo.His style is truly cool.
- 새로 만든 디자인이 멋있어.saero mandeun dijain-i meosit-eo.The new design is cool.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Seoyeon are looking at a new painting.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 그림 진짜 멋있어.i geurim jinjja meosisseo.This painting is really cool.
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 색깔이 정말 예뻐.eung, saekkkari jeongmal yeppeo.Yes, the colors are really pretty.
- 도현 Do-hyeon누가 그렸을까?nuga geuryeosseulkka?I wonder who painted it?
- 서연 Seo-yeon유명한 작가라고 하더라.yumyeonghan jakgarago hadeora.I heard it's a famous artist.
