나를 봐
nareul bwa
The English phrase "look at me" can be translated into Korean as 나를 봐 (nareul bwa).
나를 봐 is a command used to tell someone to direct their eyes toward the speaker. Depending on how it is spoken, it can sound quite blunt or aggressive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 나 (me), the object marker 를 (at/me) and the informal command form of 보다 (to see/look).
Which one should you use?
While 나를 봐 is a direct command, you can use 나 좀 봐 to informally say "look at me a bit."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use 나를 봐요 if you want to be polite to people you are not close with or who are older. For a formal or polite way to request attention, you can say 주목해 주세요 (please pay attention or please look at me). If you are speaking to a superior or a stranger, the standard polite way is to use the humble pronoun and honorific verb in 저를 보세요.
How do you pronounce it?
nareul bwa
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, direct eye contact during a command like 나를 봐 can be perceived as a sign of intense confrontation or even aggression, rather than just a simple request.
- The word for 'to see' in 나를 봐, which is 보다, is also used in the expression 보다 말다 to mean 'to stop halfway through doing something'.
- The humble pronoun 저 used in 저를 보세요 literally lowers the speaker's status relative to the listener to show respect.
Examples in context
- 주목해 주세요.Please look at me.
- 나 좀 봐.Look at me.
- 진지하게 말할 때 나를 봐.jin-ji-ha-ge mal-hal ttae na-reul bwa.Look at me when I speak seriously.
- 자, 이제 나를 봐.ja, i-je na-reul bwa.Now, look at me.
Example conversation
Jihoon is trying to get Jieun's attention to show her something.
- 지훈 Ji-hun지은아, 나를 봐.Jieun-a, nareul bwa.Jieun, look at me.
- 지은 Ji-eun왜 그래, 지훈아?wae geurae, Jihun-a?What's wrong, Jihoon?
- 지훈 Ji-hun이것 좀 봐, 정말 신기해.igeot jom bwa, jeongmal singihae.Look at this, it's really amazing.
- 지은 Ji-eun우와, 진짜 신기하다!uwa, jinja singihada!Wow, it really is amazing!
