누군가 예쁘다
nugunga yeppeuda
In Korean, "someone is pretty" is said as 누군가 예쁘다 (nugunga yeppeuda).
The phrase is used to state that a person has an attractive physical appearance. The term 예쁘다 is a simple and common way to say "pretty" in Korean. While 예쁘다 is often used for feminine beauty, you should use 잘생겼다 to say a man is handsome. If you wish to describe something or someone as "beautiful," you would use 아름답다.
Which one should you use?
While 예쁘다 describes being pretty, 잘생겼다 is the standard way to describe a man as handsome.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 예쁘다 changes depending on the level of politeness required: 예뻐요 is used for polite, everyday conversation, 예쁘다 is used in casual speech with close friends or people younger than you and 예쁩니다 is used in very formal settings such as news broadcasts or military contexts. Additionally, the colloquial expression 예쁘네 can be used among friends to say "You look pretty."
How do you pronounce it?
nugunga yeppeuda
Did you know?
- The word 예쁘다 actually comes from a Middle Korean word meaning 'pitiful'. Over centuries, it underwent a semantic shift from describing someone worthy of pity to someone lovely and pretty.
- Korean speakers often use the phrase 마음이 예쁘다 to describe someone with a 'pretty heart' when they perform a selfless or thoughtful act.
- When complimenting someone's appearance, Koreans may use a modest gesture like tilting the head or slightly avoiding eye contact to avoid appearing too aggressive.
Examples in context
- 너는 정말 예쁘다You are really pretty.
- 그 남자는 정말 잘생겼어That man is really handsome.
- 그 여자의 미소는 아름답다Her smile is beautiful.
- 오늘 너 정말 예뻐You look really pretty today.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 예쁘다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
