너 예쁘다
neo yeppeuda
In Korean, "you are beautiful" is said as 너 예쁘다 (neo yeppeuda).
The phrase is used as a compliment to tell someone that they are physically attractive. The core adjective, 예쁘다, is most commonly used to describe feminine beauty or things that are aesthetically pleasing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 너 예쁘다 is casual and should only be used with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form is 예뻐요 and the formal/honorific form is 예쁩니다.
How do you pronounce it?
neo yeppeuda
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate the word 'you' as 당신 (dangsin), but using this in person can sound confrontational or overly dramatic in Korean.
Did you know?
- The word 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) has undergone a massive semantic shift over time. In Middle Korean, it actually meant 'to be pitiful' or 'to be pitiable' rather than 'to be beautiful'.
- Because the word 예쁘다 is often associated with feminine beauty, using it to describe a man's physical attractiveness might imply he has 'pretty' or delicate, boyish features rather than rugged masculinity.
- While English speakers might use 'you' to emphasize the compliment, in Korean, it is often more natural to drop the word 너 (neo) entirely and simply say 예뻐요 (yeppeoyo) when speaking to someone.
Examples in context
- 오늘 너무 예뻐!You look really pretty today!
- 죄송합니다만, 당신은 정말 아름답습니다.I'm sorry, but you are really beautiful.
- 너 예쁘다.neo yeppeuda.You are beautiful.
- 오늘 진짜 너 예쁘다.oneul jinjja neo yeppeuda.You are really beautiful today.
- 그 옷 입으니까 너 예쁘다.geu ot ibeunikka neo yeppeuda.You look beautiful in those clothes.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo compliments Seoyeon while they are walking in a park.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연아, 너 예쁘다.Seoyeon-a, neo yeppeuda.Seoyeon, you are beautiful.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말? 고마워, 현우야.jeongmal? gomawo, Hyunwoo-ya.Really? Thank you, Hyunwoo.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo진심이야.jinsimiya.I mean it.
- 서연 Seo-yeon기분 좋다!gibun jota!That makes me feel good!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 너, 예쁘다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
