Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 네 | ne | [ne̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 예 | ye | [je̞(ː)] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 응 | eung | [ɯŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | informal |
| 어 | eo | [ʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | informal |
The words used for yes function as particles to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
While 네 is the standard polite way to say yes in most social situations, 예 is a more formal or stiff version often used in highly professional or military contexts. For informal settings, 응 and 어 are used, but 응 is specifically used when speaking to close friends or people younger than you, whereas 어 is an informal way to say yes, often used in casual speech among peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Polite and formal options include 네, which is standard for most social interactions and 예, which is used in very formal or professional settings. Informal options include 응 and 어, which are used with friends, peers or those younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
Did you know?
- In Korean, answering 네 to a negative question like 'You don't like this?' actually means 'Yes, you are correct that I do not like this'.
- While 네 means 'yes', the same sound can also be used to ask 'What?' or 'Pardon?' when the speaker did not hear something clearly, usually with a rising intonation.
- The formal version 예 can be traced back to the Chinese character for 'ritual' or 'etiquette', meaning 'yes' is literally rooted in the concept of propriety.
Examples in context
- 네. 그 남자와 키스했어요.Yes, I kissed him.This sentence shows how to use 네 to confirm an action.Tatoeba #11106056 by intertime, translation #2260408 by Hybrid
- "이 자동차들 다 네 거야?" "응, 다 내 거야.""Are these cars yours?" "Yes, they are mine."This example demonstrates the use of 응 in a casual conversation.Tatoeba #8469609 by Eunhee, translation #386689 by Mouseneb
- "뭔가 필요하시나요?" "네, 대화를 좀 했으면 하는데요.""Do you need something?" "Yes, I need to talk to you."This sentence shows how to use 네 to answer a polite inquiry.Tatoeba #8533607 by Eunhee, translation #3010125 by Hybrid
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon is asking Jihoon if he has finished his work.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 일 다 끝났어요?Jihoon ssi, il da kkeutnasseoyo?Jihoon, are you finished with work?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 방금 다 끝냈어요.ne, banggeum da kkeunnaesseoyo.Yes, I just finished everything.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그럼 이제 같이 갈까요?geureom ije gachi galkkayo?Then shall we go together now?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 좋아요. 가요.ne, joayo. gayo.Yes, that sounds good. Let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries 네, 예, 응, 어, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 네, 예, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
