네
ne[ne̞(ː)]
In Korean, "yes" can be said as 네 (ne). Wiktionary also lists 예 (ye) and 응 (eung).
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
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 word is used to indicate agreement or acceptance. Besides agreeing with a statement, 네 is also used to acknowledge that you are listening to someone, similar to saying "I see" or "Uh-huh" in English.
Which one should you use?
The polite forms 네 and 예 both mean "yes", but 예 is often perceived as slightly more formal or traditional than 네. For informal situations, you can use 응 or 어.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
네 is the most basic and widely-used word for "yes". 예 is also a polite form, though it carries a slightly more formal or traditional tone. In informal settings, such as when speaking with close friends or people younger than you, use 응 or 어.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
Did you know?
- When answering a negative question, such as 'You don't like this?', a Korean speaker says 네 to agree with the negative statement, which translates to 'No, I don't' in English.
- In modern Korean, the word 네 can also function as a way to say 'your' when it is a contraction of 'you' and the possessive marker.
- The polite form 예 shares a historical connection with the Chinese character for 'etiquette' or 'ritual', 禮.
Examples in context
- 네. 그 남자와 키스했어요.Yes, I kissed him.This sentence uses 네 to confirm a past 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 shows the use of 네 in a response to a question about ownership.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 example demonstrates using 네 to acknowledge a question and express a need.Tatoeba #8533607 by Eunhee, translation #3010125 by Hybrid
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji asks Dohyun if he finished his homework.
- 민지 Min-ji숙제 다 했어요?sukje da haesseoyo?Did you finish your homework?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 다 했어요.ne, da haesseoyo.Yes, I finished it all.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 잘했네요.jeongmal jalhaetneyo.That is really good.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 민지 씨.gomawoyo, Minji ssi.Thank you, Minji.
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.
