네
ne[ne̞(ː)]
In Korean, the English phrase "yes" can be expressed 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 words used for "yes" in Korean function as particles to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
While 네 and 예 are both polite forms, 예 is slightly more formal or traditional than 네. Similarly, 응 and 어 are both informal ways to say yes, used with close friends or people younger than you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal settings and when speaking with people you are not familiar with, 네 is a standard and widely used choice. The form 예 is a formal way to say "yes" specifically used in professional or official contexts. In informal situations, such as among friends, family or acquaintances, you can use 응.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
Did you know?
- When answering a question, Koreans may say 네 even if the answer is 'no' in English, provided they are agreeing with the speaker's premise or confirming the fact.
- Depending on the intonation, the polite word 네 can also be used to ask 'What did you say?' or 'Excuse me?'
- The word 네 can also be a contraction of the word for 'you' 너 combined with a genitive case marker, meaning 'your'.
Examples in context
- 네. 그 남자와 키스했어요.Yes, I kissed him.This example 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 uses 응 to answer 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 uses 네 to indicate a need in a polite request.Tatoeba #8533607 by Eunhee, translation #3010125 by Hybrid
- 네, 맞아요Yes, that's right
- 예, 가능합니다Yes, it is possible
- 그렇습니다, 질문이 있습니다Yes, I have a question
- 그래, 좋아해Yes, I like it
- 맞아, 좋아Yes, that sounds good
- 네, 감사합니다Yes, thank you
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun asks Subin if she is ready to leave.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 이제 출발할까요?Subin ssi, ije chulbal-halkkayo?Subin, shall we leave now?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 준비 다 됐어요.Ne, junbi da dwaesseoyo.Yes, I am all ready.
- 민준 Min-jun가방은 잘 챙겼어요?Gabang-eun jal chaenggyeosseoyo?Did you pack your bag well?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 여기 있어요.Ne, yeogi isseoyo.Yes, here it is.
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.
