응
eung[ɯŋ]
The English phrase "yes informally" is translated into Korean as 응 (eung).
응 is a common and versatile way to say yes informally.
Which one should you use?
응 is the informal counterpart to the polite forms 네 or 예.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 응 is used in informal settings with friends, siblings or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
eung
Did you know?
- In digital messaging, many Koreans skip the vowel and write ㅇ to say 'yes' even more quickly and informally than writing the full 응.
- If you use 응 with someone older than you or a stranger, it is not just 'informal', it is considered a significant social offense or a 'rude' gesture.
- Using 응 can sometimes feel 'too' short or blunt in text, so friends often add extra vowels like 으응 to make the 'yes' sound softer and more friendly.
Examples in context
- 응, 나도 그거 좋아해.eung, nado geugeo joahae.Yes, I like that too.
- 응, 지금 가고 있어.eung, jigeum gago isseo.Yes, I am going now.
- 응, 다 했어.eung, da haesseo.Yes, I finished it all.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준아, 오늘 점심에 비빔밥 먹을래?Minjun-a, oneul jeomsime bibimbap meogeullae?Minjun, do you want to eat bibimbap for lunch today?
- 민준 Min-jun응, 좋아! 그거 먹자.Eung, joa! Geugeo meokja.Yes, sounds good! Let's eat that.
- 수빈 Su-bin그럼 근처 식당으로 갈까?Geureom geuncheo sikdang-euro galkka?Then shall we go to the nearby restaurant?
- 민준 Min-jun응, 바로 가자.Eung, baro gaja.Yes, let's go right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 응, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
