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 |
In Korean, different forms of 'yes' are used to indicate agreement or acceptance depending on the social context and the level of respect required.
Which one should you use?
네 is the standard polite version used in most social situations. 예 is a more formal version of 네, typically used in professional or highly respectful settings. For informal situations, 응 is a common way to say 'yes', while 어 serves as a less formal and more conversational acknowledgment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
예 is used in formal contexts. 네 is the most common and universal way to say 'yes' politely. 응 and 어 are informal and should only be used with close friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
To further elevate the level of politeness in a response, one can use the -습니다 or -요 endings.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
Did you know?
- A Korean person might answer 네 to a question that asks if they do NOT want something, meaning 'Yes, that is correct, I do not want it'.
- The formal 예 can be linked to the concept of 'etiquette' or 'ritual', as it shares a phonetic root with the word for 'decorum' in Sino-Korean.
- Depending on the intonation, 네? with a rising tone transforms the word 'yes' into a question meaning 'What did you say?' or 'Pardon?', asking the speaker to repeat themselves.
Examples in context
- 네. 그 남자와 키스했어요.Yes, I kissed him.This sentence shows the use of 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 sentence shows the use of 응 in an informal 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 the use of 네 when responding to a polite inquiry.Tatoeba #8533607 by Eunhee, translation #3010125 by Hybrid
- 네, 이해했습니다.Yes, I understand.
- 응, 좋아.Yes, sounds good.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun is asking Subin if she has finished her work.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 업무 다 끝났어요?Subin ssi, eommu da kkeutnasseoyo?Subin, are you finished with your work?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 지금 다 했어요.Ne, jigeum da haesseoyo.Yes, I just finished everything.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 이제 같이 퇴근할까요?Geureom ije gachi toegeunhalkkayo?Then shall we leave work together now?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 좋아요.Ne, joayo.Yes, that sounds good.
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.
