네
ne[ne̞(ː)]
In Korean, 'yes' can be expressed using several forms such as 네 (ne), 예, 응 or 어.
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 |
These words are particles used to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
While 네 is the standard polite way to say yes suitable for most social situations with strangers or superiors, 예 is a more formal version often used in highly professional, military or very traditional settings. For informal contexts, 응 is used with close friends or people younger than you, while 어 is also used as an informal acknowledgment or a way to say 'yeah'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
네 and 예 are formal and polite, with 예 being a more formal version of 네. 응 and 어 are informal.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the informal 응 or 어 with elders or bosses, which can be perceived as rude or disrespectful.
Did you know?
- When answering a question with a negative, Koreans often use 네 before saying 'no'. This indicates that they agree with the fact that the answer is negative.
- Depending on the intonation, 네? with a rising tone transforms the word into a question meaning 'What did you say?' or 'Pardon?'
- The informal 응 is often written as ㅇㅇ in text messages and social media, representing a shorthand version of the word.
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 sentence uses 응 to confirm 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 sentence uses 네 to respond to a question about needing something.Tatoeba #8533607 by Eunhee, translation #3010125 by Hybrid
- 미팅은 3시에 있을 예정입니다.The meeting is scheduled for 3 o'clock.
- 네, 알겠습니다.Yes, I understand.
- 드림호텔 예약이 완료되었습니다.Your Dream Hotel reservation is complete.
- 예, 감사합니다.Yes, thank you.
- 저녁에 같이 식사하러 갈까요?Shall we go have dinner together this evening?
- 오늘 날씨가 정말 좋네요.The weather is really nice today.
- 요즘 유행하는 음악 좀 알려주세요.Please recommend me some trendy music these days.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon asks Minji if she has finished her homework.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 숙제 다 했어요?Minji ssi, sukje da haesseoyo?Minji, did you finish your homework?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 방금 다 끝냈어요.Ne, banggeum da kkeunnaesseoyo.Yes, I just finished it.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말 다행이네요.Jeongmal dahaeng-ineyo.That's a relief.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨도 다 했어요?Jihoon ssi-do da haesseoyo?Did you finish it too, Jihoon?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries 네, 예, 응, 어, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
