당신
dangsin[ta̠ŋɕʰin]
The Korean phrase for "you (formal)" is 당신 (dangsin).
In modern spoken Korean, 당신 is most commonly used between married couples as a respectful term or in song lyrics and poetry to address a beloved.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where "you" is a universal second-person pronoun, 당신 is often avoided in polite daily conversation in favor of using the person's title or name plus a honorific suffix.
How do you pronounce it?
dangsin
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 당신 to address strangers or superiors, but in Korean, it can actually sound confrontational or overly intimate depending on the context.
Did you know?
- The literal translation of 당신 is 'that body' or 'the body in question', derived from the Sino-Korean characters '當' meaning 'aforementioned' and '身' meaning 'body'.
- Because of the risks of misusing 당신, many Koreans will simply omit the subject of the sentence entirely when the context makes it clear who is being addressed.
- In written advertisements or public notices, 당신 is used frequently to address the general reader. This usage is purely one-way and lacks the interpersonal tension found in spoken conversation.
Examples in context
- 당신은 어디로 가십니까?Where are you heading?
- 선생님은 오늘 어떻게 지내셨어요?How have you been, teacher?
- 어떻게 지내시나요?How are you?
- 수진씨, 잘 지내셨어요?Su Jin, how have you been?
Example conversation
A married couple is talking about a family plan at home.
- 도현 Do-hyeon당신은 이 계획을 어떻게 생각해요?dangsin-eun i gyehoeg-eul eotteoke saenggakaeyo?What do you think about this plan?
- 지은 Ji-eun아주 좋다고 생각해요.aju jotago saenggakaeyo.I think it is very good.
- 도현 Do-hyeon저도 그렇게 생각해요.jeodo geureoke saenggakaeyo.I think so too.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 함께 해 봐요.geureom hamkke hae bwayo.Then let us try it together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 당신, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 당신, CC BY-SA 4.0.
