What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun 보기 (looking/the act of seeing) and the adjective 좋아요 (is good).
Which one should you use?
While 보기 좋아요 focuses on the pleasantness of the sight, 멋있어요 is used specifically to say someone looks cool, stylish or handsome. If you want to focus on specific types of beauty, you might use 예쁘세요 for pretty, 잘 생겼어요 for handsome, 멋있습니다 for stylish or 아름답습니다 for beautiful/gorgeous.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
보기 좋아요 is the polite spoken form. For casual or informal situations with close friends or people younger than you, you can use 보기 좋아. Other compliments also change based on formality, such as the formal 예쁘세요 (you look pretty) versus the informal 예뻐 or the formal 잘 생겼어요 (you look handsome) versus the informal 잘 생겼어.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of the phrase is 보기 좋다, which is used in written text or when speaking to oneself, whereas 보기 좋아요 is the polite spoken form.
How do you pronounce it?
bogi joayo
Did you know?
- Because 보기 좋아요 can describe any pleasant sight, it can be used to compliment a beautiful landscape or a heartwarming situation just as easily as a person.
- The word 좋아요 shares its root with the Korean word for 'to like', which creates a linguistic connection between 'looking good' and 'feeling a liking for something'.
- Using the dictionary form 보기 좋다 during a face-to-face conversation can make the speaker sound as if they are talking to themselves or writing in a diary.
Examples in context
- 오늘 옷차림이 보기 좋아요.oneul otsarimi bogi joayo.Your outfit looks good today.
- 새로 바꾼 머리 스타일이 보기 좋아요.saero bakkun meori seutairi bogi joayo.Your new hairstyle looks good.
- 건강해 보여서 보기 좋아요.geonganghae boyeoseo bogi joayo.You look healthy, so it's good to see.
Example conversation
Subin and Jihun meet at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 오늘 정말 보기 좋아요.Jihun ssi, oneul jeongmal bogi joayo.Jihun, you look really good today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 수빈 씨도 오늘 아주 예쁘네요.Jeongmallyo? Subin ssi do oneul aju yeppeuneyo.Really? Subin, you look very pretty today too.
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워요. 기분이 좋네요.Gomawoyo. Gibuni jonneyo.Thank you. I feel good.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그 옷이 정말 잘 어울려요.Geu osi jeongmal jal eoullyeoyo.That outfit suits you really well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 보기, 좋아요, CC BY-SA 4.0.
