오늘 멋져 보여요
oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo
In Korean, "you look good today" is expressed as 오늘 멋져 보여요 (oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo).
This phrase is used to compliment someone's overall style or appearance on a specific day, rather than a permanent trait.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 오늘 (today), 멋져 (cool/stylish) and 보여요 (appears/looks).
Which one should you use?
While 멋져 보여요 implies looking cool, stylish or handsome, the phrase 오늘 예뻐 보여요 specifically means looking pretty or beautiful.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite version ends with the suffix -요, which makes it appropriate for social settings involving acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, giving a compliment like 오늘 멋져 보여요 may be met with a humble denial or a 'no, no' gesture rather than a simple 'thank you'.
- The word 멋 (meot), found in the root of the compliment, is a beautiful concept in Korean culture that refers to a certain 'charm' or 'refined grace' that cannot be easily quantified.
- Korean often omits the word 'you' entirely in this phrase because mentioning the listener's pronoun can actually sound too direct or aggressive in social settings.
Examples in context
- 선생님, 오늘 정말 멋지세요.Teacher, you look really great today.
- 친구야, 오늘 예뻐 보여.Hey friend, you look pretty today.
- 형, 오늘 완전 멋있어.Bro, you look really cool today.
- 오늘 멋져 보여요.oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo.You look good today.
- 새 옷이 잘 어울려서 오늘 멋져 보여요.sae osi jal eoullyeoseo oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo.The new clothes suit you, so you look good today.
- 머리 스타일이 바뀌어서 오늘 멋져 보여요.meori seutairi bakkwieoseo oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo.Your hairstyle changed, so you look good today.
Example conversation
Seoyeon greets Jihun at the office.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 오늘 멋져 보여요.Jihun ssi, oneul meotjyeo boyeoyo.Jihun, you look good today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 감사합니다, 서연 씨.Jeongmallyo? Gamsahamnida, Seoyeon ssi.Really? Thank you, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon셔츠 색깔이 아주 잘 어울려요.Syeocheu saekkkari aju jal eoullyeoyo.The color of your shirt suits you very well.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요. 기분이 좋네요.Gomawoyo. Gibuni jonneyo.Thanks. I feel great.
