예뻐 보여요
yeppeo boyeoyo
The English phrase "you look pretty" is translated into Korean as 예뻐 보여요 (yeppeo boyeoyo).
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that their current appearance is attractive. It specifically emphasizes how the person appears to the speaker's eyes at this moment, rather than just stating a general fact about their beauty.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective 예쁘다 (to be pretty) and the auxiliary verb 보여– (to appear/look).
Which one should you use?
아름다우시네요 is a formal expression meaning 'you look beautiful' that uses the honorific suffix '-시-' to convey respect. 예뻐 보이네 is a colloquial and relaxed way of complimenting someone's appearance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal/casual version of the phrase is 예뻐 보여.
How do you pronounce it?
yeppeo boyeoyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often say 예쁘다 (to be pretty) when they mean 'you look pretty'. While both are compliments, the latter specifically refers to the visual impression.
Did you know?
- While 예뻐 보여요 is a compliment, saying it to a superior or someone much older can sometimes be perceived as condescending because the word 예쁘다 is often used when speaking to children or subordinates.
- In Korean culture, a common humble response to 예뻐 보여요 is to deny the compliment entirely, often saying 아니에요 ('no it is not') to show modesty.
- The root adjective 예쁘다 can also be used to describe an action or a heart, as in 마음이 예쁘다, meaning someone has a 'pretty' or kind soul.
Examples in context
- 예쁘시네요. 오늘 옷이 참 예뻐 보여요.You look pretty. Your clothes look really nice today.
- 오늘 정말 예뻐 보여요.oneul jeongmal yeppeo boyeoyo.You look really pretty today.
- 새 옷이 예뻐 보여요.sae osi yeppeo boyeoyo.The new clothes look pretty.
- 그 색깔이 참 예뻐 보여요.geu saekkkari cham yeppeo boyeoyo.That color looks really pretty.
Example conversation
Minjun meets Minji at a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨, 오늘 정말 예뻐 보여요.Minji ssi, oneul jeongmal yeppeo boyeoyo.Minji, you look really pretty today.
- 민지 Min-ji정말요? 감사합니다, 민준 씨.jeongmallyo? gamsahamnida, Minjun ssi.Really? Thank you, Minjun.
- 민준 Min-jun스타일이 아주 잘 어울려요.seutaili aju jal eoullyeoyo.The style suits you very well.
- 민지 Min-ji기분이 정말 좋네요!gibuni jeongmal jonneyo!I feel really good now!
