오늘 예뻐 보여요
oneul yeppeo boyeoyo
The English phrase "you look pretty today" is expressed in Korean as 오늘 예뻐 보여요 (oneul yeppeo boyeoyo).
This phrase is a compliment used to tell someone that their appearance is attractive today. By using the verb 보여요 (to look/appear), you are describing the impression a person's appearance gives rather than simply stating a fact about their beauty.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 오늘 (today), 예뻐 (pretty) and 보여요 (looks/appears).
Which one should you use?
For instance, 오늘 정말 아름답게 생겼어요 or 오늘 아주 아름답게 보입니다 are used to say someone looks beautiful. You can also use the term 이쁘다 as a variation of 'pretty'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form uses the polite ending -요, making it appropriate for people you are not extremely close with or for general social situations. To speak casually to a friend or a younger person, you drop the -요 to use the informal form 오늘 예뻐 보여. To show extra respect to someone older or of a higher status, you can use the honorific form 오늘 예쁘시네요, which utilizes the honorific marker -시- to elevate respect.
How do you pronounce it?
oneul yeppeo boyeoyo
Did you know?
- In Korea, receiving a compliment like 오늘 예뻐 보여요 is often met with a humble denial rather than a simple 'thank you'.
- The word for 'today', 오늘, shares an ancient root with the phrase 'the day that has come'. It is built from a combination of 'to come' and 'day'.
- The variation 이쁘다 was historically considered a non-standard dialect or 'incorrect' version of 예쁘다 before being officially accepted as standard language.
Examples in context
- 오늘 예뻐 보여요.oneul yeppeo boyeoyo.You look pretty today.
- 머리 스타일이 바뀌어서 오늘 예뻐 보여요.meori seutairi bakkwieoseo oneul yeppeo boyeoyo.You look pretty today because your hair style changed.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are meeting for a date.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈 씨, 안녕하세요!Jihoon ssi, annyeonghaseyo!Hello, Jihoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 오늘 예뻐 보여요.Seoyeon ssi, oneul yeppeo boyeoyo.Seoyeon, you look pretty today.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말요? 고마워요.jeongmalyo? gomawoyo.Really? Thank you.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말로 아주 예뻐요.jeongmallo aju yeppeoyo.You really are very pretty.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 오늘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
