Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 당신 | dangsin | [ta̠ŋɕʰin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 너 | neo | [nʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 네 | ne | [ni] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
|
| 자네 | jane | [t͡ɕa̠ne̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 그대 | geudae | [kɯdɛ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [kɯde̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
formal, literary, poetic |
| 동무 | dongmu | [to̞ŋmu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | North Korea |
While 당신 is a formal subject pronoun, it is also used in very romantic or poetic contexts. The informal form 너 is used when addressing the person being spoken to or when referring to the individual or group spoken/written to. To avoid being rude, 너 should only be used with close friends, people of a similar age or people who are younger than you.
Which one should you use?
당신 is a formal word, but it can also be used in a confrontational or aggressive way when arguing with a stranger. In contrast, 그대 is used specifically in literary or poetic contexts. The form 자네 is another option for addressing someone, while 동무 is specific to North Korean usage.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 너 is informal and intended for friends or those of similar age. For a highly formal setting, you can create a way to say 'you' by adding the suffix -님 to a person's title, occupation or name. In many social situations where an English speaker would use the pronoun 'you', Korean speakers often avoid pronouns entirely and instead use the person's name followed by the honorific suffix -씨.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word 동무 is used in North Korea.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 네 is the possessive form of the informal 너, meaning 'your'.
How do you pronounce it?
dangsin
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 당신 as a standard polite way to say 'you' to elders or superiors. However, in Korean, this can actually sound rude or confrontational.
Did you know?
- The informal 너 may be a cognate of the Old Japanese word na, suggesting it was once a Korean loanword into Japanese.
Examples in context
- 너 없인 못 살아.I can't live without you.This sentence is useful for expressing how you feel about someone using 너.Tatoeba #6820076 by yesjustryan, translation #237738 by CK
- 난 네 뒤에 있어.I'm behind you.This sentence is useful for describing your position relative to someone using 네.Tatoeba #11156750 by Eunhee, translation #6626911 by Schuager
- 너희 둘 다 맞다.Both of you are right.This sentence is useful for stating that two people are correct using 너.Tatoeba #11597096 by cherryband, translation #2507034 by CK
- 선생님 (seonsaengnim)Teacher
- 506 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A husband and wife are discussing a difficult situation.
- 지은 Ji-eun당신, 제 말 좀 들어봐요.dangsin, je mal jom deureobwayo.Honey, please listen to me.
- 민준 Min-jun무슨 일이에요, 당신?museun irieyo, dangsin?What is it, dear?
- 지은 Ji-eun당신이 이해해줬으면 좋겠어요.dangsin-i ihae-haejwosseumyeon jokess-eoyo.I hope you understand me.
- 민준 Min-jun알겠어요, 당신의 편이 될게요.algyesseoyo, dangsin-ui pyeon-i doelgeyo.I understand, I will be on your side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you” translations and entries 당신, 너, 네, 자네, 그대, 동무, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 너, 네, 당신, 자네, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
