너 입양됐어
neo ibyangdwaesseo
The English phrase "you're adopted" is translated into Korean as 너 입양됐어 (neo ibyangdwaesseo).
This phrase is a statement telling someone that they were legally taken from their birth parents and raised by another family.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 너 (you), 입양 (adoption) and the past tense passive form of 되다 (to become/to be done).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 너 입양됐어 is informal and appropriate only for close friends or people younger than the speaker due to the use of 너 and the 어 ending. For a polite and formal way to express this, you should use 당신은 입양되셨습니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 입양되다 (to be adopted) is used in the past tense form 입양됐어 to indicate the completed state of being adopted.
How do you pronounce it?
neo ibyangdwaesseo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use 입양했어 (adopted someone) instead of 입양됐어 (was adopted). Using 입양했어 changes the subject from the person being adopted to the person doing the adopting.
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, directly telling someone 너 입양됐어 is extremely rare and heavy, as familial lineage is traditionally viewed as a fundamental part of one's identity.
- While English uses 'you' for everyone, the formal version of this phrase, 당신은 입양되셨습니다, uses a version of 'you' that is often too formal for daily life and can even sound confrontational.
- The informal word for 'you' 너 may be a cognate of the Old Japanese word na (汝), meaning it might have been a Korean loanword into Japanese.
Examples in context
- 정말? 너 입양됐어?Really? You're adopted?
- 너 입양됐어.neo ibyang-dwaesseo.You're adopted.
- 사실 너 입양됐어.sasil neo ibyang-dwaesseo.Actually, you're adopted.
Example conversation
Dohyun is telling Seoyeon a family secret.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연아, 할 말이 있어.Seoyeona, hal mari isseo.Seoyeon, I have something to tell you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon갑자기 왜 그래? 무슨 일이야?gapjagi wae geurae? museun iriya?Why so sudden? What's going on?
- 도현 Do-hyeon너 입양됐어. 부모님이 말씀하시기 전에 내가 알려줄게.neo ibyangdwesseo. bumonimi malsseumhasigi jeone naega allyeojulge.You're adopted. I'll tell you before our parents do.
- 서연 Seo-yeon뭐라고? 그게 정말이야?mworago? geuge jeongmariya?What? Is that really true?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 너, CC BY-SA 4.0.
