아름다워요
areumdawoyo
The English phrase "you're beautiful" is translated into Korean as 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo).
This phrase is used to compliment someone's physical or aesthetic attractiveness. While 아름다워요 is grammatically correct, it is often used to describe scenery, art or abstract concepts rather than people in casual conversation. In everyday conversation, Koreans are much more likely to use 예뻐요 (you're pretty) to compliment a person's appearance than 아름다워요 (you're beautiful), which sounds more poetic or grand.
Which one should you use?
예뻐 is a colloquial way to say "beautiful" in Korean. 이뻐 is an informal way to compliment someone's beauty and is a cuter version of 예뻐.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version 아름다워 is used with close friends or people younger than you. The highly formal version 아름답습니다 is used in very polite or professional settings.
How do you pronounce it?
areumdawoyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using 당신은 아름다워요 can sound confrontational or overly dramatic in Korean. It is more natural to omit the subject entirely.
Did you know?
- To sound like a 'cute' or 'sweet' person while complimenting someone, you might skip 예뻐요 and use the slightly altered 이뻐요 instead.
- Because 아름답다 is so grand, it is frequently used to describe abstract things like a 'beautiful soul' or a 'beautiful melody' more naturally than it is used for a person's face.
- When someone says 아름다워요 looking at a view, they are often implying a sense of awe or being moved by the sight, which is deeper than just saying something looks nice.
Examples in context
- 메이크업을 잘하셔서 아름답습니다You've done your makeup so well, and it looks beautiful.
- 진짜 예뻐!You're really beautiful!
- 이번 헤어스타일 진짜 이뻐Your new hairstyle is really beautiful.
- 정말 아름다워요.jeongmal areumdawoyo.You are truly beautiful.
- 오늘 정말 아름다워요.oneul jeongmal areumdawoyo.You look really beautiful today.
- 그녀는 정말 아름다워요.geunyeoneun jeongmal areumdawoyo.She is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Minjun compliments Jieun's appearance at a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 오늘 정말 아름다워요.Jieun ssi, oneul jeongmal areumdawoyo.Jieun, you are really beautiful today.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말요? 고마워요, 민준 씨.jeongmalyo? gomawoyo, Minjun ssi.Really? Thank you, Minjun.
- 민준 Min-jun진심이에요.jinsimieyo.I mean it.
- 지은 Ji-eun민준 씨도 오늘 멋있어요.Minjun ssi do oneul meosisseoyo.You look great today too, Minjun.
