What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 영어 (English), 잘하다 (to do well) and the honorific suffix -시- combined with the polite ending -네요 (English well [you] do).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
영어 잘하시네요 is a polite and standard way to compliment someone's English skills in social or professional settings. It uses the honorific marker -시- to show respect to the person being complimented.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 영어 잘하시네요 uses the honorific marker -시- to show respect to the listener. The ending -네요 is used to express an impression or a new realization.
How do you pronounce it?
yeong-eo jalhasineyo
When do people say it?
When receiving this compliment in Korea, a common and culturally appropriate way to respond is to modestly deny it by saying 아니에요, 아직 멀었어요 (No, I still have a long way to go).
Did you know?
- While 영어 usually means 'English', it is a homonym for a much darker word meaning 'prison' or 'confinement'.
- The word 영어 uses the character 英, which originally referred to 'flower' or 'petal' before it became the designated character for 'England'.
- While the phrase is a compliment, some Koreans might feel slightly pressured by it if they feel they are being evaluated. In formal settings, it is often more polite to praise a specific aspect of someone's communication rather than their general skill.
Examples in context
- 영어 잘하시네요!yeong-eo jal-ha-si-ne-yo!Your English is good!
- 와, 영어 잘하시네요.wa, yeong-eo jal-ha-si-ne-yo.Wow, you speak English well.
- 외국인인 줄 알았어요. 영어 잘하시네요.oe-guk-in-in jul al-at-eo-yo. yeong-eo jal-ha-si-ne-yo.I thought you were a foreigner. Your English is good.
Example conversation
Minji compliments Hyunwoo on his English skills after a meeting.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 영어 잘하시네요!Hyeon-u ssi, yeong-eo jal-ha-si-ne-yo!Hyunwoo, your English is good!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 아직 많이 부족해요.a-ni-e-yo, a-jik ma-ni bu-jok-hae-yo.No, I still have a long way to go.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 잘하시는데요?jeong-mal jal-ha-si-neun-de-yo?But you really are good.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo칭찬 감사합니다.ching-chan gam-sa-ham-ni-da.Thank you for the compliment.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 영어, CC BY-SA 4.0.
