Korean

Syllable

너 • ‎(neo)

1. A Hangul syllabic block made up of ㄴ and ㅓ.

Etymology 2

Of native Korean origin. Possibly cognate with Old Japanese 汝 ‎(na, “you”, second-person singular informal pronoun).

Pronoun

너 • ‎(neo)

1. (informal) second-person singular informal pronoun; you

   너를 사랑해.‎

   Neoreul saranghae.

   I love you.

   너 언제부터 담배 피우기 시작하였니?‎

   Neo eonjebuteo dambae piugi sijakhayeonni?

   When did you start smoking?

Usage notes

The second person pronouns are rarely used in Korean and can be considered insulting. Instead, the person's title is often used, or 선생님 (seonsaengnim, “teacher”) if the person's title is unknown, for strangers or superiors:

선생님, 안녕하세요?‎

Seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo?

How are you, sir? (literally, "Teacher, are (you) at peace?")

For friends, it is more common to use the person's name.

Related terms

• 너희 (neohui), 너희들 (neohuideul) - second-person plural informal pronoun