How to Say "Cute" in Korean and Embrace Aegyo Culture

Ever wondered how to say “cute” in Korean? Korean culture has a lot of cuteness, and you will see it everywhere! Korean women usually like to be cute and act in cute ways. This is called 애교 (aegyo). Being cute is one of the best compliments you can get in Korea. It is similar to kawaii culture in Japan, where being called "cute" is good. You might be surprised by this if you are from an English-speaking country, because "cute" can be patronizing, especially after you grow up.

The Korean language has several words for "cute" that are used frequently. Here, I'll explain how to say cute in Korean, how it's pronounced, and what situations to use it in.

How to Say "It is Cute" in Korean

The word for "Cute" in Korean is 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda), which is the dictionary form and translates to "to be cute". More specifically, to say "to be cute," "it is cute," or "she is cute," you can use the word 귀엽다. This form is informal and is usually used in casual conversations or with close friends. If you're talking to yourself, then just use this version of the word.

Remember, it's crucial to adjust the ending of the word to match the appropriate level of politeness, as is common in the Korean language. Let's move on to find out.

How to Say "Cute" in Korean: Conjugations

There are three common ways to say "cute" in Korean, and the version you should use will depend on the level of formality required.

Formal: 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida)

The formal version of "cute" in Korean is 귀엽습니다 (gwiyeopseumnida). This word is often used in presentations, interviews, or announcements. Avoid using it in daily conversation because it can sound a bit awkward and unnatural.

Example: 이 가수가 귀엽습니다 (i gasuga gwiyeopseumnida) - This singer has a cute charm.

Polite: 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo)

The standard or polite version of "cute" in Korean is 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo). You should use this expression when talking to:

• your teacher
• your boss
• grandparents
• strangers
• older adults
• people who aren't particularly close to you.

Example: 강아지가 너무 귀여워요 (gangajiga neomu gwiyeowoyo) - The puppy is very cute.

Informal: 귀여워 (gwiyeowo)

The informal way to say "cute" in Korean is 귀여워 (gwiyeowo). is primarily used with:

• close friends
• significant others
• siblings
• people younger than you, such as children
• your parents (traditionally avoided, but modern-day Koreans tend to use in casual conversations)

Example: 너는 완전 귀여워! (neoneun wanjeon gwiyeowo) - You are so cute!

Summary Table

Korean	Meaning
귀엽다	cute (basic verb form)
귀여워	cute (informal present tense)
귀여워요	cute (polite present tense)
귀엽습니다	cute (formal present tense)

"You are Cute" in Korean

If you want to compliment someone's cuteness in Korean, you don't have to change anything. Just say 귀여워 (gwiyeowo) (or the appropriate variation).

Depending on the context, this phrase can have different meanings. You can use it to say "you're cute", "she's cute" or "it's cute." Korean often drops the subject when it's clear from the situation.

귀엽지? (gwi-yeop-ji?)

This is a playful way to ask for a compliment or to tease someone. The response can be negative, as in "Nah," but it's not meant to be hurtful.

Example:
귀엽지? (Don't I look cute?)
아니 (Nah)

How to Say "The Cute Puppy" in Korean

귀여운 (gwiyeoun) is the modifier you need when you want to describe something as "cute," like a cute puppy.

Example:

• 귀여운 강아지 (gwiyeoun gangaji) - cute puppy
• 이 강아지는 귀엽다 (i gang-aji-neun gwiyeopda) - This puppy is cute
• 귀여운 아기 (gwiyeoun agi) - cute baby
• 귀여운 여자 (gwiyeoun yeoja) - cute woman
• 공원 안에 귀여운 강아지가 많아요 (gongwon ane gwiyeoun gangajiga manayo) - There are lots of cute dogs in the park.

Some other nouns that go well with 귀여운 (gwiyeoun) are:

• Baby: 아기 (agi)
• Cat: 고양이 (goyang-i)
• Animal: 동물 (dongmul)
• Dress: 드레스 (deureseu)
• Shoes: 신발 (sinbal)
• Outfit: 차림새 (charimsae)
• Person: 사람 (saram)
• ‘Cutie’ In Korean

If you want to express affection towards someone and call them a cutie, you can say 귀염둥이 [gwi-yeom-dung-i] in Korean. This is a lovely word that captures the adorable nature of someone in a cute and affectionate way.

You can also use 귀요미 (gwiyomi), which means "cutie" or "cute person".

Slang: 귀요미 (gwi-yo-mi)

This is a Korean slang word used to describe someone who is cute or acts cute. Often used by younger people to describe their significant other or someone they find cute or adorable. The word 귀요미 (gwi-yo-mi) literally means “cute little ear” or “cute little spoon”.

Bonus: Forms and tricks for "cute" in Korean

- Verb form: 귀엽다 (gwiyeobda). This is the base form of the verb and can be conjugated in many ways to express tense, mood, and honorifics.
- Adverb form: 너무 귀여워 (neomu gwiyeowo). To emphasize cuteness, you can add "neomu" (meaning "very" or "so") before the adjective.
- Pronunciation: The "u" in 귀엽다 is pronounced like "ooh-ee" and not "yoo." Listen to the sound on Google Translate or other resources.
- Gwiyomi: This is a popular game and song in Korean variety shows, where participants make cute poses and gestures based on a counting rhyme.

Complimenting a Guy: “Handsome” in Korean

When it comes to complimenting a guy, you may be tempted to say “he is cute”, but this is not commonly used in Korean. Instead, use the word “잘생겼다 (jalsaenggyeotta)”, which means “handsome” or “good looking”. Just like with other Korean adjectives, here’s how to conjugate it:

• Casual: 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo)
• Polite: 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo)
• Formal: 잘생겼습니다 (jalsaenggyeotseumnida)

You also may want to use words like "멋져요" (meotjyeoyo) o indicate that he is cool. On the other hand, if you're talking about a girl, you can use words like "예뻐요" (yeppoyo) or "귀여워요" (gwiyeoweoyo) to indicate that she is pretty or cute.

Examples of Use

- If you want to tell your friend that their baby is cute, you can say "아기가 귀여워요" (agiga gwiyeoweoyo). This phrase is made up of the word 아기 which means baby, 가 which is a subject marking particle, and the verb 귀엽다 conjugated into the polite present tense. You can use this phrase to express that a baby is cute or to say ‘your baby is cute’ in Korean.

- If you're watching a romantic movie and your friend points out the attractive male lead, you can say "그는 잘 생겼어요" (geuneun jal saeng-gyeosseoyo).

- If your friend is wearing a cute outfit, you can say "너 정말 귀여워" (neo jeongmal gwiyeoweo) to indicate that they look adorable.

Different Ways To Say Cute In Korean

• So cuten- 너무 귀여워요 (nomu gwiyowoyo)
• You are pretty- 이뻐요 (ippoyo)/예쁘다 (yeppeuda)
• You are beautiful - 아름다우세요 (aleumdauseyo)
• You are so beautiful - 너무 아름다워요 (neomu areumdawoyo)
• This person is cute - 그는 귀엽다 (geuneun gwiyoptta)
• That is so cute - 너무 귀엽다 (neomu gwiyeobda)/ 너무 귀여워 (nomu gwiyowo)
• Lovely - 사랑스러워 (sarangseurowo)
• Why are you so cute today? - 오늘 왜 이렇게 귀여워요?
• It’s cute, right? - 귀엽죠? (gwiyopjjyo)
• Your cheeks are so cute - 뺨은 너무 귀여워요 (bbaemeun neomu gwiyeowoyo)
• You two are so cute - 둘이 너무 귀여워 (duli neomu gwiyeowo)
• So cute, I will die - 귀여워 죽겠다 (gwiyowo jukkkettta)
• Cute smile - 귀여운 미소 (gwiyeoun miso)
• No, I am not cute - 아니, 난 귀엽지 않아 (ani, nan gwiyopji anha)
• OMG so cute - 세상에 너무 귀여

How to Say "Why Do You Think I’m Cute?" in Korean

You can say:
왜 나 귀엽다고 생각해? (wae na gwiyeobdago saenggakhae?)

How to Respond to Being Called Cute in Korean

There are several ways to express thanks in Korean, depending on the formality of the context or circumstance.

The standard formal way to say thank you is 감사합니다 (Kam-sa-ham-ni-da). It is used to show respect towards strangers, bosses, and elderly people. Koreans also use 고맙습니다 (gomabseubnida) for all formal settings, whereas 고마워 (gomawo) is for casual situations. The phrases 고마워요 (gomawoyo)/ 감사해요 (gamsahaeyo) are used to show appreciation in polite ways.

• Informal – 고마워 (gomawo)
• Polite – 고마워요 (gomawoyo) or 감사해요 (gamsahaeyo)
• Formal – 감사합니다 (Kam-sa-ham-ni-da) or 고맙습니다 (gomabseubnida)

In Korean, there are multiple expressions of gratitude like 감사 (gahm-sa) (thank you in Korean slang) and ㄱㅅ (thank you in Korean while texting). Nonetheless, if you are new to the Korean language, learning formal and informal grammatically correct expressions will suffice.

Aegyo Korean — What is Aegyo?

Aegyo is a way of speaking and acting in a cute manner and involves using a higher-pitched voice, adding endearing suffixes to words (such as -ya, -yo, -wang), and exaggerating certain sounds. It's primarily used by women to flirt or show affection. They can use it to tease their boyfriend or husband, or to joke around. Many Korean celebrities, especially K-Pop idols and actresses, use Aegyo to charm and interact with their fans. It can be defined as acting childish or babyish in a way that is both cute and charming.

While Aegyo culture is popular, it’s not well-received by everyone and can come off as whiny or annoying. That said, some women use it on purpose to tease their husband or boyfriend, or to joke around. People who are naturally cute can typically pull off Aegyo, so someone who doesn't fit the general aesthetic would come off weird using Aegyo.

How to Use Aegyo

There are a variety of ways to use Aegyo. We’ll take a look at two ways that are commonly used in speech: drawing out the final vowel sound in a word and adding ㅁ (“m”) or ㅇ (“ng”) to the end of the word.

Let’s look at the word 오빠 (oppa), which means “older brother” and is a popular cute nickname for boyfriends and husbands. Women often draw out the vowel sound at the end to make it sound even cuter. Other commonly used words for this are 어떻게 (eotteoke, “How?”) and 배고팡 (baegopang, “I’m hungry”).

In the second way to use Aegyo culture in speech, you’ll add the “m” or “ng” sound to the end of the word. For example, 오빵 (oppang) is a cute variation of 오빠, and 어디얌 (eodiyam) is a cute way to say 어디야 (eodiya, “Where are you?”). 배고파 (baegopa) becomes 배 고팡 (baegopang). 헬로 (hello) becomes 헬롱 (hellong)

Additionally, you can express Aegyo through body language, such as using the “crying” gesture or framing one’s face in a cute or affectionate manner.

Besides, the "bbuing bbuing" gesture, typically done by puckering one's lips together then slightly pulling them apart, is a common method K-Pop idols use to show their cuteness.

Here are also some other ways:

• Using cute emojis and stickers
• Making heart symbols with your hands
• Adding exaggerated endings to words, such as “-ya,” “-nyah,” or “-oo”
• Doing cute hand gestures like the "finger hearts"
• Copying your favorite K-Pop idols when they do aegyo

Remember Not To Overdo It

While aegyo is popular among Korean culture, it is essential to note that overusing it can become annoying to those around you. Some people do not understand or appreciate it, and if taken too far, one can find themselves in an awkward situation. Moreover, overdoing aegyo can feel forced, cringy, and insincere, thus better avoided. It's always good to know your audience before indulging in this cuteness culture.

Cute Korean Words and Phrases

Here are some commonly used Korean words and phrases that sound especially cute:

• “Aren’t I cute?” – 내가 귀엽지? (naega gwiyeobji)
• “I love you” – 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo)
• “I miss you” – 보고 싶어 (bogo sipeo)
• “Sweetheart” – 애인 (ae-in)
• “Honey” or “Darling” – 여보 (yeobo)
• “Baby” – 자기야 (jagiya)
• “Don’t go” – 가지마 (gajima)
• “BFF” – 베프 (bepeu)
• “Honey jam” (meaning something is really fun) – 꿀잼 (gguljaem)
• “Be happy” (used to say goodbye) – 행쇼 (haengsyo)
• “You’re pretty” – 예쁘 네요 (yeppeuneyo)
• “Don’t lie” – 뻥치지마 (ppeongchijima)
• “Like this?” – 이렇게 (irreoke)
• “Buy this for me” (Make sure to be super whiny!) – 사줘 (sajwo)
• “I promise” – 약속애요 (yaksokaeyo)

Final thoughts

Learning how to say "cute" in Korean will allow you to describe adorable things and make compliments - it's a word that is used frequently in Korea. By mastering the different forms of "cute," you can be sure to make friends quickly while in Korea. But, remember to apply the correct level of politeness based on who you're talking to. So, start practicing and find things to call "cute" and make someone's day!