너

Usage notes

A characteristic of colloquial Korean is that the use of personal pronouns such as 너 (neo) or 걔 (gyae, “he; she”) implies that the person being referred to by the pronoun is of equal or lower social rank compared to the speaker. When speaking to a social superior, speakers use either a title or a word referring to the relationship between the speaker and the addressee. Thus the pronoun 너 (neo) is permissible for one's younger brother, but one's older brother is referred to as 형(兄) (hyeong) or 오빠 (oppa), both meaning "older brother". Similarly, a freshman addresses a senior as 선배(先輩) (seonbae, “upperclassman; elder student”) but the senior may freely address the freshman as 너 (neo).

Furthermore, even when speaking to an equal or inferior, 너 (neo) is impermissible in polite or formal speech levels. In such contexts, use 자네 (jane), a title, or a personal name. 자기(自己) (jagi) or 당신(當身) (dangsin) is common in romantic contexts.

The use of 너 (neo) in socially impermissible contexts, such as when addressing a superior, should be understood as the speaker showing contempt for the addressee.

Alternative forms

• 네 (ne) — allomorph before 가 (-ga, nominative case marker)

Related terms

• 네 (ne, “your”)
• 너희 (neohui), 너희들 (neohuideul) — second-person plural informal pronoun

Usage notes

This form is found primarily with certain traditional Korean units which are not now widely used.