{"id":2204,"date":"2026-10-26T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/?p=2204"},"modified":"2026-10-16T01:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T01:02:53","slug":"how-to-say-yes-in-korean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bunpo.app\/blog\/korean\/how-to-say-yes-in-korean\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Yes in Korean: A Simple Guide for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are learning Korean, one of the first words you will probably meet is \ub124 (ne)<\/strong>, meaning \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Korean \u201cyes\u201d is not quite as simple as English \u201cyes.\u201d The word you choose depends on politeness, your relationship with the other person, and sometimes the type of question being asked.<\/p>\n

Here are the most useful ways to say yes in Korean \u2014 and how to use them naturally.<\/p>\n

\ub124 (Ne) \u2014 The Everyday Polite \u201cYes\u201d<\/h2>\n

\ub124<\/strong> is the most common way to say \u201cyes\u201d in everyday polite Korean.<\/p>\n

You can use it with teachers, coworkers, strangers, shop staff, and people you do not know well.<\/p>\n

\uae40\uce58\ub97c \uc88b\uc544\ud558\uc138\uc694?<\/strong>
\nGimchireul joahaseyo?<\/em>
\nDo you like kimchi?<\/p>\n

\ub124, \uc88b\uc544\ud574\uc694.<\/strong>
\nNe, joahaeyo.<\/em>
\nYes, I do.<\/p>\n

For beginners, \ub124<\/strong> is usually the safest form to learn first.<\/p>\n

You may notice that native speakers sometimes pronounce \ub124 in a way that sounds closer to \u201cde\u201d to English-speaking ears. This is a feature of natural Korean pronunciation, not a different word.<\/p>\n

\uc608 (Ye) \u2014 A More Formal-Sounding \u201cYes\u201d<\/h2>\n

\uc608<\/strong> also means \u201cyes\u201d and is polite.<\/p>\n

It is often heard in more formal situations, including customer service, professional conversations, official responses, and respectful speech.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\uc608\uc57d\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\uae4c?<\/strong>
\nYeyakhasyeotseumnikka?<\/em>
\nDo you have a reservation?<\/p>\n

\uc608, \ud588\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4.<\/strong>
\nYe, haetseumnida.<\/em>
\nYes, I do.<\/p>\n

In many situations, \ub124<\/strong> and \uc608<\/strong> can both work. However, \ub124<\/strong> tends to sound more natural in ordinary conversation, while \uc608<\/strong> may sound slightly more formal or deliberate.<\/p>\n

\uc751 (Eung) \u2014 Casual \u201cYeah\u201d<\/h2>\n

With close friends or people younger than you, you may hear \uc751<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It is similar to \u201cyeah\u201d in English.<\/p>\n

\uc624\ub298 \uc601\ud654 \ubcfc\ub798?<\/strong>
\nOneul yeonghwa bollae?<\/em>
\nWant to watch a movie today?<\/p>\n

\uc751, \uc88b\uc544.<\/strong>
\nEung, joa.<\/em>
\nYeah, sounds good.<\/p>\n

Because \uc751<\/strong> belongs to informal speech, avoid using it with strangers, teachers, customers, or senior coworkers unless you already have a very casual relationship.<\/p>\n

\uc5b4 (Eo) \u2014 A Very Casual Response<\/h2>\n

\uc5b4<\/strong> can also function like \u201cyeah\u201d or \u201cuh-huh.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is extremely casual and is common between friends.<\/p>\n

\uc9d1\uc5d0 \uac00?<\/strong>
\nJibe ga?<\/em>
\nAre you going home?<\/p>\n

\uc5b4.<\/strong>
\nEo.<\/em>
\nYeah.<\/p>\n

The difference between \uc751<\/strong> and \uc5b4<\/strong> often depends more on tone and individual speaking habits than on a strict grammar rule.<\/p>\n

Sometimes Korean Does Not Use \u201cYes\u201d at All<\/h2>\n

One important difference between Korean and English is that Korean speakers often answer with the verb itself<\/strong> instead of simply saying yes or no.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\ucee4\ud53c \uc788\uc5b4\uc694?<\/strong>
\nKeopi isseoyo?<\/em>
\nDo you have coffee?<\/p>\n

\uc788\uc5b4\uc694.<\/strong>
\nIsseoyo.<\/em>
\nYes, we do.<\/p>\n

Or:<\/p>\n

\ubbfc\uc218 \uc528 \uc54c\uc544\uc694?<\/strong>
\nMinsu ssi arayo?<\/em>
\nDo you know Minsu?<\/p>\n

\uc54c\uc544\uc694.<\/strong>
\nArayo.<\/em>
\nYes, I do.<\/p>\n

This kind of answer is very natural in Korean because it directly confirms the information in the question.<\/p>\n

\ub124 Can Also Mean \u201cI\u2019m Listening\u201d<\/h2>\n

Another useful point is that \ub124<\/strong> does not always mean \u201cyes, I agree.\u201d<\/p>\n

During a conversation, Koreans may say \ub124, \ub124<\/strong> while another person is speaking simply to show:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • I\u2019m listening.<\/li>\n
  • I understand.<\/li>\n
  • I\u2019m following you.<\/li>\n
  • Okay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This is especially common on the phone or in polite conversations.<\/p>\n

    So if you hear someone saying \ub124<\/strong> repeatedly, do not automatically assume they are agreeing with every statement.<\/p>\n

    Be Careful with Negative Questions<\/h2>\n

    Negative questions can be confusing because Korean responses often follow the truth of the statement rather than the English habit of reacting to the wording of the question.<\/p>\n

    For example:<\/p>\n

    \uc548 \uac00\uc694?<\/strong>
    \nAn gayo?<\/em>
    \nAren\u2019t you going?<\/p>\n

    A clearer answer is often:<\/p>\n

    \uac00\uc694.<\/strong> \u2014 I\u2019m going.
    \n\uc548 \uac00\uc694.<\/strong> \u2014 I\u2019m not going.<\/p>\n

    Repeating the verb can prevent the ambiguity that \u201cyes\u201d and \u201cno\u201d sometimes create.<\/p>\n

    This is a useful habit for beginners too.<\/p>\n

    Quick Guide to Korean \u201cYes\u201d<\/h2>\n

    Here are the four main forms to remember:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \ub124 (ne)<\/strong> \u2014 polite and common<\/li>\n
    • \uc608 (ye)<\/strong> \u2014 polite and somewhat more formal<\/li>\n
    • \uc751 (eung)<\/strong> \u2014 casual \u201cyeah\u201d<\/li>\n
    • \uc5b4 (eo)<\/strong> \u2014 very casual \u201cyeah\u201d or \u201cuh-huh\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      If you are unsure, choose \ub124<\/strong>. It works well in most everyday situations where polite speech is appropriate.<\/p>\n

      Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

      Saying \u201cyes\u201d in Korean is less about memorizing one translation and more about understanding the situation.<\/p>\n

      Use \ub124<\/strong> for most polite conversations, \uc608<\/strong> when the setting feels more formal, and \uc751<\/strong> or \uc5b4<\/strong> with close friends. Also get used to answering with the verb itself, because that often sounds more natural than a standalone \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Once you start listening for these differences, you will notice that Korean agreement is not only about saying yes \u2014 it is also about politeness, context, and showing that you are following the conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Learn how to say yes in Korean with \ub124, \uc608, \uc751, and more. Discover the right word for every situation and sound more natural in conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-korean"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t