How to say “You are handsome” in Korean
- 잘생겼어요jalsaenggyeosseoyo
(You're) handsome
"You are handsome" in Korean is 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo), or 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) when you speak casually. It comes from 잘생기다 (jalsaenggida), literally "well formed". Another favorite compliment is 멋있어요 (meosisseoyo), "You're cool".
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 잘생겼어 jalsaenggyeosseo | Casual | To a partner or friend. Talks about someone's face and looks. |
| 잘생겼어요 jalsaenggyeosseoyo | Polite | Polite. Fine for someone you do not know well, or an actor at a fan meeting. |
| 진짜 잘생겼다 jinjja jalsaenggyeotda | Casual | An exclamation, like "Wow, you're so handsome!" |
| 멋있어 meosisseo | Casual | "You're cool" or "You look great." About style, attitude or what someone did, not just their face. |
| 멋있어요 meosisseoyo | Polite | Polite version of 멋있어. |
Examples
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Fan meeting an actor
Seeing a boyfriend in a suit
Praising a coworker's presentation
Tips
잘생기다 is used in the past tense form 잘생겼어 even when you mean right now. Think of it as "(you) came out handsome". Saying 잘생겨 sounds wrong to Koreans.
멋있다 is broader than handsome. You can say it about a man, a woman, an outfit, a car or a brave act. 잘생기다 is mostly about a man's face. For women, 예쁘다 (pretty) is the usual word.
Questions learners ask
What does jalsaenggyeosseo mean?
잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) means "(You're) handsome" or "good-looking" in casual Korean.
What is the difference between jalsaenggyeosseo and meosisseo?
잘생겼어 is about good looks. 멋있어 means cool or impressive, and can describe style, personality or actions.