What does 아니요 (aniyo) mean?
- 아니요aniyo
No (polite)
Polite: safe with most people
아니요 (aniyo) means "no" in polite Korean. It is the opposite of 네 (ne) and is safe to say to anyone, including strangers, coworkers and older people. In speech it is often shortened to 아뇨 (anyo).
Where it comes from
아니요 is the casual 아니 (ani, "no") with the polite ending 요 added.
How to use 아니요
Use 아니요 to answer a yes-or-no question, to turn down an offer, or to politely correct someone. Koreans often soften it by adding 괜찮아요 ("I'm okay") when refusing something.
A common mistake is mixing up 아니요 and 아니에요. 아니요 is just "no". 아니에요 means "it is not" (as in "It's not me"), and it is also a humble reply to thanks or praise, like "Not at all."
With close friends or people younger than you, the casual 아니 (ani) is more natural.
Examples
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Turning down a second helping of food
Someone asks if you have been to Korea before
Your coworker asks if you took the last coffee
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 아뇨 | No | Shortened spoken form of 아니요. Very common. |
| 아니 | No / Nah | Casual. For friends and people younger than you. |
| 아니에요 | It's not / Not at all | Means "it is not". Also a humble reply to thanks or compliments. |
| 아닙니다 | No / It is not | Formal. Used in work, the military and announcements. |
Questions learners ask
Is it aniyo or anieyo?
Both exist but they mean different things. 아니요 (aniyo) is a plain polite "no". 아니에요 (anieyo) means "it is not", or "not at all" when someone thanks you.
How do you say no casually in Korean?
Say 아니 (ani). Use it only with close friends, siblings or people younger than you.
Is aniyo rude?
No. 아니요 is polite and safe with anyone. Your tone matters more than the word, so a soft 아니요, 괜찮아요 ("No, I'm fine") is a gentle way to refuse.