What does 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) mean?
- 잘생겼어jalsaenggyeosseo
You're handsome
Casual: friends and people younger than you
잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) means "you're handsome" or "he's good-looking" in Korean. It is the casual form of 잘생기다 and is mostly said about men. It is in the past tense, but it describes how someone looks now.
Where it comes from
잘 means "well" and 생기다 means "to be formed" or "to come into being." So 잘생기다 is "to be well formed." Because it is a verb, Korean uses the past form 잘생겼어 to describe someone's looks, literally "(you) came out well."
How to use 잘생겼어
The past tense trips up many learners. 잘생겼어 does not mean someone used to be handsome. It means they are handsome. The same goes for its opposite, 못생겼어 (ugly).
It is mostly used for men. For women people usually say 예뻐, though 잘생겼다 is sometimes used for a woman with striking, handsome features.
Add 요 to be polite: 잘생겼어요. 잘생긴 goes before a noun: 잘생긴 남자, "a handsome man."
Examples
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Complimenting a partner
Asking about a friend's new boyfriend
Seeing a photo of a friend's brother
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 잘생겼어요 | You're handsome (polite) | Polite form. |
| 잘생겼다 | So handsome | Plain form; used as an exclamation. |
| 잘생긴 | Handsome (before a noun) | 잘생긴 배우 means "a handsome actor." |
| 못생겼어 | Ugly | The opposite; often said jokingly. |
Questions learners ask
Why is jalsaenggyeosseo in the past tense?
잘생기다 is a verb meaning "to be formed well," so Korean describes the finished result with the past form. It means "is handsome," not "was handsome."
Can jalsaenggyeosseo be used for women?
Sometimes, for a woman with strong, handsome features. Most of the time people say 예뻐 (pretty) for women.