How to Say You in Korean

Quick Summary

• Unlike English, Koreans mostly avoid saying “you” altogether in daily conversation.
• We have multiple ways to say it, depending on the level of formality, familiarity, and social hierarchy.
• “Dangshin” is technically “you” but I honestly never use it, and I only hear it on Korean TV shows or K-pop songs.
• “Nuh” is the casual and informal way to say “you” in Korean.
• Seonsaengnim means teachers and doctors, but it’s a safe way to address someone in Korea when you want to be respectful.

1. Dangshin (당신)

The word “dangshin” directly translates to “you,” but it’s not used as freely as the English equivalent.

As a Korean, I honestly never use this word in my daily life, and I only hear it on Korean TV shows or K-pop songs.

So, this term may appear in textbooks as a translation for “you,” but it’s actually only reserved for:

• Poetic and literary contexts, mostly in song lyrics or on K-dramas.
• Married couples speaking to each other (but not in a lovey-dovey way. Even my parents call each other “yeobo” meaning honey, not dangshin).
• When expressing anger or being confrontational (be careful using it in everyday conversation).

For example,

• Dangshineul saranghaeyo: “I love you.” But it’s only used in songs. Koreans skip saying “you” and simply say “saranghaeyo.”
• Dangshin, jigeum mwo haneun geoyeyo?: “What do you think you’re doing?” I may use this expression one day when I have to confront a stranger. This sounds confrontational and almost like from morning K-dramas with crazy storylines.

Because of these nuances, “dangshin” is rarely used in casual speech. You’ll frequently hear it in Korean music, TV shows, or movies though.

2. Nuh (너)

“Nuh” is the casual and informal way to say “you” in Korean.

It’s used when speaking to friends, younger people, or children.

Using “nuh” with someone older or in a professional setting would be considered very rude.

For example,

• Nuh uhdee ga?: “Where are you going?” This is quite commonly used.
• Nuh joahae!: “I like you!” This sounds only cute when teenagers say it or on K-dramas. Otherwise, it’s simply “joahae” without saying you.

When building a sentence, nuh turns into either “nuhneun (너는)” or “nehga (네가).” Seoulites like to pronounce “nehga” as “nuhga” while most people read it as “neega” to mean you.

3. Jahneh (자네)

“Jahneh” is somewhat outdated, but it is still occasionally used as a term for “you.”

It’s primarily used by older people speaking to younger adults in a respectful but familiar tone.

You might hear this in historical dramas or among elderly speakers.

For example,

• Jahneh yojeum eotteoke jinaena?: “How have you been lately?”

Korean father-in-law may say “Jahneh” to their son-in-law.

4. Geujjok (그쪽)

When speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a neutral way, “geujjok” (literally “that side”) can be used instead of “you.”

For example,

• Geujjokdoh keopi joahaseyo?: “Do you also like coffee?”
• Geujjokeun eotteoke saenggakhaseyo?: “What do you think?”

5. Name + Ssi (씨) / Nim (님) or Seonsaengnim (선생님)

Koreans prefer to address people by their name or title rather than using a direct word for “you.”

Depending on the level of formality, you can add appropriate suffixes.

• [Name] + Ssi: A polite way to address someone of similar or lower status. This is frequently used in the Korean workplace when addressing a person with no title yet.
• [Name] + Nim: A more respectful version used in professional or formal settings. A more open-minded or global company and startups in Korea will use this, instead of ssi.
• Seonsaengnim: Used for teachers, doctors, or people of high respect. When you want to be respectful, this is a safe way to address someone in Korea.

For examples,

• Jennie-ssi, uhdee gaseyo?: “Jennie, where are you going?”
• Kim seonsaengnim, sueobi myeot sie shijakhanayo?: “Teacher Kim, what time does class start?”

6. Avoiding You Altogether

One of the biggest cultural differences in Korean conversation is that people often drop “you” entirely and rephrase sentences to be indirect.

It’s usually easy to guess because they’re talking to you.

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The concept of “you” in Korean is far more nuanced than in English.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all pronoun, Koreans choose from a range of expressions based on social context, formality, and relationships.

The safest approach is to use names or titles.

When in doubt, simply skip saying “you!”