Korean for friends, partners and family
Close relationships in Korean still follow age and respect. Calling an older friend by name, saying 당신 for “you”, or picking the wrong word for feeling hurt can change how a sentence lands. These are the relationship phrases AI translations most often miss.
- Emotion & Relationshipsv0.3
너
neo · “You (informal)”
AI gets it wrong:너 is used freely only toward children much younger than you, or with very close friends your age or younger. With anyone else — even in 반말 — it can sound blunt or rude. Koreans call the person by name instead.Say instead:지수야, 밥 먹었어?See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.1
당신
dang-sin · “You”
AI gets it wrong:In conversation, 당신 addressed to a peer or stranger can sound distant or even like the start of an argument. Korean usually drops 'you' or uses a name/title instead.Say instead:점심 드셨어요?See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.1
미안해요
mi-an-hae-yo · “I'm sorry”
AI gets it wrong:미안하다 is the apology word for equals and juniors. To a professor, boss, customer or elder, even with 요 it can sound like you aren't taking the mistake seriously. 죄송하다 is the respectful form.Say instead:교수님, 늦게 제출해서 정말 죄송합니다.See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.2
실망했어
sil-mang-hae-sseo · “I'm disappointed (in you)”
AI gets it wrong:실망했어 judges the other person — 'you let me down' — and can sound like the relationship itself is in question. 상처받았어 is heavy. The gentle, very common word for this feeling is 서운하다.Say instead:나 빼고 갔다니 좀 서운하다.See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.3
아름다워요
a-reum-da-wo-yo · “(You're) beautiful”
AI gets it wrong:아름답다 sounds literary — it's for scenery, art, music or a moving act, and sounds like poetry when said about someone's outfit at the office. For everyday compliments Koreans say 예쁘다.Say instead:오늘 옷 정말 예뻐요.See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.1
언니 · 오빠 · 형 · 누나
eon-ni · o-ppa · hyeong · nu-na · “Older sister / older brother (depends on your gender)”
AI gets it wrong:Calling someone older by their bare name (with 아/야) is how you address equals or juniors. Even close friends usually call an older friend with a kinship title, and AI also mixes up which title matches whose gender.Say instead:언니, 내일 시간 있어요?See why → - Emotion & Relationshipsv0.1
언제 밥 한번 먹어요
eon-je bap han-beon meo-geo-yo · “Let's eat together sometime”
AI gets it wrong:It's usually a warm way to say goodbye and keep the relationship open, like 'We should catch up sometime.' Pinning down a date right away can feel awkward unless the other person clearly means it.Say instead:네, 좋아요! 연락할게요.See why →