너

neo · literally “You (informal)”

Situation: Texting a new acquaintance your age, after you've both agreed to speak casually: 'Did you eat?'

✕ What AI tells you

Translates casual 'you' as 너: 너 밥 먹었어?

Why it fails: 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.

✓ What Koreans actually say

Say 너 only to a young child or a close friend who is your age or younger. Otherwise, even in casual speech, use their name (with 야/아) or drop 'you' altogether.

  • 지수야, 밥 먹었어?

    ji-su-ya, bap meo-geo-sseo

    Casual speech with a friend — call them by name instead of 너

  • 밥 먹었어?

    bap meo-geo-sseo

    Just drop 'you' when it's clear who you're talking to

  • 너 진짜 웃긴다 ㅋㅋ

    neo jin-jja ut-gin-da

    Fine with a very close friend your age or younger

Cultural nuance, in depth

Korean doesn't need a word for 'you' most of the time, and when it does, names and titles do the job. 너 is the plain second-person pronoun, and it signals that the other person is clearly below you in age or that you're very close. Agreeing to speak 반말 with someone doesn't automatically make 너 okay: many people still prefer being called by name, and 너 from someone who isn't close can sound like the start of a fight. See also 당신, which has its own problems.

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