Suh ChangWhoon
Written by 서 창훈, a certified Korean teacher with 14+ years of experience in Japan. He previously worked as a government officer, cybersecurity consultant, and English interpreter. Today, he teaches Korean in real classrooms without complex grammar explanations — instead, he trains students’ brains to speak naturally. His unique method is now the foundation of all his Korean courses.
Table of Contents
Korean is a fascinating language with a rich cultural history. Whether you’re traveling to Korea for business or pleasure, learning how to say yes and no in Korean is an essential part of communication.
However, mastering these basic phrases can be challenging for beginners. In this guide, we’ll explore different ways how to say yes and no in Korean, along with tips and tricks for perfecting your pronunciation and understanding the nuances of the language.
How to Say Yes in Korean
네 (ne)
- 네 (ne) is the most common way to say “yes” in Korean. It’s a polite and formal way of agreeing with someone, similar to the English word “yes.”
- Example: A: “Do you want to go to the movies tonight?” B: “네, 좋아요. (Yes, I’d like that.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
네, 좋아요.
Pronunciation Guide
네 (ne), 조아요 (jo-a-yo).
Meaning and Context
네 (yes; in a polite and formal way), 좋 (to like) 아요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
Yes, I’d like that.
Literal Translation
Yes, (I) like.
예 (ye)
- 예 (ye) is another formal way to say “yes” in Korean. It’s commonly used in business and academic settings.
- Example: A: “Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?” B: “예, 참석할게요. (Yes, I’ll be attending.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
예, 참석할게요.
Pronunciation Guide
예 (ye), 참석칼께요 (cham-seok-kal-gge-yo).
Meaning and Context
예 (yes; in a formal way), 참석하 (to attend) ㄹ게 (I will) 요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 하 + ㄹ = 할
When rapidly pronounced, ‘하’ and ‘ㄹ’ naturally combine to form ”할.”
English Translation
Yes, I’ll be attending.
Literal Translation
Yes, I’ll attend.
This is just a small taste of my sentence breakdowns.
My “Story Style Breakdown™” method — where I teach grammar through simple, story-like sentence breakdowns—is only inside my course.
Most Korean courses stop at grammar. Mine goes beyond — with stories, breakdowns, and real practice to help you speak.
응 (eung)
- 응 (eung) is a casual way of saying “yes” in Korean. It’s often used among friends and family members.
- Example: A: “Do you want to grab some lunch?” B: “응, 좋아. (Yes, that sounds good.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
응, 좋아.
Pronunciation Guide
응 (eung), 조아 (jo-a).
Meaning and Context
응 (yes; in a casual way), 좋 (to be good) 아 (I’m telling you casually).
English Translation
Yes, that sounds good.
Literal Translation
Yes, good.
그래 (geurae)
- 그래 (geurae) is another casual way of saying “yes” in Korean. It can be used in response to a question or statement.
- Example: A: “Are you coming to the party tonight?” B: “그래, 갈게. (Yes, I’ll go.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
그래, 갈게.
Pronunciation Guide
그래 (geu-rae), 갈게 (gal-gge).
Meaning and Context
그래 (yes; in a way I agree or I understand), 가 (to go) ㄹ게 (I will; in a casual speech).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 가 + ㄹ = 갈
When rapidly pronounced, ‘가’ and ‘ㄹ’ naturally combine to form ”갈.”
English Translation
Yes, I’ll go.
How to Say No in Korean
아니오 (anio)
- 아니오 (anio) is the most formal way of saying “no” in Korean. It’s appropriate for business and academic settings.
- Example: A: “Can you work overtime tonight?” B: “아니오, 불가능합니다. (No, it’s not possible.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
아니오, 불가능합니다.
Pronunciation Guide
아니오 (a-ni-o), 불가능함니다 (bul-ga-neung-ham-ni-da).
Meaning and Context
아니오 (no; in a formal way), 불가능하 (to not be possible) ㅂ니다 (is; I’m telling you polite and formal way).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 하 + ㅂ = 합
When rapidly pronounced, ‘하’ and ‘ㅂ’ naturally combine to form ”합.”
English Translation
No, it’s not possible.
Literal Translation
No, (it)’s not possible.
아니요 (aniyo)
- 아니요 (aniyo) is a polite and friendly way of saying “no” in Korean. It’s appropriate in most situations.
- Example: A: “Do you want to join us for dinner?” B: “아니요, 저는 오늘 밤에 다른 약속이 있어요. (No, I have another appointment tonight.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
아니요, 저는 오늘 밤에 다른 약속이 있어요.
Pronunciation Guide
아니요 (a-ni-yo), 저는 (jeo-neun) 오늘 (o-neul) 밤에 (ba-me) 다른 (da-reun) 약소기 (yak-so-gi) 잇써요 (it–sseo-yo).
Meaning and Context
아니요 (no; polite and friendly way), 저 (I; in a humble way) 는 (I’m going to talk about me) 오늘 (today) 밤 (night) 에 (at) 다른 (another) 약속 (appointment) 이 (my subject is appointment) 있 (to have) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
English Translation
No, I have another appointment tonight.
Literal Translation
No, I have another appointment at today night.
아닙니다 (animnida)
- 아닙니다 (animnida) is a more formal way of saying “no” in Korean. It’s often used in official or business contexts.
- Example: A: “Have you received any updates on the project?” B: “아닙니다, 아직 최신 정보를 받지 않았습니다. (No, I haven’t received the latest updates yet.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
아닙니다, 아직 최신 정보를 받지 않았습니다.
Pronunciation Guide
아님니다 (a-nim-ni-da), 아직 (a-jik) 최신 (choe-sin) 정보를 (jeong-bo-reul) 받찌 (bat-jji) 아낫씀니다 (a-nat-sseum-ni-da).
Meaning and Context
아닙니다 (no; in a official way), 아직 (yet) 최신 (latest) 정보 (information) 를 (my object is latest updates) 받 (to receive) 지 않 (not) 았 (past tense) 습니다 (I’m telling you formally).
English Translation
No, I haven’t received the latest updates yet.
Literal Translation
No, (I) haven’t received latest information yet.
아니 (ani)
- 아니 (ani) is a casual way of saying “no” in Korean. It’s often used among friends and family members.
- Example: A: “Do you want to watch a movie?” B: “아니, 지금은 좀 바빠. (No, I’m a bit busy right now.)”
Example
Original Korean Sentence
아니, 지금은 좀 바빠.
Pronunciation Guide
아니 (a-ni), 지그믄 (ji-geu-meun) 좀 (jom) 바빠 (ba-bba).
Meaning and Context
아니 (no; in a casual way), 지금 (now) 은 (as for) 좀 (a bit) 바쁘 (to be busy) 아 (am; I’m telling you casually).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 쁘 + 아 = 빠
When rapidly pronounced, ‘쁘’ and ‘아’ naturally combine to form ”빠.”
English Translation
No, I’m a bit busy right now.
Literal Translation
No, As for now, (I)’m a bit busy.
Tips for How to say Yes and No in Korean
- Now that you know how to say yes and no in Korean, here are some tips for perfecting your pronunciation and using these phrases correctly:
Pay attention to tone
- In Korean, the tone of your voice can change the meaning of a word or phrase. How to say yes and no in Korean to be sure to use the appropriate tone to convey your message correctly.
Use body language
- Body language can also be helpful in communicating how to say yes and no in Korean. For example, nodding your head while saying “ne” can emphasize your agreement, while shaking your head while saying “aniyo” can indicate disagreement.
Practice with native speakers
- One of the best ways to improve your pronunciation and confidence in using how to say yes and no in Korean is to practice with native speakers. Look for language exchange programs, language learning apps, or online forums to connect with Korean speakers and practice your skills.
From My Original Story Style Breakdown™ — A New Way to Truly Understand Korean
This is just one sentence from a complete learning system you won’t find anywhere else. — designed to help you understand Korean naturally, without getting lost in grammar rules.
When you can truly understand Korean sentences this way, speaking becomes much easier.
🟡 Sentence 1 of 7
Original Korean Sentence
사자가 코끼리를 잡아요.
Pronunciation Guide
사자가 (sa-ja-ga) 코끼리를 (ko-ggi-ri-reul) 자바요 (ja-ba-yo).
Meaning and Context
사자 (lion)
→ The lion — the one taking action now in the story.
가 (subject marker)
→ Points out that the lion is doing the action.
코끼리 (elephant)
→ The one the action is done to.
를 (object marker)
→ Shows that the elephant is the object being caught.
잡 (to catch, grab, take)
→ The action — the lion catches or grabs the elephant.
아요 (polite ending)
→ I’m telling you this in a polite and friendly way.
Real-Life Usage
잡아요 is common when talking about catching or holding something.
English Translation
The lion catches the elephant.
Literal Translation
Lion catch elephant.
Pattern Practice
사자가 토끼를 잡아요.
고양이가 쥐를 잡아요.
아이가 공을 잡아요.
강아지가 장난감을 잡아요.
In my full Story Course, each sentence comes with even more — depending on the sentence, you’ll also find grammar tips, pronunciation flow advice, and culture insights to help you truly understand and use Korean.
FAQs (What You Might Still Wonder About)
1. ❓ Can I just nod or shake my head instead of saying “yes” or “no” in Korean?
Yes, body language is often used in casual conversations, especially among close friends. However, if you’re learning how to say yes and no in Korean, it’s best to say the words out loud — like “응” or “아니” — to reinforce your pronunciation and fluency.
2. ❓ What’s the difference between “응” and “그래” when saying yes in Korean?
Both are informal ways of agreeing, but they carry different nuances. “응” simply means “yes,” while “그래” can mean “okay,” “sure,” or “that’s right,” depending on context. If you’re wondering how to say yes in Korean informal situations, both are great — just choose based on the tone of the conversation.
3. ❓ Is “아니요” always softer than “아니오”?
Yes. While both are polite ways of saying “no”, “아니요” is more commonly used and feels friendlier. “아니오” sounds a bit stiffer and more formal, often heard in official interviews or scripted contexts. If you’re learning how to say no in Korean, start with “아니요” for most daily conversations.
4. ❓ Can I use “아니” with older people if I’m close to them?
Even if you’re close, it’s better to stick with polite speech unless they’ve explicitly told you it’s okay to speak casually. “아니” is no in Korean informal style, and it can sound too blunt if used carelessly. Context is everything.
5. ❓ What’s the most natural response when someone offers food and I want to say yes?
You can say “응, 좋아” (Yes, I’d like that) or “그래, 고마워” (Okay, thanks) when speaking informally. These expressions combine both acceptance and gratitude — a natural way to use yes in Korean informal situations.
6. ❓ Do Koreans use “yes” and “no” more than repeating the verb like in English?
Actually, no! In Korean, it’s common to repeat or echo the verb rather than just say “yes” or “no.” For example, instead of just “네,” someone might say “갈게요” (I’ll go) as a full response. Still, knowing how to say yes and no in Korean helps you follow along and respond naturally.
7. ❓ How do I practice saying yes and no in Korean without sounding like a robot?
Try shadowing real dialogues from dramas or practice informal and formal versions like “네 / 예 / 응 / 그래” and “아니요 / 아닙니다 / 아니” with varying tones. Understanding yes in Korean informal and no in Korean informal makes your Korean sound more natural and less textbook-like.
Final words: Mastering how to say yes and no in Korean
Knowing how to say yes and no in Korean is essential for basic communication in the language. Whether you’re traveling to Korea, studying Korean, or communicating with Korean-speaking friends or colleagues, mastering these phrases can help you navigate daily interactions with ease.
Remember to pay attention to tone and body language, and don’t be afraid to practice with native speakers to improve your skills. With time and practice, you’ll become more comfortable and confident in using “ne,” “ye,” “aniyo,” and “animnida” in everyday conversation.
So, there you have it – a beginner’s guide to how to say yes and no in Korean. Now you can confidently respond to questions and express your opinions in Korean. How to Say Yes and No in Korean is just the beginning – keep learning and exploring the language to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Korean culture.
