handsome in korean
How to Say "Handsome" in Korean (잘생겼어): Casual & Polite Forms
잘생겼어
jalsaenggyeosseo
Quick answer
Say 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) casually or 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo) politely to say someone is handsome in Korean.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 잘생겼어 | jalsaenggyeosseo | The casual compliment for a handsome guy — used between friends or to someone younger. Very natural in everyday conversation and fan discussions about idols. |
| polite | 잘생겼어요 | jalsaenggyeosseoyo | Polite form — safe with people you're not super close to, slightly older acquaintances, or when you want to compliment someone respectfully. |
| declarative exclamation | 잘생겼다! | jalsaenggyeotda! | Spontaneous exclamation of admiration — like seeing an actor on screen and blurting out 'wow, he's handsome!' Without directing it at anyone in particular. |
| really handsome | 진짜 잘생겼어 | jinjja jalsaenggyeosseo | 진짜 (really/truly) is the most natural intensifier. 완전 잘생겼어 (wanjeon, totally) also works for casual, enthusiastic emphasis. |
How it changes by relationship
야, 너 오늘 진짜 잘생겼다!
Ya, neo oneul jinjja jalsaenggyeotda!
to a close friend (complimenting them): Hey, you look really handsome today! — using 진짜 makes it feel spontaneous and genuine rather than a rehearsed compliment.
걔 완전 잘생겼어.
Gyae wanjeon jalsaenggyeosseo.
talking about someone to a friend: He's totally handsome — 완전 (wanjeon, totally/completely) is a casual intensifier popular among younger Koreans.
정말 잘생기셨어요.
Jeongmal jalsaenggisyeosseoyo.
polite compliment to someone older: You're really handsome (honorific) — the 시 (si) honorific infix is used to show respect to an older person being complimented.
우리 오빠 진짜 잘생겼어요!
Uri oppa jinjja jalsaenggyeosseoyo!
fan context (K-pop): Our oppa is so handsome! — the quintessential K-pop fan phrase in fan-cams, Twitter threads, and fan comments.
Examples
저 배우 정말 잘생겼어요.
Jeo baeu jeongmal jalsaenggyeosseoyo.
That actor is really handsome.
잘생겼다, 대박!
Jalsaenggyeotda, daebak!
He's handsome, wow!
우리 남자친구 너무 잘생겼어.
Uri namjachingu neomu jalsaenggyeosseo.
My boyfriend is so handsome.
Usage note
잘생겼어 literally means 'born well' or 'well-made' — it's rooted in the idea that a person's face was constructed well. This is specifically a male appearance compliment: unlike 예쁘다 (pretty) which is used for women, 잘생겼어 is almost exclusively used for men. However, 귀여워 (cute) and 멋있어 (cool) can apply to men too — 귀여워 for endearing sweetness, 멋있어 for charismatic impressiveness. For a woman with notably strong, striking features, Koreans occasionally use 잘생겼다 as an edge compliment, but it's rare.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "handsome" here?
FAQ
Can I say 잘생겼어 to a woman?
Not typically — 잘생겼어 is specifically used for men. For women, 예뻐 (pretty) or 아름다워 (beautiful) are the natural choices. Occasionally said to a woman with very strong features, but it's unusual.
What is 꽃미남?
꽃미남 (kkotminam, flower handsome man) refers to a pretty-boy type — men with soft, delicate, almost androgynous features. It's a compliment in K-pop culture but carries a specific aesthetic meaning distinct from plain 잘생겼어.
How do I say 'so handsome' in Korean?
진짜 잘생겼어 (jinjja jalsaenggyeosseo) or 완전 잘생겼어 (wanjeon jalsaenggyeosseo) — both are natural and enthusiastic in casual speech.
What's the difference between 잘생겼어 and 멋있어?
잘생겼어 is specifically about a handsome face/looks. 멋있어 covers cool style, impressive skills, and overall charisma — it goes beyond appearance. You'd say 멋있어 about someone's performance, not just their face.
How do Korean fans compliment male idols?
잘생겼어요, 진짜 잘생겼다, 대박 잘생겼어 are all common. 비주얼 (bijual, visual) is also widely used in K-pop fandom to describe the member known for their looks.
Is there a word for 'pretty boy' or 'soft features' in Korean?
꽃미남 (kkotminam) is the main term — literally 'flower handsome man.' It's a compliment in idol culture, referring to someone with delicate, refined features.