handsome in korean
How to Say "Handsome" in Korean (잘생겼어): Casual & Polite Forms
잘생겼어
jalsaenggyeosseo
Quick answer
The most natural way to say "handsome" in Korean is 잘생겼어 (jalsaenggyeosseo) casually or 잘생겼어요 (jalsaenggyeosseoyo) politely.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 잘생겼어 | jalsaenggyeosseo | Casual compliment — between friends or to someone younger. |
| polite | 잘생겼어요 | jalsaenggyeosseoyo | Polite form — safe around adults or people you're not super close with. |
| declarative exclamation | 잘생겼다! | jalsaenggyeotda! | Spontaneous exclamation — like seeing an idol and going 'wow, he's handsome!' |
| really handsome | 진짜 잘생겼어 | jinjja jalsaenggyeosseo | 진짜 (jinjja, really) is the most common intensifier. |
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! — casual and natural among friends.
걔 완전 잘생겼어.
Gyae wanjeon jalsaenggyeosseo.
talking about someone to a friend: He's totally handsome — 완전 (wanjeon, totally/completely) is a casual intensifier.
정말 잘생기셨어요.
Jeongmal jalsaenggisyeosseoyo.
polite compliment to someone older: undefined
우리 오빠 진짜 잘생겼어요!
Uri oppa jinjja jalsaenggyeosseoyo!
fan context (K-pop): Our oppa is so handsome! — standard fan talk about idols.
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 'well-made' or 'born well' — it describes the face in a natural, objective way. Unlike 예뻐 (pretty) which is mostly used for women, 잘생겼어 is specifically for men, though 귀여워 (cute) can apply to men too in a softer way.
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.
What about 꽃미남 (kkotminam)?
꽃미남 (flower handsome man) refers to a pretty-boy type — men with soft, delicate features. It's a compliment in K-pop culture but can sound slightly feminine to some.
How do I say 'so handsome' or 'really handsome'?
진짜 잘생겼어 (jinjja jalsaenggyeosseo) or 완전 잘생겼어 (wanjeon jalsaenggyeosseo) — both are natural among friends.