Travel Phrases — Entry No. 1206
아니에요
anieyo · verb
아니에요
anieyo
[ah-nee-eh-yo]
verbbeginner
Meaning
The polite negative form of 이다 (ida, ‘to be’), meaning ‘it is not’ or ‘no.’ Used to deny, refuse, or state that something is not true. Paired with 이에요 (iyeyo), these two verbs form the foundation of affirmative and negative statements in Korean.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Heard constantly in K-dramas when characters deny accusations or politely refuse offers. TWICE and aespa use 아니에요 in their interviews when correcting misunderstandings about their group. It’s essential for casual conversation and shows the listener you’re engaged—Koreans often use it to acknowledge they’re listening.
Example Sentences
아니에요, 저는 학생이 아니에요.
anieyo, jeoneun haksaengi anieyo.
No, I’m not a student. (Politely denying or correcting)
괜찮아요? 아니에요, 조금 피곤해요.
gwaenchanayo? anieyo, jogeum pigonhaeyo.
Are you okay? No, I’m a bit tired. (Responding negatively to a yes/no question)
이것은 비싼 음식이 아니에요. 아주 싸요.
igeoseun bissan eumsigi anieyo. aju ssayo.
This is not expensive food. It’s very cheap. (Negating a statement)
⚠️ Don’t use anieyo when…
Do not confuse 아니에요 (anieyo) with 아니야 (aniya)—아니에요 is polite/standard, while 아니야 is casual and can sound rude to strangers or elders. Never drop the 요 (yo) ending in formal contexts. Also avoid using double negatives—Koreans will understand but it sounds awkward (e.g., don’t say ‘저는 학생 아니에요’ with this word order).
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Itaewon Class — Park Sae-ro-yi frequently uses 아니에요 when denying involvement in crimes or refusing offers from antagonists, creating tension in scenes.
- K-Pop: TWICE — In their reality show, members use 아니에요 when jokingly denying they ate the last snack: 아니에요, 제나였어요! (No, it was Jena!).
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.