Dictionary — Entry No. 0750
잘생겼어
jalsaenggyeosseo · adjective
잘생겼어
jalsaenggyeosseo
[jal-seng-gyuh-SUH]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
Literally ‘was born well-formed,’ this predicate adjective is the standard Korean compliment for male handsomeness. It describes overall facial and physical attractiveness rather than a single feature, making it the ultimate all-in-one compliment.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Fanchants at K-Pop concerts frequently include this word the moment a particularly striking member appears on stage. EXO’s Suho and Stray Kids’ Hyunjin are routinely cited as the textbook definition of 잘생겼어 by fans on Weverse and fan forums alike.
Example Sentences
와, 정말 잘생겼어!
wa, jeongmal jalsaenggyeosseo!
‘Wow, you’re really handsome!’ — spontaneous reaction at a fan meeting
그 배우 너무 잘생겼어.
geu baeu neomu jalsaenggyeosseo.
‘That actor is so handsome.’ — discussing a K-Drama lead with friends
잘생겼는데 요리도 잘해.
jalsaenggyeonneunde yorido jalhae.
‘He’s handsome AND he cooks well.’ — the ultimate ‘husband material’ observation
⚠️ Don’t use jalsaenggyeosseo when…
This compliment is gendered male — using it for a woman sounds odd; say 예뻐 (yeppeo, pretty) or 아름다워 (areumdawo, beautiful) instead. Also note the past-tense form 잘생겼어 is standard even for present descriptions — don’t try to ‘correct’ it to a present tense.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Boys Over Flowers — Geum Jan-di hurls this at Gu Jun-pyo sarcastically before realizing she actually means it
- K-Pop: EXO — ‘Call Me Baby’; the music video sparked endless 잘생겼어 comments across YouTube and Twitter
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.