Dictionary — Entry No. 0650
너
neo · pronoun
너
neo
[nuh]
pronounbeginner
Meaning
The informal second-person pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Korean. It is used exclusively among close friends, romantic partners, or when speaking to someone younger — using it with elders or strangers is considered rude and inappropriate.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Neo (너) saturates K-Pop love songs because idols sing directly to a listener or love interest. BTS’s ‘Spring Day’ repeats 너 throughout to evoke longing for a distant person, and BLACKPINK’s ‘Lovesick Girls’ addresses an absent lover the same way. It’s one of the first Korean words fans naturally absorb just from listening.
Example Sentences
너 오늘 예뻐.
neo oneul yeppeo.
You look pretty today. (casual, said to a close friend — the compliment feels warm and unguarded)
너 없이는 못 살아.
neo eopsi-neun mot sala.
I can’t live without you. (romantic/dramatic — a staple of K-Drama confessions)
너 지금 어디야?
neo jigeum eodiya?
Where are you right now? (casual texting-style question between friends)
⚠️ Don’t use neo when…
Never use 너 with teachers, bosses, or elders — omit the pronoun entirely (Korean drops it naturally) or use 당신 (dangshin) only in formal written contexts. Also, 네 (ne) means ‘yes,’ not ‘you,’ so watch the spelling when reading subtitles.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star — Do Min-joon begins using 너 with Cheon Song-yi only in deeply private moments, signaling how far he has let her into his guarded world.
- K-Pop: BTS — Spring Day
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.