yeppeuda (예쁘다) — Korean Word Meaning | HallyuWords

Dictionary — Entry No. 0160

예쁘다

yeppeuda · adjective

Dictionary beginner

예쁘다

yeppeuda

[yep-PEU-da]

adjectivebeginner

Meaning

Yeppeuda (예쁘다) means ‘to be pretty’ or ‘to be beautiful’ and is one of the most common compliments in Korean. It functions as a descriptive adjective indicating that the subject possesses visual beauty or attractiveness. For K-pop fans it is essential vocabulary, appearing constantly in song lyrics, idol interviews, fan chants, and fansite culture.

K-Pop & K-Drama Context

TWICE built much of their early brand identity around the cute-and-pretty concept, and 예쁘다 echoes throughout fan discussions of their iconic ‘Cheer Up’ era — the lyric ‘예쁜 척’ (pretending to be pretty) became a widely quoted cultural touchstone. IU, widely called the ‘nation’s little sister’ and sweetheart, has 예쁘다 directed at her constantly in media, and her work explores beauty and self-image with nuance. In ‘My Love from the Star,’ Do Min-joon’s quiet ‘예쁘다’ while watching a sleeping Cheon Song-yi is considered one of K-drama’s most swoon-worthy understated confessions.

Example Sentences

와, 정말 예쁘다!

Wa, jeongmal yeppeuda!

Wow, you’re really pretty! (the 다 ending signals a spontaneous, un-self-conscious reaction rather than a rehearsed compliment)

오늘 옷이 너무 예쁜데?

Oneul osi neomu yeppeunde?

Your outfit today is so pretty, isn’t it? (the 는데 softens it into a warm observation, less intense than a direct declaration)

그 꽃이 예뻐서 샀어.

Geu kkochi yeppewoseo sasseo.

I bought those flowers because they were pretty. (causal use — beauty as justification, very natural everyday phrasing)

⚠️ Don’t use yeppeuda when…

1) 예쁘다 is used primarily for women, feminine-presenting people, and objects — calling a man 예쁘다 implies he looks feminine, which may or may not be intended. For men use 잘생겼다 (jalsaenggyeotda) for ‘handsome’ or 멋있다 (meositda) for ‘cool.’ 2) The colloquial spelling 이쁘다 (ippeuda) is widely used in texts and social media but is considered non-standard — avoid it in formal writing or subtitles.

🎵 Heard In

K-Drama: My Love from the Star — Do Min-joon murmurs ‘예쁘다’ while watching a sleeping Cheon Song-yi, a scene so beloved it launched countless fan edits and remains a benchmark for understated K-drama romance.
K-Pop: TWICE — Cheer Up (치어업)

💡 Did You Know? Korean has at least three tiers of ‘pretty/beautiful’ — 예쁘다 (pretty, everyday), 아름답다 (beautiful, poetic/grand), and 귀엽다 (cute) — and K-pop fan communities debate with remarkable intensity which category each idol belongs to.

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.

AdSense
300×250
Sidebar