Emphasis with '네'

01

Expressing Surprise or Admiration

This ending is most commonly used when you are impressed or surprised by a new discovery. It turns a statement into a mild exclamation. To form it, simply attach 네 (neneneney) to the verb or adjective stem, followed by 요 (yo) for politeness.

• 한국말을 정말 잘하시네요.

  han·guk·ma·rŭl jŏng·mal jal·ha·si·ne·yo.han·guk·ma·reul jeong·mal jal·ha·si·ne·yo.han·guk·ma·rŭl jŏng·mal jal·ha·si·ne·yo.han·kuk·ma·lul ceng·mal cal·ha·si·ney·yo.

  You speak Korean really well (I am impressed).

• 이 가방은 너무 비싸네요.

  i ga·bang·ŭn nŏ·mu bi·ssa·ne·yo.i ga·bang·eun neo·mu bi·ssa·ne·yo.i ga·bang·ŭn nŏ·mu bi·ssa·ne·yo.i ka·pang·un ne·mu pi·ssa·ney·yo.

  This bag is too expensive (I am surprised).

• 와, 밥이 아주 맛있네요!

  wa, ba·bi a·ju ma·sit·ne·yo!wa, ba·bi a·ju ma·sit·ne·yo!wa, ba·bi a·ju ma·sit·ne·yo!wa, pa·pi a·cu ma·sit·ney·yo!

  Wow, the rice is very delicious!

02

Agreeing with Others

You can also use 네요 (ne·yone·yone·yoney·yo) to show agreement with what someone else has said, or to seek agreement from the listener. In this context, it functions similarly to the English tag questions "isn't it?" or "don't you think?". It softens the statement and creates a sense of shared experience.

• 오늘 날씨가 춥네요.

  o·nŭl nal·ssi·ga chum·ne·yo.o·neul nal·ssi·ga jum·ne·yo.o·nŭl nal·ssi·ga chum·ne·yo.o·nul nal·ssi·ka cum·ney·yo.

  The weather is cold today (don't you think?).

• 사람이 참 많네요.

  sa·ra·mi chʰam man·ne·yo.sa·ra·mi cham man·ne·yo.sa·ra·mi ch'am man·ne·yo.sa·la·mi cham man·ney·yo.

  There are so many people (I agree/I see).

03

Using with Past Tense

This ending can be combined with the past tense suffix 았 (at) or 었 (ŏteotŏtet) to express realization about something that has already happened. The structure becomes 았네요 (at·ne·yoat·ne·yoat·ne·yoat·ney·yo) or 었네요 (ŏt·ne·yoeot·ne·yoŏt·ne·yoet·ney·yo).

• 벌써 다 했네요.

  bŏl·ssŏ da hæt·ne·yo.beol·sseo da haet·ne·yo.bŏl·ssŏ da haet·ne·yo.pel·sse ta hayt·ney·yo.

  You did it all already (I just noticed).

• 머리를 잘랐네요.

  mŏ·ri·rŭl jal·lat·ne·yo.meo·ri·reul jal·lat·ne·yo.mŏ·ri·rŭl jal·lat·ne·yo.me·li·lul cal·lat·ney·yo.

  You cut your hair (I just noticed).

• 버스가 벌써 떠났네요.

  bŏ·sŭ·ga bŏl·ssŏ ddŏ·nat·ne·yo.beo·seu·ga beol·sseo ddeo·nat·ne·yo.bŏ·sŭ·ga bŏl·ssŏ ttŏ·nat·ne·yo.pe·su·ka pel·sse tte·nat·ney·yo.

  The bus has already left.

04

Difference from Standard Statements

It is important to distinguish 네요 (ne·yone·yone·yoney·yo) from the standard polite ending 어요 / 아요 (ŏ·yo / a·yoeo·yo / a·yoŏ·yo / a·yoe·yo / a·yo).

• Standard 어요 (ŏ·yoeo·yoŏ·yoe·yo): Used to state a fact or convey information neutrally.
• Emphasis 네요 (ne·yone·yone·yoney·yo): Used to convey the speaker's personal reaction or feeling regarding that fact at the moment of speaking.

• 꽃이 예뻐요.

  ggo·chʰi ye·bbŏ·yo.ggo·chi ye·bbeo·yo.kko·ch'i ye·ppŏ·yo.kko·chi yey·ppe·yo.

  The flower is pretty. (Stating a fact).

• 꽃이 예쁘네요.

  ggo·chʰi ye·bbŭ·ne·yo.ggo·chi ye·bbeu·ne·yo.kko·ch'i ye·ppŭ·ne·yo.kko·chi yey·ppu·ney·yo.

  The flower is pretty! (Emotional reaction upon seeing it).