Korean words for pretty, beautiful, kindhearted : 예쁘다, 아름답다, 착하다
Let’s learn Korean words for pretty, beautiful, kindhearted with BLACKPINK lyrics.
Click the play button below to listen to all the BLACKPINK lyrics used in this post.
예쁘다 [ye-ppeu-da] to be pretty
난 예쁘고 심술궂지
nan ye-ppeu-go sim-sul-gut-ji
I’m pretty and grumpy
*난(나(I) + 는(topic particle), =난) +
예쁘고(예쁘다(be pretty) + ~고(and)) +
심술궂지(be nasty)
예쁜 [ye-ppeun] pretty
구름 한 점 없이 예쁜 날
gu-reum han jeom eop-si ye-ppeun nal
A pretty day without a single cloud
*구름(cloud) +
한(one) +
점(spot) +
없이(without) +
예쁜(예쁘다(be pretty) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
날(day)
아름답다 [a-reum-dap-tta] to be beautiful
아름다운 [a-reum-da-un] beautiful
넌 너무 아름다워
neon neo-mu a-reum-da-wo
You’re too beautiful
*넌(너(you) + 는(topic particle), =넌) +
너무(too) +
아름다워(be beautiful)
착하다 [cha-ka-da] to be good, to be kindhearted
착한 [cha-kan] kindhearted
흔한 남들처럼 착한 척은 못 하니까
heu-nan nam-deul-cheo-reom cha-kan cheo-geun mot ha-ni-kka
Because I can’t pretend to be good like most people
*흔한(흔하다(be common) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
남(other) + 들(plural suffix) + 처럼(like) +
착한(착하다(be good) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
척(pretending) + 은(topic particle) +
못(not) +
하니까(하다(do) + ~니까(because))
(*Adjective [verb] stem + ㄴ/은/는 척하다 means to pretend to do something. ‘~ㄴ/은/는 체하다’ has a very similar meaning.)
Grammar Reference
*Tense
*Present tense : Adjective/verb stem + ~아/어/해요
*Past tense : Adjective/verb stem + ~았/었/했어요
*Future tense : Adjective/verb stem + ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 / ~ㄹ 게요/ ~겠어요
The basic way to get the verb/adjective stem is to remove 다 from the verb/adjective.
If there is a vowel ㅏ or ㅗ on the final syllable of the adjective/verb stem, 아요(present tense), 았어요(past tense), 을 거예요(future tense) is used.
If there is a vowel other than ㅏ or ㅗ on the final syllable of the adjective/verb, 어요(present tense), 었어요(past tense), ㄹ 거예요(future tense) is used.
Also, if there is 하다 in the adjective/verb, 하다 changes to 해요(present tense), 했어요(past tense), 할 거예요(future tense).
Below you can see the conjugation of 예쁘다, 아름답다, 착하다 by tenses.
| Present tense | Past tense | Future tense | |
| 예쁘다 | 예뻐요 | 예뻤어요 | 예쁠 거예요 |
| 아름답다 | 아름다워요 | 아름다웠어요 |
아름다울 거예요
|
| 착하다 | 착해요 | 착했어요 | 착할 거예요 |
*Speech levels
The three most commonly used Korean speech levels are 합쇼체 (formal polite), 해요체 (informal polite) and 해체 (informal plain).
*The formal polite style : Adjective/verb stem + ~(스)ㅂ니다
~(스)ㅂ니다 is used more in formal or public situations including the military, news, reporting presentations, meetings and lectures. It’s mainly used to address large gatherings or people you don’t know personally.
*The informal polite style : Adjective/verb stem + ~아/어/해요
~아/어/해요 is most commonly used in everyday life. Compared to the formal polite style, the informal polite style is softer and less formal, so it is mainly used among family members, friends, shopkeepers and other close acquaintances.
*The informal plain style : Adjective/verb stem + ~아/어/해
As for the informal plain style ~아/어/해, it is mainly used among friends from superiors to people of lower rank and among family members.
Below you can see the conjugation of 예쁘다, 아름답다, 착하다 by speech levels.
| Formal polite | Informal polite | Informal plain | |
| 예쁘다 | 예쁩니다 | 예뻐요 | 예뻐 |
| 아름답다 | 아름답습니다 | 아름다워요 | 아름다워 |
| 착하다 | 착합니다 | 착해요 | 착해 |