Cute in Korean: 귀엽다
귀엽다 (gwiyeopda) is the Korean word for cute. Hear it, see how it changes in real speech, build it letter by letter and trace each block stroke by stroke.
How do you say 'so cute!' in Korean?
Cute in Korean is 귀엽다 (gwiyeopda); in conversation you say 귀여워요 (gwiyeowoyo) for "it is cute" and 너무 귀여워! for "so cute!". Before a noun it becomes 귀여운, as in 귀여운 강아지 (a cute puppy).
Cute in Korean 귀엽다: sound, letters and strokes
귀엽다 Cute in KoreanKorean word · adjective
귀엽다 is read gwiyeopda.
How 귀엽다 is used
The polite everyday form.
As in 귀여운 고양이, a cute cat.
The reaction to a pet or baby photo.
귀엽다 means cute or adorable, pretty in a lovable way. The cute one is the subject: 아기가 귀여워요 (the baby is cute), and before a noun it is 귀여운, as in 귀여운 고양이. It is often used for babies, pets and small things, and also for friends' charming behaviour.
Which one to use
Polite: 귀여워요 (ㅂ irregular). Casual: 귀여워. Formal: 귀엽습니다. Before a noun: 귀여운. Strong: 너무 귀여워요.
How to pronounce 귀엽다
귀엽다Say gwi – yeop – da. 귀 sounds like "gwee". In 귀여워요 the ㅂ disappears and you hear "gwi-yeo-wo-yo".
귀엽다 letter by letter
How to write 귀엽다 stroke by stroke
Write 귀엽다 one block at a time: 귀, 엽, 다. Inside every block go from the first consonant to the vowel and then the final consonant, following the numbered strokes.
Trace gwi 귀 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace yeop 엽 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
Trace da 다 with a finger, mouse or pen: start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted arrow, and press Clear to try again.
Print style 정자체
Follow the numbers and dotted arrows
Handwriting 필기체
Same stroke order as print style
When to say 귀엽다
귀엽다 in example sentences
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 이 고양이 너무 귀여워요. | This cat is so cute. |
| 귀여운 가방을 샀어요. | I bought a cute bag. |
| 동생이 정말 귀여워. | My little sibling is really cute. |
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 아기가 이유식을 먹으며 입을 오물거리는 모습이 정말 귀여웠다. | The way the baby moved its mouth while eating baby food was really cute. |
| 퇴근 후 집에 들어가면 귀여운 고양이 한 마리가 애교 섞인 울음소리로 나를 반겼다. | When I get home after work, a cute cat greets me with a sweet little meow. |
귀엽다 in a short conversation
| Who | Korean | English |
|---|---|---|
| A | 우리 강아지 사진이야. | This is a photo of my puppy. |
| B | 와, 너무 귀여워! | Wow, so cute! |
Words and phrases with 귀엽다
귀엽다 compared with similar words
| Korean | Meaning | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| 귀엽다 | cute | Babies, pets, small things, charming people. |
| 예쁘다 | pretty | Faces, clothes, flowers. |
| 사랑스럽다 | lovely | Something you cannot help loving. |
| 깜찍하다 | adorably cute | Something small and surprisingly cute. |
| 귀요미 | cutie | Slang for a cute person. |
| 애교 | acting cute | Cute talk or gestures to charm someone. |
A common mistake with 귀엽다
Saying 귀엽어요. 귀엽다 is ㅂ irregular, so ㅂ turns into 우: 귀여워요.
How to practice
Seeing a friend's pet photo, reply 너무 귀여워요! It is one of the most used compliments.
Forms of 귀엽다
귀여워요 is "it is cute" and 귀여웠어요 is "it was cute". Before a noun it is 귀여운, as in 귀여운 고양이. As an adverb it is 귀엽게: 귀엽게 웃어요. 귀여워하다 means to treat someone as cute, to adore them: 할머니가 저를 귀여워해요.
애교 and cute culture
애교 is cute speech or gestures, such as a softer voice or a playful pout, used to charm friends, partners or fans. K-pop idols are often asked to show 애교 on variety shows.
귀엽다 writing worksheet (free printable)
Worksheet · Level 3 · Words
Korean word tracing worksheet: 귀엽다 (cute; adorable; sweet)
One A4 page for 귀엽다: trace its 3 blocks (16 strokes), write words that go with it, read three sentences and find 귀.
- 1 page
- A4 · US Letter
- PDF · 96 KB
- Free · no sign-up
Want more? See all korean words
Worksheet information
- How to use
- Say 귀엽다 out loud, trace each block from dark to faint, then write it on the line.
Use of the worksheet:
© KoreanSheets.com · Free to print and share at home and in class. No commercial use — don’t sell it, add it to paid products or post it on other websites. The QR code on the sheet opens this page to listen and trace on screen.
What to learn next
Cute in Korean — FAQ
How do you say 'so cute!' in Korean?
너무 귀여워요! With friends, just 너무 귀여워!
What is the difference between 귀엽다 and 예쁘다?
예쁘다 means pretty or beautiful; 귀엽다 means cute and lovable.
How do you say cute in Korean slang?
귀요미 means a cute person, and 귀여워 is the everyday casual form. Both are friendly, informal words.
Why is it 귀여워요 and not 귀엽어요?
귀엽다 is an ㅂ irregular adjective: before a vowel the ㅂ changes to 우, so 귀엽 + 어요 becomes 귀여워요.
What is aegyo in Korean?
애교 (aegyo) is acting cute on purpose: a cute voice, gestures or expressions to charm someone.
What does 귀여워하다 mean?
귀여워하다 means to find someone cute and treat them with affection, for example a grandmother doting on a grandchild.
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