Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Nice (pleasant)" in Korean: 상냥하다
상냥하다sangnyanghada
Nice (pleasant) in Korean is 상냥하다 (sangnyanghada). 상냥하다 describes a gentle friendly manner; 좋다 is broader good and does not specify this manner.
Nice (pleasant): an everyday statement
그분은 상냥해요.geubuneun sangnyanghaeyo.
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How to pronounce 상냥하다
Say it
sangnyanghada
/saŋnjaŋhata/
Read 상냥하다 as sangnyanghada. The spoken form 상냥해요 is sangnyanghaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Nice (pleasant)" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 상냥하다sangnyanghada | Nice (pleasant) Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 상냥해요sangnyanghaeyo | Nice (pleasant) (polite present) Use 상냥해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 상냥해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 상냥했어요sangnyanghaesseoyo | Nice (pleasant) (polite past) Use 상냥했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 상냥했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 상냥하다 in real life
- 1Nice (pleasant): an everyday statement
그분은 상냥해요.
geubuneun sangnyanghaeyo.
That person is nice and gentle.
상냥해요 is the present form of 상냥하다.
- 2Nice (pleasant): a different situation
그 직원은 아주 상냥했어요.
geu jigwoneun aju sangnyanghaesseoyo.
That staff member was very nice.
상냥했어요 is the past form of 상냥하다.
- 3Nice (pleasant): a question or request
말투가 상냥해요?
maltuga sangnyanghaeyo?
Is the way of speaking gentle?
상냥해요 is the present form of 상냥하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 상냥하다
Incorrect: 상냥하다.
Correct: 상냥해요.
When practicing nice (pleasant), 상냥하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 상냥해요.
Incorrect: 어제 상냥해요.
Correct: 어제 상냥했어요.
When practicing nice (pleasant), for a completed event yesterday, use 상냥했어요; the present form 상냥해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
상냥하다 describes a gentle friendly manner; 좋다 is broader good and does not specify this manner. 상냥해요 is the polite conversational form of 상냥하다; 상냥했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 상냥하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
그분은 상냥해요.
geubuneun sangnyanghaeyo.
That person is nice and gentle.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
그 직원은 아주 상냥했어요.
geu jigwoneun aju sangnyanghaesseoyo.
That staff member was very nice.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Nice (pleasant)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Nice (pleasant)" in Korean
How do I use 상냥하다 in polite speech?
상냥해요 is the polite conversational form of 상냥하다; 상냥했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 상냥하다 in a past-tense sentence?
상냥했어요 is the polite past form. 상냥하다 describes a gentle friendly manner; 좋다 is broader good and does not specify this manner.
What does 상냥해요 mean here?
상냥해요 is used for nice (pleasant). For example, 그분은 상냥해요. means “That person is nice and gentle.”
What should I remember about 상냥하다?
상냥하다 describes a gentle friendly manner; 좋다 is broader good and does not specify this manner.
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