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⇾ 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 네 / 아니요

We'll be learning how to properly use 네 [ne] "yes" and 아니요 [aniyo] "no." (both are in 존댓말 [jondaetmal] "polite language")

In Korean, when people say "네" or "아니요" you might think that it's the same in Englishㅡ NO.

네 [ne] expresses "agreement" to what the other person said and 아니요 [aniyo] expresses "disagreement/denial" to what the other person said.

For example, when someone asks you

: 당근 안 좋아해요? [danggeun an johahaeyo?]
"You don't like carrots?"

and if your answer is "No, I don't like carrots," you have to say "네" [ne].

Is it weird?

Let's put it this way:

• 네 [ne]
- That's right./ I agree./ Sounds good./ What you said is correct.

• 아니요 [aniyo]
- That's not right./ I disagree./ I don't agree./ What you said is not correct.

Let's go back to our sentence:

: 당근 좋아해요? [danggeun johahaeyo?]
  "Do you like carrots?"
: 네. 좋아해요. [ne, johahaeyo]
  "Yes, I like carrots."
: 아니요. 안 좋아해요. [aniyo, an johahaeyo]
  "No, I don't like carrots."

: 당근 안 좋아해요? [danggeun an johahaeyo?]
  "You don't like carrots?"
: 아니요. 좋아해요. [aniyo, johahaeyo]
  "Yes, I like carrots." (more like: "you must've been mistaken, i like carrots.")
: 네. 안 좋아해요. [ne, an johahaeyo]
  "No, I don't like carrots." (more like: you're right, i don't like carrots.")

✐ Just remember that the Korean system for YES and NO is different from the English system

➤ 네 [ne] is more than just YES or THAT'S RIGHT.
     - it can be also used as conversation filler. You will often hear 네 when you listen to two Korean people talking to each other although it is not intended to mean "Yes."

Example:

A: You know what, there was a book promo yesterday.
B: 네 [ne]
A: There were a lot of good books.
B: 네 
A: But it was still expensive. Do you know how much it was?
B: How much was it?
A: 100 dollars!
B: 네?! [ne?!]
A: Yeah, so I paid using my credit card.
B: 네..

➤ 네 [ne] could also mean
  > I see./ I got it./ I'm here! (when called by someone)/ I understand./ etc.
  > and it can also be: what did you say?/ pardon?/ i'm sorry, what?/ i didn't hear you well, when someone said something to you but you couldn't hear well.

example:
A: I like you!
B: 네?
A: I said I like you!
B: 네?
A: Forget it.
B: 네?

I hope you've learned something!

-🐻