Phrase in 30 Seconds
The standard, polite way to confirm information or agree with someone in professional or formal Korean settings.
- Means: 'Yes, that is correct' or 'Yes, it is so.'
- Used in: Job interviews, news reporting, and speaking to superiors.
- Don't confuse: With '네, 그래요', which is polite but less formal.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
Agreeing with someone or confirming information.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In Korean corporate culture, using '네, 그렇습니다' is a sign of 'nunchi' (social sensing). It shows you recognize the hierarchy and are showing proper respect to your superiors. The military uses a speech style called 'Danam-che', which only allows sentences to end in '다' or '까'. '네, 그렇습니다' is the perfect '다' ending for agreement. News anchors use this phrase to maintain an objective and professional distance. It is part of the 'standard language' (pyojun-eo) used in public discourse. Students use this when answering a professor in a formal lecture setting, though '네, 맞습니다' or '네, 그래요' is becoming more common in modern, liberal universities.
The 'Nod' Rule
Always accompany this phrase with a slight, respectful nod of the head.
Avoid with Friends
Using this with friends makes you sound like a robot or a politician.
The 'Nod' Rule
Always accompany this phrase with a slight, respectful nod of the head.
Avoid with Friends
Using this with friends makes you sound like a robot or a politician.
The 'Ye' Upgrade
If you want to sound even more traditional and formal, try '예, 그렇습니다.'
Eye Contact
In very formal Korean culture, don't stare too intensely; look slightly downward or at the person's neck while saying this.
खुद को परखो
Which is the most appropriate response in a job interview?
면접관: 우리 회사의 비전에 동의하십니까? (Do you agree with our company's vision?)
In a formal job interview, the highest level of politeness (-습니다) is required.
Fill in the blank to complete the formal confirmation.
질문: 이 서류가 부장님께 드릴 서류인가요? 답변: 네, ________.
The question uses the polite '-인가요?', and the context involves a superior (부장님), so '그렇습니다' is the best fit.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Where would you most likely hear '네, 그렇습니다'?
News broadcasts always use the formal 'Hapsyo-che' register.
Complete the dialogue between a soldier and an officer.
Officer: 오늘 훈련은 모두 마쳤나? Soldier: 네, ________. 수고하셨습니다!
Military communication in Korea strictly requires the '-습니다' ending.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यास면접관: 우리 회사의 비전에 동의하십니까? (Do you agree with our company's vision?)
In a formal job interview, the highest level of politeness (-습니다) is required.
질문: 이 서류가 부장님께 드릴 서류인가요? 답변: 네, ________.
The question uses the polite '-인가요?', and the context involves a superior (부장님), so '그렇습니다' is the best fit.
Where would you most likely hear '네, 그렇습니다'?
News broadcasts always use the formal 'Hapsyo-che' register.
Officer: 오늘 훈련은 모두 마쳤나? Soldier: 네, ________. 수고하셨습니다!
Military communication in Korea strictly requires the '-습니다' ending.
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYes, it can be used to confirm a state of being, like 'Are you a student?' -> '네, 그렇습니다.'
Only in very formal business emails or texts to a much older superior. Otherwise, use '네, 그래요.'
It's an irregular adjective root. The 'ㅎ' affects how it conjugates with different endings.
Yes, but adding '네' makes it sound more complete and polite.
'네' is the standard modern version; '예' is slightly more formal, traditional, or masculine.
Usually, '네, 그래요' is better unless your family is extremely traditional.
Use '아니요, 그렇지 않습니다.'
Yes, it becomes '네, 그랬습니다' (Yes, it was so).
In daily life, yes. In official settings, no.
Absolutely, it is the perfect way to answer questions from the audience.
संबंधित मुहावरे
네, 맞습니다
similarYes, that's correct.
네, 그래요
similarYes, that's right (polite).
그렇고말고요
builds onOf course, it is so.
그렇습니까?
specialized formIs that so?
전혀 그렇지 않습니다
contrastNot at all / That is not the case.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Job Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사에 지원한 이유가 열정 때문인가요?
Applicant: 네, 그렇습니다. 제 열정을 이 회사에서 펼치고 싶습니다.
News Interview
Anchor: 현장에 비가 많이 내리고 있습니까?
Reporter: 네, 그렇습니다. 보시는 것처럼 빗줄기가 굵어지고 있습니다.
Military Report
Officer: 모든 준비가 끝났나?
Soldier: 네, 그렇습니다! 이상 없습니다!
Customer Service
Customer: 이 제품 배송이 오늘 되나요?
Agent: 네, 그렇습니다. 오늘 오후에 발송될 예정입니다.
Meeting Elders
Grandfather: 네가 이번에 대학에 합격했느냐?
Grandson: 네, 그렇습니다. 할아버지 덕분입니다.
Business Presentation
Client: 이 기능이 사용자 편의성을 높여주나요?
Presenter: 네, 그렇습니다. 데이터에 따르면 20% 향상되었습니다.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'NE' as a polite nod, and 'Geureot-SUM-nida' as the 'SUM' of all respect you can give.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a news anchor sitting at a desk with a microphone, nodding firmly and saying '네, 그렇습니다' to confirm a breaking news story.
Rhyme
When the boss asks if it's true, '네, 그렇습니다' is the phrase for you!
Story
You are in a tall glass building for a job interview. The CEO asks, 'Are you ready to work hard?' You stand tall, bow slightly, and say '네, 그렇습니다.' The CEO smiles, and you get the job because of your perfect formal Korean.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'Yes, that is correct' in English, or 'はい, そうです' (Hai, sou desu) in Japanese, which also uses a formal copula to show respect.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Watch a 5-minute Korean news clip and count how many times the reporter or anchor uses '-습니다' endings or the phrase '네, 그렇습니다'.
Review this phrase before any formal meeting or when practicing for the TOPIK speaking test.
उच्चारण
Short and clear, like 'ne' in 'net'.
The 'ㅎ' and 'ㅅ' combine to make a strong 'ss' sound.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
네, 그렇습니다. (General confirmation)
네, 그래요. (General confirmation)
응, 그래. (General confirmation)
ㅇㅇ, 마즘 (Texting slang) (General confirmation)
The phrase is a combination of the affirmative '네' and the adjective '그렇다'. '그렇다' is a contraction of '그러하다', which dates back to Middle Korean. The '-습니다' ending evolved from '-습' and '-니다' to become the standard formal polite marker in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
रोचक तथ्य
The 'ㅎ' in '그렇다' is a 'ghost' consonant—it disappears in some conjugations (like '그래요') but stays firm in '그렇습니다'!
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
In Korean corporate culture, using '네, 그렇습니다' is a sign of 'nunchi' (social sensing). It shows you recognize the hierarchy and are showing proper respect to your superiors.
“네, 그렇습니다. 보고서 수정 완료했습니다.”
The military uses a speech style called 'Danam-che', which only allows sentences to end in '다' or '까'. '네, 그렇습니다' is the perfect '다' ending for agreement.
“네, 그렇습니다. 알겠습니다!”
News anchors use this phrase to maintain an objective and professional distance. It is part of the 'standard language' (pyojun-eo) used in public discourse.
“네, 그렇습니다. 현재 기온은 영하 5도입니다.”
Students use this when answering a professor in a formal lecture setting, though '네, 맞습니다' or '네, 그래요' is becoming more common in modern, liberal universities.
“네, 그렇습니다. 교수님 말씀대로 그 이론은 중요합니다.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
한국어 공부가 재미있습니까?
오늘이 월요일입니까?
이것이 당신의 첫 번째 한국 여행인가요?
귀하의 경력이 이 직무에 적합하다고 생각하십니까?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
네, 그래요. (in a job interview)
네, 그렇습니다.
L1 Interference
응, 그렇습니다.
네, 그렇습니다.
L1 Interference
네, 맞아요. (to a high-ranking official)
네, 그렇습니다.
L1 Interference
네, 이다. (Literal translation of 'Yes, it is.')
네, 그렇습니다.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
はい, そうです (Hai, sou desu)
Japanese 'sou desu' is used more broadly in daily life than the very formal 'geureotsumnida'.
是的 (Shì de)
Chinese lacks the distinct 'formal vs. informal' verb endings found in Korean.
Sí, así es.
Spanish formality is shown through 'Usted' rather than changing the verb ending so drastically.
Oui, c'est ça.
French uses different phrases for 'yes' (oui vs si), which Korean doesn't do.
Ja, das stimmt.
German is less focused on the social hierarchy of the speaker and more on the factual accuracy.
نعم، هذا صحيح (Na'am, hadha sahih)
Arabic formality is often tied to religious or classical vocabulary choices.
Sim, é isso mesmo.
Portuguese confirmation is often more repetitive of the question's verb.
Yes, that is correct.
English lacks a specific 'formal' verb ending like '-습니다'.
Spotted in the Real World
“네, 그렇습니다. 작전 수행 중입니다.”
Captain Yoo Si-jin reporting to his superior officer over the radio.
“네, 그렇습니다. 현재 국회 상황은 긴박하게 돌아가고 있습니다.”
A reporter confirming the anchor's question about a political event.
“네, 그렇습니다. 제가 다 관리하고 있습니다.”
The housekeeper confirming her duties to the wealthy Park family.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners use '맞아요' in very formal settings where '그렇습니다' is better.
Use '그렇습니다' for bosses and '맞아요' for colleagues.
Trying to translate 'Yes, it is' literally.
Korean doesn't use '이다' alone as a response; always use '그렇다'.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)
Yes, it can be used to confirm a state of being, like 'Are you a student?' -> '네, 그렇습니다.'
basic understandingOnly in very formal business emails or texts to a much older superior. Otherwise, use '네, 그래요.'
usage contextsIt's an irregular adjective root. The 'ㅎ' affects how it conjugates with different endings.
grammar mechanicsYes, but adding '네' makes it sound more complete and polite.
practical tips'네' is the standard modern version; '예' is slightly more formal, traditional, or masculine.
comparisonsUsually, '네, 그래요' is better unless your family is extremely traditional.
cultural usageUse '아니요, 그렇지 않습니다.'
grammar mechanicsYes, it becomes '네, 그랬습니다' (Yes, it was so).
grammar mechanicsIn daily life, yes. In official settings, no.
usage contextsAbsolutely, it is the perfect way to answer questions from the audience.
practical tips
