How to Say "You look really pretty today / Something looks different …" in Korean — 오늘 되게 예쁘다 / 오늘 뭔가 달라 보인다? (o-neul doe-ge ye-ppeu-da / o-neul mwon-ga dal-la bo-in-da?)

Textbook vs Real

Textbook당신은 매우 아름답습니다dang-sin-eun mae-u a-reum-dap-seum-ni-da

Real오늘 되게 예쁘다 / 오늘 뭔가 달라 보인다?o-neul doe-ge ye-ppeu-da / o-neul mwon-ga dal-la bo-in-da?

Why Koreans say it this way

Direct compliments like 아름답습니다 feel stiff. 되게 예쁘다 (really pretty, casual) is natural. Even better: 오늘 뭔가 달라 보인다 (you seem different today) makes them ask 'how?' — then you compliment. Indirect game is strong in Korea.

Situation: dating

오늘 되게 예쁘다 / 오늘 뭔가 달라 보인다?

Related phrases