How to say "I’m sad" in Korean — 슬퍼요 (Polite & Casual)

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슬퍼요 / 슬퍼

[seul-peo-yo] / [seul-peo]

I’m sad (polite / casual)

Word & Grammar Breakdown:

슬프다 (seul-peu-da) — “to be sad”
어요 (eo-yo) — polite ending marker

✅ Combined: 슬퍼요 = “I’m sad.” (polite)
슬퍼 = casual “I’m sad.” (to close friends or family)

Examples

👩 A: 왜 슬퍼요? wae seulpeo yo
Why are you sad?
👨 B: 친구가 이사 갔어요. chin gu ga isa gass-eo yo
My friend moved away.

👧 A: 슬퍼? seul peo
Are you sad?
👦 B: 응, 조금 슬퍼. eung, jo geum seul peo
Yeah, a little sad.

Quick Quiz — Which is polite?

Try speaking — say “슬퍼요”

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● Idle

Tip: Try to say 슬퍼요 clearly — if recognition finds “슬퍼” or “요,” it will count as a match.

🇰🇷 Cultural Insight — Understanding "슬퍼요"

In Korean culture, emotions are often expressed softly and politely. Saying “슬퍼요” can sound gentle and sincere. In K-dramas, “슬퍼...” is often said quietly during emotional moments — expressing not just sadness but empathy or loss. Koreans may also add gestures or tone changes to convey emotion naturally.