Key Facts
- Hangul: 매우; Revised Romanization: maeu
- Part of speech: adverb
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: slightly formal and written; in speech 아주, 너무 and 정말 are more common
Very in Korean: What Does 매우 Mean?
매우 raises the degree of what follows: 매우 더워요 is very hot, 매우 재미있어요 is very interesting. It is neutral in meaning but stiff in tone, which makes it a natural choice for essays, reports, news and polite presentations.
It combines most easily with adjectives and with set phrases such as 매우 좋다, 매우 중요하다 and 매우 크다. Because it is an adverb, it never takes a particle and never appears in front of a noun on its own.
How Do You Pronounce 매우?
매우 is mae-u, two syllables. The vowel ㅐ is like the e in bed, and the second syllable is the rounded vowel ㅜ. There is no consonant between them, so the word glides softly from mae into u. Do not insert a y or w sound between them.
Example Sentences with 매우
이 책은 매우 재미있어요.
I chaegeun maeu jaemiisseoyo.
This book is very interesting.
책은 is the book as the topic, and 재미있어요 means is interesting. The adverb 매우 stands right before the adjective, as always.
오늘은 매우 더워요.
Oneureun maeu deowoyo.
It is very hot today.
오늘은 is as for today. 더워요 is the polite form of hot, and 매우 turns it into very hot. In conversation 아주 더워요 would sound a little warmer.
그 영화는 매우 슬퍼요.
Geu yeonghwaneun maeu seulpeoyo.
That movie is very sad.
그 영화는 is that film as the topic. 슬퍼요 is is sad, and 매우 strengthens it. A film review would be a natural home for this sentence.
Common Phrases and Collocations
매우 pairs with adjectives that describe quality and size.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 매우 좋다 | to be very good |
| 매우 중요하다 | to be very important |
| 매우 크다 | to be very big |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners use 매우 in every sentence, which makes casual talk sound like a lecture.
Wrong: ✗ 오늘은 매우 더워요. (in everyday conversation)
Correct: ✓ 오늘은 아주 더워요.
This is a matter of tone, not grammar. In writing and formal speech 매우 is correct, but in conversation 아주 or 정말 sounds more natural, and 매우 sounds stiff.
매우 Compared with 아주, 너무 and 정말
Three common alternatives share the meaning but differ in feel.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 매우 | very; extremely | Formal or written very. |
| 아주 | very | More common in speech. |
| 너무 | too / very | Everyday intensifier. |
| 정말 | really | Casual or neutral emphasis. |
For the everyday intensifier, read the page for too.
Where Does the Word Come From?
매우 is a native Korean adverb, so it has no hanja breakdown. Learn it as a whole word. Its formal feel comes from where it is used, not from a Chinese-origin spelling.
Rehearsing a Presentation
Two classmates practise a presentation. The report-like tone gives 매우 a natural place in a spoken conversation about their script.
Presenter
이 문제는 매우 중요합니다.
I munjeneun maeu jungyohamnida.
This issue is very important.
Classmate
왜 중요한가요?
Wae jungyohangayo?
Why is it important?
Presenter
안전과 관련이 있어요.
Anjeongwa gwallyeoni isseoyo.
It is related to safety.
Classmate
그 설명도 발표에 넣으세요.
Geu seolmyeongdo balpyoe neoeuseyo.
Include that explanation in the presentation too.
매우 strengthens 중요합니다, “is important”. It adds degree without explaining the reason. The follow-up question asks for that reason. The presenter’s first line uses a formal ending, while the later exchange uses polite 요 endings; 매우 itself does not change form with either ending.
Which Combinations Are Useful beyond 매우 좋다?
매우 중요하다 means “to be very important”, a useful combination for explaining a rule or priority. 매우 어렵다 means “to be very difficult” and describes the level of a task. 매우 만족하다 means “to be very satisfied”, so 매우 can also strengthen a verb expressing a feeling or evaluation.
These are literal combinations, not idioms with hidden meanings. The word after 매우 carries the description. In 매우 어려운 문제, “a very difficult problem”, 매우 strengthens 어려운, the describing form of “difficult”. The whole phrase then describes 문제, “problem”. This is how 매우 can appear inside a noun phrase without modifying the noun directly.
Where Will You See 매우 outside a Textbook?
A survey scale may use 매우 만족, “very satisfied”, and 매우 불만족, “very dissatisfied”. Here 만족 and 불만족 appear as short response labels. The full sentence is left out because the survey supplies the question. Learn the pair together so you can tell the strongest positive response from the strongest negative one.
In a written review, 매우 유용하다 means “to be very useful”. On a weather report, 매우 춥다 means “to be very cold”. In both cases 매우 gives strong emphasis with a measured, report-like tone. It does not by itself mean that a situation is dangerous, excessive or unwelcome; the following word supplies that judgment.
Other Degree Words and What They Change
| Korean | Meaning | One useful difference |
|---|---|---|
| 아주 | very | A comfortable choice for strong everyday descriptions. |
| 정말 | really | Emphasizes the speaker’s reaction or conviction. |
| 너무 | too; very | Can express excess or conversational enthusiasm. |
| 조금 | a little | Lowers the degree instead of raising it. |
The quantity and degree vocabulary lesson groups these expressions. Compare 매우 with 너무 carefully: “very expensive” describes a high price, while “too expensive” can mean the price goes beyond your budget. 너무 can carry that second meaning, so the surrounding conversation matters.
For a short answer, keep the description with 매우. A reply equivalent to “very interesting” needs 재미있어요 as well; 매우 alone does not tell the listener what quality you are emphasizing.
Quick Self-Test
- In 매우 어려운 문제, which word does 매우 strengthen?
- Does 매우 make a sentence polite by itself?
- Which survey label means “very dissatisfied”: 매우 만족 or 매우 불만족?
Show answers
- 어려운, “difficult”; the full phrase describes a difficult problem.
- No. The sentence ending handles politeness.
- 매우 불만족.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say very in Korean?
Say 매우 (maeu). Place it before an adjective, as in 매우 좋다, which means to be very good.
Is 매우 polite?
It is not a politeness level. It is a formal, written intensifier, so it suits essays and news more than casual chat.
What should I say in conversation?
Use 아주, 너무 or 정말. They sound more natural in speech.
Can 매우 modify a noun?
No. It is an adverb and modifies adjectives and verbs, so 매우 중요하다 is correct.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: quantity words vocabulary places 매우 beside the other degree and amount words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: Add 매우 to your review in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for too.