KoreanBlueprint
Daily Korean
Today’s Phrase
얼굴이 많이 익어요
eol·gu·ri ma·ni i·geo·yo
eolguri mani igeoyo
Your face looks very familiar
Did You Know?
Koreans often say 낯이 익다 or 얼굴이 익다 when a face feels familiar. This is different from 아는 척 (pretending to know someone). Korea’s tight-knit communities and frequent social events mean you genuinely might know someone from school, military service, or a mutual friend.
Phrase Breakdown
얼굴이
eolguri
face (subject)
얼굴 (face) + 이 (subject particle)
많이 익어요
mani igeoyo
is very familiar
많이 (much) + 익다 (to be familiar/ripe)
Expresses that someone’s face is familiar but you cannot recall exactly where from.
Example Phrases
어디서 본 것 같은데요, 얼굴이 익어요.
Eodiseo bon geot gateundeyo, eolguri igeoyo.
I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere, your face is familiar.
-ㄴ 것 같다 = seems like (past supposition).
혹시 전에 만난 적 있어요?
Hoksi jeone mannan jeok isseoyo?
Have we met before by any chance?
-ㄴ 적 있다 = have had the experience of.
어느 학교 나오셨어요? 얼굴이 왠지 낯익어요.
Eoneu hakgyo naosyeosseoyo? Eolguri waenjji natchigeoyo.
Which school did you go to? Your face seems strangely familiar.
낯익다 = to be familiar/recognizable.
Related Phrases
전에 어디서 봤어요?
jeone eodiseo bwasseoyo?
Where have I seen you before?
Trying to recall where you’ve met.
혹시 아는 사람이에요?
hoksi aneun sarami eyo?
Could you be someone I know?
Checking if someone is an acquaintance.
맞다, 생각났어요!
matda, saenggannasseoyo!
That’s right, I remember now!
Suddenly remembering someone or something.
Quick Review
오늘 제가 살게요
Can you recall what this means?
oneul jega salgeyo
I’ll treat you today / It’s on me