Usage and Meaning
"얘" is an informal, colloquial pronoun used primarily to refer to a child or a young person in a familiar or casual context. It is often used by adults when speaking to or about children or young people they know well. It can be translated roughly as "kid" or "this kid" in English.
Register and Politeness
"얘" is informal and should be used only in casual situations or with people you are close to. It is not appropriate in formal or polite speech. When addressing multiple children, the plural form "얘들" is commonly used.
Common Collocations
- 얘가 (this kid) – used to point out a specific child
- 얘들아 (kids, plural vocative) – used to call a group of children informally
- 얘, (hey kid,) – used to get a child's attention
Typical Contexts
You will often hear "얘" in family conversations, among teachers speaking informally to students, or between friends talking about children. It conveys familiarity and sometimes affection.
Learner Tips
Do not confuse "얘" with "애" (child) which is a noun. "얘" is a shortened form of "이 애" (this kid). Avoid using "얘" in formal contexts or with strangers to prevent sounding rude.