너무(neo-mu, neomu)
'너무' is an adverb indicating that a state or degree is excessively strong or high. It can be used for both positive and negative contexts, and sometimes simply means 'very'.
Nuances
- Emphasizes excessiveness in negative contexts
- Simply means 'very' in positive contexts
- Can be used for exaggeration
- Used familiarly in spoken language
When to use
Everyday conversation, Expressing emotions, Exaggeration, Compliments
In context
'너무' precedes adjectives or verbs to emphasize degree. It is very common in spoken Korean; in formal contexts, '매우' or '아주' are more appropriate.