너무 vs 아주 vs 정말

At a glance

How they differ

1. 너무 = “too”. When the degree is beyond what works, 너무 is the natural choice: 너무 비싸서 못 샀어요 (It was too expensive, so I didn’t buy it). 아주 비싸서 is possible but lacks the “too much” meaning. In casual speech 너무 is also used positively — 너무 예뻐요 (It’s so pretty) — and this is now accepted as standard.

2. 아주 = plain “very”. 아주 simply raises the degree with no extra feeling: 아주 잘했어요 (Very well done). It sounds a little formal or teacherly, and it can’t be used alone. Only 너무 carries the “not OK” feel of “too”: 너무 많이 먹지 마세요 ○ / 아주 많이 먹지 마세요 ✕.

3. Only 정말 can stand alone. 정말 adds “I mean it”: 정말 고마워요 (Thank you so much). As a reply: 정말요? ○ / 아주요? ✕ / 너무요? ✕. It also works as a noun: 정말이에요 (It’s true). The more casual equivalent is 진짜.

◎ natural   ○ possible   △ awkward   ✕ wrong

In use

1. 이 커피는 너무 달아서 못 마시겠어요.

   This coffee is too sweet — I can’t drink it.

2. 제 방은 작지만 아주 깨끗해요.

   My room is small but very clean.

3. 이 김치찌개 정말 맛있어요!

   This kimchi stew is really delicious!

4. A: 내일 시험이 없대요. B: 정말요?

   A: They say there’s no exam tomorrow. B: Really?

5. 사람이 너무 많아서 다른 식당에 갔어요.

   There were too many people, so we went to another restaurant.

6. 할머니는 아주 건강하세요.

   My grandmother is in very good health.

One step further

너무 often combines with -아서/어서 to give a reason: 너무 피곤해서 일찍 잤어요 (I was so tired I went to bed early). To react with fresh surprise, try 정말 with -네요: 정말 맛있네요!

Common mistakes

• A: 저 합격했어요! B: 아주요? 축하해요!

  A: 저 합격했어요! B: 정말요? 축하해요!

  Only 정말 can stand alone as “Really?”; 아주 and 너무 need something to modify.

• 그 사람은 제 정말 친구예요.

  그 사람은 제 진짜 친구예요.

  정말 is an adverb or a stand-alone noun, so it can’t mean “real” before a noun; use 진짜 (or 진정한).

• 이 가방은 아주 안 비싸요.

  이 가방은 너무 비싸지 않아요.

  English “not very/not too expensive” is 너무 비싸지 않다; 아주 안 비싸다 doesn’t express “not very”.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the right word: 너무, 아주, 정말

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