How to Say “I Don’t Like It” in Korean: 싫어 (sireo)
“Sireo” means “I don’t like it” or a firm “no, I don’t want to” — the direct opposite of “joa.”
“Sireo” means “I don’t like it” or a firm “no, I don’t want to” — the direct opposite of “joa.”
싫어 (sireo) — I don’t like it / no
How it feels and when to use it
It’s blunt — fine with close friends, but for declining politely you’d soften it (“gwaenchanhayo,” I’m good) rather than a flat “sireoyo.” Kids and couples use “sireo” a lot.
Politeness levels
- 싫어 (sireo) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 싫어요 (sireoyo) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 싫습니다 (silseumnida) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 싫어 in real Korean:
- 싫다고? — You hate?
- 싫다며? — You say no?
- 너무 싫어요. — I hate that.
A common mistake to avoid
“Sireo” vs “aniya” — “Sireo” = “I don’t like / don’t want” (preference). “Aniya” (아니야) = “no / that’s not it” (a factual negative). Don’t use “sireo” to simply correct a fact.
Related expressions
- 좋아 (joa) — good / I like it
- 아니야 (aniya) — no / that’s not it
Want to hear 싫어 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “싫어” mean in Korean?
- “Sireo” means “I don’t like it” or a firm “no, I don’t want to” — the direct opposite of “joa.” It’s romanized as “sireo.”
- Is “싫어” formal or casual?
- “싫어” is casual (반말); “싫어요” is polite (해요체); “싫습니다” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “싫어”?
- It’s pronounced “sireo.” “Sireo” vs “aniya”: “Sireo” = “I don’t like / don’t want” (preference). “Aniya” (아니야) = “no / that’s not it” (a factual negative). Don’t use “sireo” to simply correct a fact.
- When should I use “싫어”?
- It’s blunt — fine with close friends, but for declining politely you’d soften it (“gwaenchanhayo,” I’m good) rather than a flat “sireoyo.” Kids and couples use “sireo” a lot.
- What can I say instead of “싫어”?
- Try “좋아” (good / I like it) or “아니야” (no / that’s not it).