An international student asked me a question. "The English 'you' is '당신', right? So why does nobody use it?" If you say "당신 뭐야?" to a stranger on the street, it sounds like you're picking a fight. ## Why '당신' Is Risky Before speaking, Korean first weighs whether the other person is above or below you, and how close you are. But "너" and "당신" have no room for that kind of relationship. "너" is only used with friends or people younger or lower in rank. "당신" sounds like an honorific, but if you use it with a stranger, it comes across as confrontational. So Koreans use names, titles, or leave the word out altogether. There are exceptions, too. Between spouses, "당신, 밥 먹었어요?" is a warm thing to say. In song lyrics, people sometimes call their loved one this way too. But both only work when two people are very close. ## What to check before you speak - **Do you know their name?** Add "씨" after the name. Calling someone by name shows that you respect them as an individual. However, with someone older or senior, "씨" can be rude. - **Do you know their title?** Call them "선생님" or "과장님". In Korean, a title works as an honorific. - **Don't know either?** Just leave out "you" (너). Even just saying "밥 먹었어요?" makes it clear who you're talking to. If you need to call out to someone you don't know, "저기요" is the safest choice.