Koreans use it when eating spicy food like kimchi jjigae, tteokbokki, or spicy ramen to express the level of spiciness.
Yes. The polite form "매워요 (maewoyo)" is appropriate in restaurants. You can also say "It's too spicy" — 너무 매워요 (neomu maewoyo) for stronger emphasis.
You can say "It's too spicy" — 너무 매워요 (neomu maewoyo) or "Please give me the non-spicy one" — 안 매운 거로 주세요 (an maeun georo juseyo) to request a milder version.
매워요 means "It's spicy." 맵다 (maepda) = to be spicy, 어요 (eoyo) = polite. Very common expression when eating spicy Korean food like tteokbokki, kimchi jjigae, ramen. Sharing spiciness level helps others understand preference.
1. Eating spicy food: Express spiciness level.
2. Restaurant: Comment on dish.
3. Preference: Show tolerance level.
It's spicy. Please give me water.
Too spicy. Please give me non-spicy one.
Spicy! But delicious. (Casual)
I like it a bit spicy.
• 너무 매워요 (neomu maewoyo) - Too spicy
• 안 매워요 (an maewoyo) - Not spicy
• 덜 맵게 해 주세요 (deol maepge hae juseyo) - Please make it less spicy