Polite Phrases in Korean
Korean politeness lives in verb endings more than in separate words, but a handful of set phrases do most of the visible work. One of them answers almost any situation.
Thank you and please
-
감사합니다 gamsahamnida
gahm-sah-HAHM-nee-dah
-
Thank you
The formal, safe default
-
고맙습니다 gomapseumnida
goh-mahp-SEUM-nee-dah
-
Thank you
Slightly warmer, native Korean root
-
고마워요 gomawoyo
goh-MAH-wuh-yoh
-
Thanks
Casual, to friends
-
천만에요 cheonmaneyo
chuhn-MAH-neh-yoh
-
You're welcome
-
주세요 juseyo
joo-SEH-yoh
-
Please give me
Apologising and excusing yourself
-
죄송합니다 joesonghamnida
jweh-sohng-HAHM-nee-dah
-
I am sorry
Formal, and the more apologetic of the two
-
미안해요 mianhaeyo
mee-AHN-hae-yoh
-
Sorry
Everyday, to people you know
-
실례합니다 sillyehamnida
shil-lyeh-HAHM-nee-dah
-
Excuse me
Before interrupting or squeezing past
-
저기요 jeogiyo
juh-GEE-yoh
-
Excuse me
How you call a waiter. Literally over there
-
괜찮아요 gwaenchanayo
gwaen-CHAH-nah-yoh
-
It's okay, I'm fine, no thanks
Phrases with a fixed moment
-
잘 먹겠습니다 jal meokgetseumnida
jahl muhk-GEH-seum-nee-dah
-
I will eat well
Said before eating
-
잘 먹었습니다 jal meogeotseumnida
jahl muh-GUH-seum-nee-dah
-
I ate well
Said after eating, especially to whoever paid
-
건배 geonbae
guhn-BAE
-
Cheers
-
축하합니다 chukahamnida
choo-kah-HAHM-nee-dah
-
Congratulations
-
화이팅 hwaiting
HWAH-ee-ting
-
You can do it
From the English fighting. Encouragement, not aggression
-
수고하셨습니다 sugohasyeotseumnida
soo-goh-hah-SHUHT-seum-nee-dah
-
Thank you for your effort
To colleagues at the end of a day or a task
괜찮아요 answers almost anything
괜찮아요 covers it is okay, I am fine, do not worry about it, and no thank you. Said in reply to an apology it forgives; said in reply to an offer it declines; said about yourself it reassures. Tone carries the meaning.
죄송합니다 and 미안해요 are both sorry, but the first is heavier and more formal. Bumping a stranger takes 죄송합니다; forgetting to text a friend takes 미안해요.
저기요 is what you actually say to get a waiter's attention. It literally means over there, and calling out 실례합니다 in a restaurant would sound stiff.
The two meal phrases bracket eating the way the Japanese ones do, and 잘 먹었습니다 is close to obligatory when someone else is paying.
화이팅 comes from the English word fighting and means keep going, you have got this. It is shouted at sports matches and said before exams, and it carries no hostility at all.
Keep learning Korean in Vocabloot
Snap anything and learn the Korean word for it, with pronunciation and an example sentence.
Coming soon to
the App Store
Coming soon to
Google Play
Free during early access. We only use your email to send your invite.