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There are several ways to express gratitude in Korean, but the phrase you use largely depends on the level of respect you want to show the listener. Read this Mytour article to learn the appropriate ways to say thank you in Korean.
Steps
Casual Thank You
Say "gomawo." This is the simplest and most natural way to say “thank you.”
- Gomawo can also be romanized as “komawo.”
- You should only use this phrase with people who won’t feel offended by casual language. This typically includes close siblings, young children, close friends, or classmates.
- To make it more polite or formal, you can add “yo” (요)—pronounced as “yô”—at the end. However, this is often dropped in casual conversations with close friends.
- The pronunciation is kô-ma-ùa. The first Hangul character sounds like a soft "g," similar to the "c" sound in Vietnamese.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 고마워.
Say "kam sa hae yo." This is another relatively casual way to express gratitude, suitable for conversations with friends and those younger than you.
- Adding yo (요) at the end makes the phrase slightly more polite, but it can be omitted in very casual settings. Regardless of whether you include yo, this remains a natural way to say thank you.
- The pronunciation is cam-xa-he-yô. The “c” sound is similar to the Vietnamese pronunciation.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 감사해요.
Decline an invitation with "aniyo, kwenchanayo." This phrase translates to “no, thank you” and is a relatively polite way to turn down an offer.
- More literally, it means "No, I’m okay."
- The pronunciation is a-ni-ô, quên-chan-na-yô.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 아니오, 괜찮아요.
Formal Thank You
Say "gomapseumnida." This is a formal expression of gratitude, used when addressing someone familiar but of higher status.
- While formal, this phrase isn’t the most respectful option. It’s suitable for thanking family members, mentors, or teachers, but for showing the utmost respect or gratitude, it may not be the best choice.
- It can also be used with strangers, especially if they are older, or to express sincere gratitude to friends with whom you usually speak casually.
- This is also a common way to thank Taekwondo instructors, opponents, or teammates during classes or matches.
- The pronunciation is gô-máp-sưm-ni-đa. The first Korean character sounds like a soft "g," similar to the "c" in Vietnamese.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 고맙습니다.
Express deep gratitude with "kamsahamnida." Literally meaning “thank you very much,” this is the most formal way to show appreciation.
- Use this phrase when showing the highest level of respect. It’s appropriate for elders, family members, teachers, mentors, older strangers, and anyone you need to address with strict etiquette.
- It’s also an alternative way to thank Taekwondo instructors.
- The pronunciation is cam-xa-ham-ni-đa. The “c” sound is similar to the Vietnamese pronunciation.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 감사합니다.
- To express even greater gratitude, say "daedanhi gamsahamnida.” Daedanhi (대단히)—pronounced đe-đan-hi, with the first sound resembling a soft “đ” or “t”—is used to emphasize your appreciation.
- You can further intensify your gratitude by adding “nŏmu” (너무)—pronounced no-mu—before the phrase. Nŏmu means “very” and is used to highlight your gratitude when receiving significant help or gifts.
Situational Thank You
To thank someone for a meal, say "jal mug get sum ni da." Use this phrase before eating to express gratitude to the host or the person who prepared the meal.
- Loosely translated, this means "I will eat well." While the word "thank you" isn’t included, using this phrase conveys appreciation for the food you’re about to enjoy.
- The pronunciation is chàl-moóc-kết-sưm-ni-đa. The first character sounds like a soft "ch."
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 잘 먹겠습니다.
- Use “jal mug gut sum ni da” after the meal. The only difference is the change from get (겠) to gut (었), shifting the meaning to “I ate well” instead of “I will eat well.”
Responding to Thank You
Reply with "kwenchana." This is a common way to say "you’re welcome" in Korean, especially among friends in casual settings.
- Literally, it means “I’m okay.”
- You can make it more polite by adding "yo" (요) at the end.
- The pronunciation is quên-chan-na.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 괜찮아.
Say “anieyo.” This is another way to say “you’re welcome.”
- Essentially, you’re saying “no.” The meaning is that the other person doesn’t need to thank you.
- The pronunciation is a-ni-ê-yô.
- The Hangul writing for this phrase is 아니에요.
