When traveling to South Korea or living in the country, being able to speak the Korean language will help you make Korean friends, blend into Korean culture, and enjoy your stay in Korea.
The most frequently used words
Like anywhere in the world, the most frequently used words are “hello” and “thank you”. A warm welcome to someone always helps to start a conversation with the people around us. We also say “thank you!” many, many times throughout the day, to show our appreciation to people. Saying “hello” and “thank you” is simple. But these phrases that may seem crucial will allow you to engage with Korean speakers around you.
Many Koreans tend to become very flattered and surprised when foreigners are fluent in Korean. Even if you speak just a little Korean, or your vocabulary isn’t perfect yet, many Koreans will appreciate your efforts to participate in the Korean language and culture.
How to say thank you in Korean?
We can show our respect in several ways to show our appreciation. As in any country, when we arrive in an unknown country, politeness remains essential, and also remains the basis for communicating with the local population.
Learning how to say “thank you” in Korean is one of the most important things to know when learning to speak the language.
When people start to learn Korean, they are often surprised that there are more ways to say “thank you” than there are in French. The key is to learn when to use it and which one to choose! Don’t worry, if you follow Korean etiquette rules, you are sure not to offend anyone.
Although in English ‘too’ is often used to express something negative, as in ‘too expensive’ or ‘too hot’, this use of ‘too’ in Korean is used to express that someone is feeling very grateful.
Today we are going to learn how to say “thank you” in Korean correctly.
Once you understand all the intricacies in the different situations, everything will start to become clearer to you and it will become second nature to you.
There are several levels of formality in the Korean language. We’ll break it down into 3 simple shapes for you. For Korean sentences in general, we recommend that you use the polite form because it is commonplace.
However, for “thank you” in Korean, it’s best to learn the formal version first!
This version of “thank you” in Korean comes from the Korean verb (gamsahada) 감사합니다 which means “to thank”.
(gamsahada) 감사합니다 is one of the most common ways to say “thank you” in Korean. It is formal and polite, so it can be used with strangers and people older than you.
99% of the time you will speak in the polite (gamsahada) 감사합니다 form, rather than the formal (gomapseumnida) 고맙습니다, which is more stuffy. However, you should generally always use these words to say “thank you” in Korean. The only time you should break this rule is when talking to people you are close to.
When you want to say “thank you” in Korean to someone you are very close to, you can use (gomawo) 고마워. Be careful, however, to find out about the age of the person. If she is the same age or younger than you, then you can say (gomawo) 고마워. These can be people who are close friends or siblings.
Again, this form is preferred over (gamsahe) 감사해. It’s a much more natural way to say thank you in Korean when speaking informally.
You are very likely to hear this version of thank you in Korean during formal announcements, such as a subway announcement. We already learned (gamsahamnida) 감사합니다 earlier, which is a formal version of “thank you”.
The word (daedanhi) 대단히 means a lot. If you put them together, it means “thank you very much”. You can use this phrase in formal situations, such as when giving a speech or giving a presentation.
The word (jinsim)진심, here means “sincerely”. It’s a phrase you can add to your repertoire.
It means “thank you for your interest”. It uses both verbs (juda ‘ to give) 주다 and (gajida ‘ to have or bear) 가지다, with (gwansim ‘ interest) 관심. You can also use (gamsahamnida) 감사합니다.
Clearly, remember this little table that will be very useful to you during your trip to the land of morning calm:
| Korean | Use with |
| 감사합니다 | Everyone , usually all “thank you” goals |
| 고마워요 | Similar seniors you are close to |
| 고마워 | The young people you’re close to |
When in doubt, remember what mom always says, it’s better to be polite than rude! Therefore, if you only learn one way to say “thank you” in Korean, then learn (gamsahamnida) 감사합니다.
Now you. Try using these expressions to put a smile on the faces of those you meet. Be happy to thank. Magic words are always very popular, whether you are in France or in South Korea. The main thing is to bring a smile to any face.
How to say “No thanks!” in Korean ?
In Korean, there are two common ways to say “no thanks”. The first way to say ‘no thank you’ is (a-ni-ae-yo) 아니에요 is the polite form, and we can conjugate it to a more formal form ”'(a-nim-ni-da) 애니메 다 .
The second way to say “no thanks” in Korean is (gwen-chan-ah-yo) 괜찮습니다. It means “it’s good!”. This expression can also be conjugated with (gwen-chan-seum-ni-da) 괜찮습니다 to become a more formal form.
Both forms of “no, thank you” are commonly used, and you can use both formal and less formal forms, depending on who you’re talking to.
Knowing which one to use with whom is very important because it can save you from potential embarrassment and prevent you from unintentionally offending someone.
Respecting elders in Korea
In Korea, age plays an extremely important role in relationship dynamics. If someone is older than you (even if only a few years), it is sometimes acceptable for the older person to use informal language towards you. But sometimes you are still expected to use formal language towards them. As age plays a very important role in Korea, it greatly affects the way we use the Korean language.
“Traditionally, some Koreans gave copper bracelets to their loved ones to protect them from illness. To learn more about the benefits of this jewel and its use, we recommend . “
On the run in Korea? You can’t go without a few basic language phrases in your suitcase! Especially if you are going to your potential employer! In person or online, knowing how to say “Thank you” in the Korean language will only improve their impression of you!
Take the opportunity to offer a customizable gift to thank the people you appreciate, in order to show them all your affection
