Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Informal sayings
• Method 2 of 4: Formal sayings
• Method 3 of 4: Words of thanks per specific situation
• Method 4 of 4: Reactions

You can thank someone in a number of different ways in Korean, but which way you use depends on the recipient of your message. You should use certain sentences in certain situations. Read this article and learn about the right way to say thank you in Korean.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Informal sayings

1. The simplest casual way to say thank you is "gomawo"
   • "Gomawo" is sometimes also spelled "komawo".
   • You use this word only with people with whom you are allowed to behave informally, such as your family, classmates and friends.
   • You can make this a bit more formal by adding “yo” (요) at the end. You pronounce this as the English “yo”. You don't use "yo" when talking to friends.
   • You pronounce this like this: "ghoh-mah-wa". The first character in this sentence has a soft g sound that sounds like the letter k.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “고마워”.
2. When you use “kam sa hae yo” you are thanking someone in an informal way. You only use this phrase among friends or when thanking a younger person.
   • Adding the word “yo” (요) makes a sentence a bit more polite, but it should not be used in casual circumstances. This is seen as informal, with or without “yo”.
   • You pronounce this like this: “kahm-sah-hae-yo”. The k does not sound like a hard k in this case.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “감사 해요“.
3. The pronunciation is similar to the romanized version “kahm-sah-hae-yo”. In that case, the k is pronounced as a hard k.
   • If you translate this literally, it means “No, you don't have to”.
   • You pronounce this like this: "ah-ni-oh, kwaen-chan-nah-yo".
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “아니오, 괜찮아요”.

Method 2 of 4: Formal sayings

1. You use “gomapseumnida” when thanking people with a higher position.
   • This is not the most formal way to say thank you. You can use this method with older relatives, bosses, and teachers, but if you want to show even more gratitude, use another option.
   • You also use this phrase with strangers, if they look older, and with friends who you normally talk to informally but sometimes want to show your sincere gratitude.
   • You often use this phrase with instructors, opponents or, for example, someone with whom you follow Taekwondo lessons.
   • You pronounce this as follows: “goh-map-seub-ni-da”. The first character represents a soft g that sounds sound like ak.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “고맙습니다“.
2. You use “kamsahamnida” when you want to express your gratitude in a formal way. This is the most formal way to say thank you, meaning something like “thank you very much”.
   • You use this phrase when you want to show someone that you respect them very much. You use this with admirable people, elderly relatives, instructors, superiors, elderly strangers, and other people you should respect.
   • You use this phrase, for example, when thanking a taekwondo instructor.
   • You pronounce this like this: “kahm-sa-ham-no-da”. You pronounce the letter k at the beginning of this acceptance speech as a hard k.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “감사 합니다“.
   • When you use “daedanhi gamsahamnida,” written as 대단히, pronounced “tay-dahn-hee,” you are emphasizing your gratitude. You pronounce the first sound as a soft d or t.
   • You can also thank someone by putting the word “nŏmu” (너무) before a word of thanks. You pronounce this as follows: “no-moo”. So you use this word to emphasize your gratitude, for example after you have received a grand gift or favor.

Method 3 of 4: Words of thanks per specific situation

1. If you want to thank someone for a meal, say “jal mug get sum ni da”. Before you start a meal, you say this to your host or the cook in a restaurant.
   • Literally translated, this means “I will eat well”. Thank you does not appear in the sentence, but you do use this sentence to thank someone for the food in front of you.
   • You pronounce this as follows: “jhal-moog-get-soom-no-da”. The first syllable sounds like a ch.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “잘 먹겠 습니다”.
   • At the end of a meal you say “jal mug gut sum ni da”. The only difference with the aforementioned sentence is that instead of “get” (겠), you use the word “gut” (었). This changes the meaning of the sentence to “I ate well”.

Method 4 of 4: Reactions

1. If someone thanks you, you can respond by saying “kwenchana”. This is a common way to say “no thanks” to friends or in casual circumstances.
   • Literally translated, this means “it is good”.
   • You can also make this more polite by pasting “yo” (요) at the end.
   • You pronounce this as follows: “kwaen-chan-nah”.
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “괜찮아”.
2. You can also use the word “anieyo” to say “no thanks”.
   • This actually means “no”. So you say there is no reason to thank you.
   • You pronounce this like this: "ah-ni-oh".
   • You write this in Hangul as follows: “아니에요“.