How to Say Thank You in Korean
If you've ever wanted to learn how to say thank you in Korean, this guide is for you. Learn 8 different ways of saKorean culture is deeply rooted in respect and social etiquette. This makes learning how to say thank you in Korean a truly important part of your journey to fluency. However, like many languages, there are several different options for how to say thank you in Korean words. From casual interactions among friends to formal business settings that require a certain speech and body language, we’ll explore all of your options and the best time to use them. So, if you’ve been asking yourself, “How do you say thanks in Korean?” get ready for all the answers.
How to Say Thank You in Korean: 8 Examples and When to Use Them
The way you say thank you in Korean depends on your social standing and a certain politeness system that’s followed based on speech levels. It can range from most formal all the way down to least formal or slang. Basically, you need to be hyper-aware of your social standing and the circumstances in which you’re in to understand how to say thank you in Korean words. While this can be a bit confusing, as English doesn’t really have “speech levels,” the best way to master the differences is by downloading Tandem and practicing with a native speaker! Until then, consider some of the most common options when learning how to say thank you in Korean.
1. 감사합니다 — Thank you
Pronunciation: (gahm-sa-hab-ni-da)
When learning how to say thank you in Korean words, you’ll likely start with this option. This is one of the most common options for showing appreciation in Korean and can be used both in formal and informal settings. When translated directly, it means “I am doing thanks to someone,” and it can be used with everyone from strangers to seniors. If you’re not sure how to respond to a specific situation, make 감사합니다 your go-to response. This is kind of like the equivalent of arigato when learning how to say thank you in Japanese.
2. 고맙습니다 — Thank You
Pronunciation: (go-map-seup-ni-da)
This is another popular option that new speakers use when learning how to say thank you in Korean. In fact, many native speakers use it interchangeably with the option above. It incorporates the Korean word that means, “to be thankful” and also has a formal ending of 습니다. You can use it with people that you don’t know and in casual contexts, but many native speakers use this when saying thank you in Korean to people they’re a bit more familiar with.
3. 고마워요 — Thank you
Pronunciation: (go-ma-wo-yo)
This way of saying thank you removes the formality that’s in the phrase above (습니다). While it’s still considered a polite way to say thank you in Korean, you should keep this reserved for people that you know well and individuals closer to your age group.
4. 고마워 — Thank you
Pronunciation: (go-ma-wo)
This way of saying thank you in Korean drops from polite to informal. This means you should only use it with individuals who are your age or younger or those who are lower in social standing or rank. You can also use it among close friends or siblings, but never say 고마워 in a business setting!
5. 감사 — Thanks
Pronunciation: (gahm-sa)
This is by far the most casual way of saying thank you in Korean, and many people even consider it to be slang. Most often, you’ll hear this used among close friends, or you may see it written in a text message. Remember, it’s extremely casual and one of the most informal options when learning how to say thank you in Korean, so be careful when using it.
6. 정말 고마워요 — Thank you truly
Pronunciation: (jung-mal go-ma-wo-yo)
When you want to show a little more gratitude during your thanks, you can use 정말 고마워요. The beginning of this phrase—정말—translates to sincerely or truly, which adds a bit more heart to your expressions of gratitude. It’s a great addition to vocabulary when learning how to say thank you in Korean words, as it can take several different words of appreciation to the next level.
7. 정말 친절하시네요 — That’s truly kind of you
Pronunciation: (jung-mal chin-jul-ha-si-ne-yo)
This is another option to add the phrase truly (정말). This phrase is basically used to express your thanks while telling someone that they are “doing kindness” to you.
8. 대단히 감사합니다 — Thank you very much
Pronunciation: (dae-dan-hi gahm-sa-hab-ni-da)
These words combine to make the phrase, thank you very much in Korean. Although you can use this saying whenever you’re feeling particularly appreciated, try to reserve it for those truly special instances where your gratitude is intense or you want someone to know how much their help means to you. It’s also a formal phrase, so it will be seen as very respectful when used in conversation.
Responding to Thank You Very Much in Korean
Mastering how to say thank you in different languages is only the first step. Now, after learning how to say thank you in Korean, it’s time to gather a few responses. Some of the most common responses include:
- 아니에요 (a-ni-ae-yo) — Not at all (polite/most commonly used)
- 별말씀을요 (byul-mal-sseum-eul-yo) — Don’t mention it (formal/sometimes used)
- 천만에요 (chun-man-ae-yo) — You’re welcome (very formal/rarely used)
Whether you’re learning how to say thank you in Korean, thank you in Italian, or thank you in Russian, you’ll need some practice. While you can sit and memorize these different options, repeating pronunciations over and over, nothing is more impactful than speaking with a Korean native. If you’re not sure where to find someone who speaks Korean, Tandem is here to help!
Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you master how to say thank you in Korean words, but that’s only part of the fun! At Tandem, you can have real-life conversations with native speakers, giving you the perfect opportunity for hands-on practice. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for Tandem today! ying thank you in Korean in any setting.
