How to Say Thank You in Korean: A Guide to Politeness and Culture

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Learning how to say "thank you" in a new language is important, and in Korean, it is more complex than one might think. Korean culture values politeness and formal language more than most Western societies, making it crucial to learn the correct way to express gratitude.

Here, I will go through the different ways to say "thank you" in Korean, from formal to informal settings, how to respond to thank you, and the body language when saying thank you.

Important Note

Speech levels exist in Korean, and the level of formality changes depending on the context and to whom you're speaking. Formal expressions of gratitude are generally used for strangers or those who are your seniors in age or rank, while informal expressions are used for friends, siblings, those who are your age or younger, and those who are your junior in rank or social standing. The age difference is also a factor and older people tend to receive more formality.

Formal Settings

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In formal settings, two common and polite ways of thanking someone are "감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)" and "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)."

"감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)" means "to thank" or "to do gratitude." It comes from the verb "감사하다 (gamsahada)," which combines "thank" or "gratitude" and "to do." "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)," on the other hand, means "to be grateful." Although Koreans use these words interchangeably and are considered polite, "감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)" is more formal than "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)."
Examples:

- 함께 해 주셔서 감사합니다. (hamkke hae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.) – "Thank you for joining us."
- 도와 주셔서 고맙습니다. (dowa jusyeoseo gomapseumnida.) – "Thank you for your help."

Tips:

You may find that Korean culture is quite different from what you are familiar with. Koreans tend to be respectful and courteous in their interactions. Use polite, formal language out in public, such as thanking a shopkeeper, sales clerk, or server.

"감사합니다" (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) is the most common way to express gratitude in Korean and should be the first phrase you learn.

If you want to switch to a different phrase, "고맙습니다" (go-map-seum-ni-da) is interchangeable with "감사합니다" (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) and is also used frequently.
Example:
- Customer: "감사합니다" (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) [Thank you]
- Store Clerk: "천만에요" (chun-man-e-yo) [You're welcome]

The Standard "Thank You"

When wanting to show politeness, but not necessarily in formal settings, you can use "고마워요 (gomawoyo)." This form of "thank you" means the same as "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)." However, it is less formal than other ways of thanking someone. "고마워요 (gomawoyo)" is often used with coworkers or acquaintances in similar standing as you in the company, who you’re friendly with, but you’re not necessarily friends outside of work.
Example:알려줘서 고마워요. (allyeojwoseo gomawoyo.) - "Thank you for letting me know."

Informal Settings

When talking to close friends and family or someone younger, you can use the casual form "고마워 (gomawo)." However, you should avoid using this term between two adults who aren't close, even if there is an age gap.
Example:난 괜찮아, 고마워. (nan gwaenchana, gomawo.) - "I'm okay, thanks!"

Expressing Deeper Gratitude

In formal settings, "정말 고맙습니다 (jeongmal gomapseumnida)" means "I'm truly grateful," and "대단히 감사합니다 (daedanhi gamsahamnida)" means "thank you so much." You’re very likely to hear this 대단히 감사합니다 during announcements, such as an announcement on the subway. We already learned 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) earlier, which is a formal version of “thank you.” The word 대단히 (daedanhi) means means "very much" or "greatly," indicating that the gratitude is strong. It is suitable for formal occasions, such as speaking in front of an audience or delivering a report.``` Else, you can say 진심으로 감사드립니다 (jinsimeuro gamsadeurimnida).

고마워 (gomawo)" means "thank you" in informal situations. You can make it more emphatic by adding "정말 (jeongmal)," which means "really." For example, you can say "정말고마워!" (jeongmal gomawo!) to express your gratitude sincerely.

Body Language

When saying "thank you" in Korea, bowing is customary. The depth of the bow depends on the degree of gratitude and social status. A slight nod is enough when thanking a friend or someone in a similar lesser ranking. For more senior people or those in a higher social status, you should bow lower, even up to almost a 90-degree angle while keeping your back straight and hands on your side or thighs.

How to Say No Thank You in Korean

It's good to know how to say "no thank you" in Korean for situations in which you don't want or need something. 

- 괜찮아요 (Gwenchanahyo)
- 아니에요 (Aniaeyo)
If you’re not familiar with the people you’re rejecting, use the formal forms below instead: 

- 괜찮습니다 (Gwenchanseumnida)
- 아닙니다 (Animnida)

How to Say Thank You for the Meal in Korean

When you finish a meal in Korea, it's customary to express gratitude by saying one of the phrases below. 

- 잘 먹었습니다 (Jal meogeotseumnida) [formal]
- 잘 먹었어요 (Jal meogeotseoyo) [polite]

Saying Thank You in Korean Slang

Here's a fun tip for English speakers who want to use Korean slang: just say 땡큐 (ttaengkyu) to express your gratitude! This sounds similar to “Thank you” in English. If you’re texting, you can write ㄱㅅ, which is shorthand for 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida).

Ah, that's great! I'm good, thank you in Korean

"아, 좋아요! 저는 잘 지내요, 고마워요". This is a polite and enthusiastic way to express your happiness and gratitude in Korean. You can also use this phrase with friends or acquaintances.

Some other examples of similar phrases are:

- 아, 대박! 저는 괜찮아요, 감사합니다. (Ah, awesome! I'm fine, thank you.)

- 아, 멋져요! 저는 행복해요, 고맙습니다. (Ah, cool! I'm happy, thank you.)

- 아, 기뻐요! 저는 즐거워요, 고마워요. (Ah, glad! I'm enjoying it, thank you.)

What does 압도적 감사짤 mean?

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압도적 감사짤 means "overwhelming thank you image" in Korean. It is a type of meme that expresses extreme gratitude or admiration for someone or something, usually with exaggerated or dramatic expressions.

For example, one might use an 압도적 감사짤 to thank a teacher for giving a good grade or to praise a celebrity for their amazing performance. 압도적 감사짤 are often taken from comics, cartoons, movies, or TV shows.

How to Spell "Thank You" in Korean

When you want to express gratitude in Korean with respect, you can say these five syllables: 고-맙-습-니-다. 천만에요 (Chunmanaeyo) [Formal]

You don’t need spaces between the syllables. It should look like this: 고맙습니다. If you’re going to spell it using Romanized letters, you can write “gomapseumnida.” It’s pronounced similarly to go-map-seum-ni-da. There are no spaces between the letters.

How to Say You're Welcome in Korean

How to respond to "thank you" in Korean? Just use one of the following phrases depending on the situation and people's status:

- 괜찮습니다 (Gwenchanseumnida) [Formal]
- 아닙니다 (Animnida) [Formal]
- 괜찮아요 (Gwenchanahyo) [Polite]
- 아니에요 (Aniaeyo) [Polite]
- 괜찮아 (Gwenchanah) [Casual]
- 아니야 (Aniaeya) [Casual]
- 별말씀을요 (Byulmalsseumeulyo) [Formal]
- 천만에요 (Chunmanaeyo) [Formal]

Tips:
- Use "아니에요" (a-ni-ae-yo) in most situations. It's the most common response to "thank you."
Also, a friendly way to respond to someone who thanks you for something in Korean is "별말씀을요" (byeol-mal-sseom-eol-yo). This means "don't mention it" or "it's nothing" in English. You can use this phrase with anyone, regardless of their age or status.
"괜찮아요" (gwen-chan-ah-yo) is another common response used interchangeably with "아니에요" (a-ni-ae-yo).

Example:

Friend 1: "감사합니다" (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) [Thank you]
Friend 2: "아니에요" (a-ni-ae-yo) [You're welcome]

- 아니에요 (anieyo)
You should make it extra nice by stretching it out. This phrase comes from the word "아니다 (anida)," which means "no." It's like saying, "Don't mention it, it was nothing" in English.

- 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo)
You can say this when someone thanks you and you want to be polite. It means that you were happy to help and they don't need to thank you. 

- 별말씀을요 (byeolmalsseumeullyo)
This is another way of saying, “Don’t mention it.” You can respond to a “thank you” in a more formal way by saying 별말씀을요 (byeolmalsseumeullyo).

Takeaways

Learning how to say "thank you" is essential when learning Korean, as it reflects Korean cultural values of respect and formality. Understanding the subtleties of Korean expressions can take time, but actively listening to native Korean speakers' conversations will help you get started. Remember that when you use the appropriate phrase to show your gratitude, it is a way of demonstrating respect to the person you’re talking to.

The Korean language has several ways of expressing thanks, ranging from formal to informal. For example, in formal settings, "감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)" is a safe go-to phrase for most situations. It combines the words "thank" or "gratitude" and "to do," and is considered polite and respectful. "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)," on the other hand, is a more casual way of expressing thanks than "감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)."