4. Basic Expressions
- Hello. : 안녕. / 안녕하세요.
Read this blog to learn what 안녕, 안녕하세요 literally means, and how Koreans ask “How are you?”
TIP:
안녕 is casual, non-polite way to say both “hi” and “bye” to close friends and families
안녕하세요? is a polite way to say “hi”, but it is not used to say “bye”
– 안녕히 가세요. “Please go well.” when the other person leaves
– 안녕히 계세요. “Please stay well.” when you are leaving - Thank you. : 고마워. / 감사합니다.
1) 고마워. – casual, non-polite “thank you” to close friends and family
2) 고마워요. – polite but still casual “thank you”
3) 고맙습니다. / 감사합니다. – most formal and polite “thank you” - I love you. : 사랑해. / 사랑해요.
1) 사랑해. – casual, non-polite way to say “I love you” to friends, family, lovers
2) 사랑해요. – polite way to say : use to parents, grandparents, big audience, etc. - A little bit: 조금
TIP: 조금 is often shortened to 좀 in colloquial language, and it is also often pronounce stronger as 쫌 - Greeting before eating: 잘 먹겠습니다.
잘: well (adverb – comes before verbs)
먹-: from the verb 먹다to eat
~겠~: shows the speaker’s will (suffix – attached to the verb stem)
~습니다: most formal and polite ending
= “I will eat well.” (click to watch a lesson about it)
Korean people always say this before eating to show their gratitude for those who prepared food.
