Thank you, sorry and excuse me in Korean
The small polite words you will use fifty times a day in Korea — and the one word, 괜찮아요, that can mean yes, no, thanks or don't worry depending on how you say it.
Korean has two ways to say 고마워 (gomawo): 감사합니다 and 고마워요 (casual 고마워). Both are correct; 감사합니다 is a little more formal and is what you will hear in every shop, bus and office. Use it with strangers and you cannot go wrong. Save 고마워 for friends and people younger than you.
Apologies split the same way. 미안해 (mianhae) is 미안해 to a friend and 죄송합니다 to anyone you should be polite to — a stranger you bumped into, a teacher, a customer. Koreans also apologise with the body: a short bow says sorry almost as clearly as the words.
There are two different “excuse me”s. 저기요 gets someone’s attention — calling a waiter, asking a passer-by. 실례합니다 is for interrupting or squeezing past. Calling out 저기요 across a restaurant is completely normal; sitting silently waiting to be noticed is the unusual thing.
Then there is 괜찮아 (gwaenchana) — 괜찮아요. It means “it’s fine”, “I’m fine”, “don’t worry” and, when someone offers you something, “no thanks”. If a shop assistant asks whether you want a bag and you say 괜찮아요, you will not get a bag. To accept, say 네, 주세요.
The 8 phrases on this page
Hear it in a real conversation
Ordering at a café. Press play on any line to hear it.
- A 저기요! 아이스 아메리카노 하나 주세요.jeogiyo! aiseu amerikano hana juseyo.Excuse me! One iced americano, please.
- B 네, 사천오백 원입니다.ne, sacheonobaek wonimnida.Sure, that's 4,500 won.
- A 아, 죄송해요. 카드 돼요?a, joesonghaeyo. kadeu dwaeyo?Oh, sorry — can I pay by card?
- B 네, 괜찮아요. 영수증 드릴까요?ne, gwaenchanayo. yeongsujeung deurilkkayo?Yes, that's fine. Would you like the receipt?
- A 아니요, 괜찮아요. 감사합니다!aniyo, gwaenchanayo. gamsahamnida!No, that's okay. Thank you!
- B 감사합니다. 맛있게 드세요.gamsahamnida. masitge deuseyo.Thank you. Enjoy your drink.
How to say “Thank you” in Korean
고마워
gomawo
Literally: Thanks.
Korean has two different thank-you words, and picking the wrong one is the fastest way to sound rude. 고마워 is casual - friends, younger people, people you are close to.
Polite form
- 감사합니다gamsahamnidaUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 고마워요gomawoyo= Thanks (polite-casual)Warm and polite at once. Safe with most adults you are friendly with.
- 감사합니다gamsahamnida= Thank you (formal)Strangers, staff, anyone older, any business setting. When in doubt, use this.
- 정말 고마워jeongmal gomawo= Thank you so much정말 means really. Add it when you mean it.
In a sentence
- 도와줘서 고마워.dowajwoseo gomawo.Thanks for helping me.
- 기다려 주셔서 감사합니다.gidaryeo jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.Thank you for waiting.
How people answer
- 아니야.aniya.= Don't mention it.The everyday casual reply — literally just “no”.
- 별말씀을요.byeolmalsseumeullyo.= Not at all.Polite and a little formal. Good with older people.
How to say “I am sorry” in Korean
미안해
mianhae
Literally: I am sorry.
Casual apology to someone close. For strangers or anything serious, use 죄송합니다 - Koreans notice the difference immediately.
Polite form
- 죄송합니다joesonghamnidaUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 미안해요mianhaeyo= Sorry (polite-casual)Polite but still warm.
- 죄송합니다joesonghamnida= I apologize (formal)Strangers, work, anything that actually caused trouble.
- 정말 미안해jeongmal mianhae= I am so sorryWhen you mean it.
In a sentence
- 늦어서 미안해.neujeoseo mianhae.Sorry I am late.
- 늦어서 죄송합니다.neujeoseo joesonghamnida.I apologize for being late.
How people answer
- 괜찮아.gwaenchana.= It's okay.The usual answer between friends.
- 아니에요, 괜찮아요.anieyo, gwaenchanayo.= No, it's fine.Polite version. The 아니에요 brushes the apology away first.
How to say “Excuse me” in Korean
저기요
jeogiyo
Literally: Over there.
How you call a server, a shop clerk or a stranger. Korean does not use waiter or miss - you say 저기요 and someone turns around.
Polite form
- 실례합니다sillyehamnidaUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 여기요yeogiyo= Over hereSame function, used when you want someone to come to your table.
- 실례합니다sillyehamnida= Excuse me (formal)For squeezing past someone or interrupting politely.
- 잠시만요jamsimanyo= One moment / coming throughWhat you say pushing through a crowded subway car.
In a sentence
- 저기요, 메뉴판 좀 주세요.jeogiyo, menyupan jom juseyo.Excuse me, could I have a menu?
- 잠시만요, 지나갈게요.jamsimanyo, jinagalgeyo.Excuse me, I am coming through.
How people answer
- 네, 말씀하세요.ne, malsseumhaseyo.= Yes, go ahead.What staff say when you call them over.
How to say “Please give me” in Korean
주세요
juseyo
Literally: Please give.
Put any noun in front of 주세요 and you can order, buy or ask for almost anything. If you learn one word before travelling, learn this one.
Polite form
- 주시겠어요?jusigesseoyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 물 주세요mul juseyo= Water, pleaseNoun plus 주세요. That is the whole pattern.
- 이거 주세요igeo juseyo= This one, pleasePoint and say it. Works in every shop and restaurant.
- 조금만 주세요jogeumman juseyo= Just a little, pleaseUseful when someone is piling food on your plate.
In a sentence
- 계산서 주세요.gyesanseo juseyo.The bill, please.
- 물 한 잔 주세요.mul han jan juseyo.A glass of water, please.
How to say “Yes and no” in Korean
네
ne
Literally: Yes.
The trap is that Korean yes and no answer the question, not the fact. Ask 「You're not going?」 and 네 means「right, I'm not going」 - the opposite of English.
Polite form
- 네neUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 아니요aniyo= NoPolite no. The casual form is 아니 (ani).
- 응eung= YeahCasual yes. Between friends you will hear 응 far more than 네.
- 맞아요majayo= That's rightWhen you want to confirm a fact rather than just answer.
In a sentence
- 안 가요? 네, 안 가요.an gayo? ne, an gayo.You're not going? Right, I'm not.
- 한국 사람이에요? 네, 맞아요.hanguk saramieyo? ne, majayo.Are you Korean? Yes, that's right.
How to say “It is okay” in Korean
괜찮아
gwaenchana
Literally: It is fine.
One of the great multi-tools of Korean. It means it is fine, no worries, are you okay, and no thanks - tone decides which.
Polite form
- 괜찮아요gwaenchanayoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 괜찮아?gwaenchana?= Are you okay?Same word, rising tone. That is the whole difference.
- 아니야, 괜찮아aniya, gwaenchana= No, it is fineWaving off an apology.
In a sentence
- 미안해. 괜찮아.mianhae. gwaenchana.Sorry. It is okay.
- 괜찮아? 다쳤어?gwaenchana? dachyeosseo?Are you okay? Did you get hurt?
How to say “No problem” in Korean
괜찮아, 별거 아니야
gwaenchana, byeolgeo aniya
Literally: It is fine, it is nothing special.
Answering a thank-you or an apology. English uses one phrase for both - Korean splits them, and the variants below are the ones you actually want.
Polite form
- 괜찮아요, 별말씀을요gwaenchanayo, byeolmalsseumeuryoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 별말씀을요byeolmalsseumeuryo= Don't mention itThe standard polite reply to thank you. Literally what a thing to say.
- 아니에요anieyo= Not at allShort, extremely common, and works after both thanks and apologies.
- 신경 쓰지 마singyeong sseuji ma= Don't worry about itAfter an apology, between friends.
In a sentence
- 고마워요. 아니에요, 별말씀을요.gomawoyo. anieyo, byeolmalsseumeuryo.Thank you. Not at all, don't mention it.
- 늦어서 미안해. 괜찮아, 신경 쓰지 마.neujeoseo mianhae. gwaenchana, singyeong sseuji ma.Sorry I'm late. It's fine, don't worry about it.
How to say “Do not worry” in Korean
걱정하지 마
geokjeonghaji ma
Literally: Do not worry.
The -지 마 ending is how Korean says do not. Attach it to any verb stem and you have a whole family of phrases.
Polite form
- 걱정하지 마세요geokjeonghaji maseyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 신경 쓰지 마singyeong sseuji ma= Do not give it a thoughtSame -지 마 pattern. Lighter than 걱정하지 마.
- 괜찮을 거야gwaenchaneul geoya= It will be fineReassurance rather than an instruction. Often the kinder choice.
In a sentence
- 걱정하지 마, 내가 있잖아.geokjeonghaji ma, naega itjana.Do not worry, you have me.
- 너무 걱정하지 마세요.neomu geokjeonghaji maseyo.Please do not worry too much.
How people answer
- 응, 고마워.eung, gomawo.= Okay, thanks.
Mistakes learners make
- 고마워 to a stranger고마워 has no polite ending. To staff, drivers and anyone older, use 감사합니다 or 고맙습니다.
- 미안해 for a real apology to someone older미안해요 is fine for small things between equals. When it matters — you are late for a teacher, you broke something — use 죄송합니다.
- Saying 괜찮아요 when you meant yesWhen something is offered, 괜찮아요 is a polite no. If you want it, say 네, 주세요 or 네, 좋아요.
- Answering 네 to a negative question the English wayKorean 네 agrees with what was said. To 안 매워요? (“It’s not spicy?”), 네 means “right, it’s not”. The 네 (ne) section has the detail.
Practise these. Every phrase here is in the phrase quiz — five rounds, no sign-up. Not reading Hangul yet? Start with the alphabet in 20 minutes, and see the speech levels guide for when to use the polite forms.