This lesson is about more greetings used in South Korea.
Video lesson
Download the lesson
| 안 | 녕 | 히 | 주 | 무 | 세 | 요 | |
| an | nyeong | hi | ju | mu | se | yo | |
| 잘 | 자 | 요 | |||||
| jal | ja | yo |
Remember that there are three levels of politeness in Korean language. In the photo above, the younger person says “안녕히 주무세요”, which is the greeting we use to say “good night” to older people. The older man answers with “잘 자요”, which is also “good night” but the level of politeness is different. The latter should be used to people of the same age or younger (but still polite). When talking to younger people one knows, “잘 자” can be used. In summary:
아녕히 주무세요 – used by younger people to elder people
잘 자요 – used by older people to younger people who are not close to them, or people of the same age or level to each other
잘 자 – used for younger people who are familiar
Vocabulary:
주무시다 – is the honorific word which means sleep
자다 – is the basic word for sleep, it is not honorific
| 안 | 녕 | 히 | 주 | 무 | 셨 | 어 | 요 | |
| an | nyeong | hi | ju | mu | sheo- | seo | yo | |
| 네 | 잘 | 잤 | 어 | 요 | ||||
| ne | jal | ja- | seo | yo |
| 잘 | 먹 | 겠 | 습 | 니 | 다 | |
| jal | meok | gaet | seum | ni | da | |
| 많 | 이 | 드 | 세 | 요 | ||
| man- | hi | deu | se | yo |
When we are served food or before eating at a gathering, we should say “잘 먹겠습니다” as a way of appreciation. The host replies with “많이드세요”.
Vocabulary:
잘 – well, good
먹다 – verb meaning “to eat”
많다 – adj meaning “many”
드시다 – honorific word for “to eat”
In Korean, there are different words for honorific and basic. In the example above, 먹다 and 드시다 have the same meaning but different usage. 드시다 is the honorific form and used to convey more respect. We don’t use honorific forms for ourselves.
| 잘 | 먹 | 었 | 습 | 니 | 다 | |
| jal | meo- | geot | seum | ni | da | |
| 네 | ||||||
| ne |
Remember to greet your host after eating. It is polite and it shows appreciation.
| 주 | 말 | 잘 | 보 | 내 | 세 | 요 | ||
| ju | mal | jal | bo | nae | se | yo |
We use this greeting when we part ways with our colleagues at the start of the weekend. We are wishing someone to “have a good weekend”.
Vocabulary:
주말 – weekend
보내다 – verb meaning “to send” or “to spend”
| 축 | 하 | 합 | 니 | 다 |
| chu- | ka | ham | ni | da |
| 감 | 사 | 합 | 니 | 다 |
| gam | sa | ham | ni | da |
These expressions are the more formal way of saying “congratulations” and “thank you”.
Vocabulary:
축하하다 – verb meaning “to congratulate” or “to celebrate”
감사하다 – verb meaning “to thank”