Thank you in Korean is 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) in the polite form. Pronounce it "gam-sa-ham-ni-da." With friends: 고마워. Here are every variant and when to use them.
감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) — Thank you, the standard polite form, your default choice · neutral · polite
감사합니다, the universal polite thank you
감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the most polite and most-used thank you in Korean. You can say it to anyone safely: cashier, superior, stranger, client, teacher. It's the default 'thank you'.
Etymologically, it's a Sino-Korean word: 감사 (gam-sa) comes from hanja meaning "to feel + thank". The attached verb 합니다 is the most formal form of 하다 (to do).
This is the version you'll hear at a shop counter, in an elevator, at the end of a business call, or in a professional email.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you (formal) (to a shopkeeper, a superior) |
| 정말 감사합니다 | jeongmal gamsahamnida | Thank you very much (to emphasize) |
| 감사합니다, 선생님 | gamsahamnida, seonsaengnim | Thank you, teacher (to a teacher or expert) |
고맙습니다, the pure-Korean thank you
고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) is almost interchangeable with 감사합니다 in modern usage. The nuance is subtle:
• 감사합니다 comes from Chinese (Sino-Korean, more bookish). • 고맙습니다 is a purely Korean word (native stem).
Many Koreans find 고맙습니다 slightly warmer and more personal, it's the thank you you'd say to a neighbor doing you a favor, more than to a CEO in an email. But in most polite situations, both work.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | Thank you (formal, warmer) (to a neighbor, a family friend) |
| 도와주셔서 고맙습니다 | dowajusyeoseo gomapseumnida | Thank you for helping me (thanking for a favor) |
고마워 / 고마워요, among friends and close people
For everyday life with people you're close to, two shorter versions exist:
• 고마워 (gomawo), banmal version, said to a close friend, sibling, partner. • 고마워요 (gomawoyo), semi-polite version (해요체), for a colleague on first-name terms or a slightly more distant friend.
Avoid 고마워 with anyone older or in a higher position, even if you're close, default to 고마워요 or 고맙습니다.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 고마워! | gomawo! | Thanks! (to a close friend) |
| 고마워요 | gomawoyo | Thanks (semi-polite) (colleague or semi-close friend) |
| 정말 고마워 | jeongmal gomawo | Really, thank you (sincere thanks to a friend) |
감사드립니다, the ultra-respectful thank you
감사드립니다 (gamsadeurimnida) is one notch above 감사합니다, reserved for situations where you want to express maximum, formal gratitude:
• public speeches, • email to an important client, • official thank-you letter, • media appearance.
The verb 드리다 is a humble form of 주다 (to give), you 'offer' your thanks rather than 'do' them. It's a very high-register form.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 진심으로 감사드립니다 | jinsimeuro gamsadeurimnida | I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart (speech, official letter) |
How to respond to a thank you
When someone thanks you, here are the most common Korean replies:
• 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo), 'you're welcome', classic and polite but sometimes felt as a bit dated. • 아니에요 (anieyo), literally 'it's nothing', very natural and frequent. • 별말씀을요 (byeolmalsseumeullyo), 'don't mention it', formal and modest.
In real life, many Koreans don't reply verbally and just smile or nod slightly.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 천만에요 | cheonmaneyo | You're welcome (polite) (classic reply) |
| 아니에요 | anieyo | It's nothing (most natural in speech) |
| 별말씀을요 | byeolmalsseumeullyo | Don't mention it (formal) (high-register) |
Common mistakes to avoid
A few traps to know:
1. Don't say 고마워 to a senior or older person, even with warm intent, it reads as disrespectful. Use 고맙습니다 or 감사합니다 instead. 2. Don't write 'thank you' phonetically in hangeul: it exists in casual writing but sounds clunky or inappropriate. Use the real Korean forms. 3. Watch the tone: 감사합니다 said dryly comes off as cold. Add a smile or a slight nod. 4. Don't confuse with 미안합니다 (mianhamnida = 'I'm sorry'). In Korean, you don't say 'thank you' as an apology like in some Western contexts, each emotion has its own verb.
Related words
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 고맙습니다 | thank you (formal, warmer) | |
| 고마워 | thanks (between friends) | |
| 감사드립니다 | thank you (very respectful) | |
| 천만에요 | you're welcome (polite) | |
| 아니에요 | it's nothing (natural reply) | |
| 미안합니다 | I'm sorry (don't confuse) |
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 감사합니다 and 고맙습니다?
Both mean 'thank you' at the same formal politeness level. The nuance: 감사합니다 comes from Chinese (a Sino-Korean word) and sounds more official; 고맙습니다 is a purely Korean word, perceived as slightly warmer. In 95% of situations you can use either without issue.
Can you just say 'kamsa'?
Not in standard Korean. 감사 alone is just the noun ('gratitude') and isn't valid as a standalone thanks. You need to conjugate the verb: 감사합니다 (formal), 감사해요 (semi-polite), or add a complement. One exception: in texting, some younger people write 'ㄱㅅ' as shorthand, but it's very informal and not appropriate spoken.
How do you thank someone for something specific?
Use the structure '-아/어 주셔서 감사합니다' ('thank you for [verb]-ing'). Examples: 도와주셔서 감사합니다 (thank you for helping), 와주셔서 감사합니다 (thank you for coming), 알려주셔서 감사합니다 (thank you for letting me know). It's a versatile formula to specify the reason.
How do you reply to 감사합니다?
Three classic replies: 천만에요 ('you're welcome', classic but slightly dated), 아니에요 ('it's nothing', the most natural in speech), 별말씀을요 ('don't mention it', formal). In real life, many Koreans just smile or nod slightly without saying anything.
Should you bow when saying thank you?
Often yes, especially in a formal setting. A slight head nod (15-30 degrees) naturally accompanies 감사합니다 or 고맙습니다 when thanking a shopkeeper, a superior, or an older person. With a friend, no need, a smile is enough.