감사합니다
How to say thank you in Korean A1
감사합니다, 고맙습니다, 고마워요, 고마워 — four levels of thanks, when each fits, and how to answer.
Every form, from formal to casual
Two roots: Sino-Korean 감사 and native 고맙다. Both are correct; 감사합니다 sounds a touch more formal and is what you hear from staff.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Formal / polite | Staff, strangers, business |
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | Formal / polite | Same as above, warmer native word |
| 고마워요 | gomawoyo | Polite-soft | Acquaintances, coworkers your age |
| 고마워 | gomawo | Casual | Friends, younger people |
| 정말 감사합니다 | jeongmal gamsahamnida | Emphatic | Someone went out of their way |
Which one do I actually use?
At a counter: 감사합니다 as you take your change. To a friend who bought coffee: 고마워. If someone thanks you, answer 아니에요 (“not at all”) or 네 with a nod — the textbook 천만에요 is rare in speech.
Pronunciation notes
- 감사합니다
합니다 is said [함니다]: ㅂ + ㄴ → ㅁ. Five syllables, no stress on “sa”.
- 고맙습니다
맙습 → [맙씁]; the ㅅ after a stop tenses to ㅆ.
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 감사해✓ 고마워감사 rarely takes the casual 해 ending in speech; casual thanks uses 고마워.
- ✗ 천만에요 as the standard reply✓ 아니에요 / 네천만에요 is textbook-only; natives say 아니에요.
Example sentences
FAQ
Is 감사합니다 or 고맙습니다 more polite?
They are equally polite. 감사합니다 is slightly more formal and common in service settings; 고맙습니다 feels warmer.
How do you say “thanks a lot” in Korean?
정말 감사합니다 (formal) or 정말 고마워 (casual). 너무 감사합니다 is also common.
How do you reply to 감사합니다?
아니에요 (“not at all”), 별말씀을요 (formal), or simply 네 with a smile.
Related