건강하세요
geonganghaseyo
The English phrase "bless you" is translated into Korean as 건강하세요 (geonganghaseyo).
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
geonganghaseyo
Did you know?
- In many social situations, Koreans simply say nothing when someone sneezes. It is not considered rude to ignore a sneeze, whereas silence after a sneeze in English-speaking cultures can feel awkward.
- In highly formal settings, a person might avoid 건강하세요 because the grammar is an imperative command, which can be technically impolite when addressing someone of much higher status.
- The root word 건강 ('health') is a Sino-Korean word derived from Chinese characters. This makes it a formal term compared to native Korean words for physical well-being.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Ji-hoon are sitting together in a quiet library.
- 지은 Ji-eun에취!e-chwi!Achoo!
- 지훈 Ji-hun건강하세요.geonganghaseyo.Bless you.
- 지은 Ji-eun고마워요, 지훈 씨.gomawoyo, jihun ssi.Thank you, Ji-hoon.
- 지훈 Ji-hun괜찮아요, 지은 씨.gwaenchannayo, jieun ssi.You're welcome, Ji-eun.
