힘내
himnae
In Korean, 'do your best' is expressed as 힘내 (himnae).
While 힘내 can mean to try hard in the sense of 'do your best', it is most commonly used as an expression of encouragement to someone who is feeling down or exhausted.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 힘내 is informal and should only be used with friends or people younger than you. If you are speaking to someone older than you or someone in a higher social position, you should use the polite form 힘내세요. For formal situations, you might use 최선을 다해 주세요. to say 'give your all' or 'put forth your best effort', or 열심히 해주세요. to say 'please work hard'.
How do you pronounce it?
himnae
Did you know?
- If you are cheering for a sports team or a performer, you might hear the phrase 파이팅 (fighting), which is a Konglish term used to mean 'do your best' or 'good luck' in a high-energy way.
- In Korean culture, saying 힘내 to someone grieving or in deep crisis can sometimes feel dismissive if not paired with empathy. Because it suggests the person should simply 'cheer up', it is often replaced by silent presence or shared sadness.
- If you want to express the idea of 'doing your best' in a way that sounds more professional or focused on a specific task, Koreans often use the word 정성을 다하다, which implies putting your 'sincerity' or 'whole heart' into the work.
Examples in context
- 시험에서 최선을 다하세요.Do your best on the exam.
- 새로운 일에 최선을 다하세요.Do your best in your new job.
- 공연에서 최선을 다하세요.Do your best in your performance.
- 너무 슬퍼하지 말고 힘내.neomu seulpeohaji malgo himnae.Don't be too sad and stay strong.
- 지훈아, 조금만 더 힘내!ji-huna, jogeumman deo himnae!Ji-hun, hang in there a little longer!
Example conversation
Minji is feeling tired after a long day at work.
- 민지 Min-ji오늘 일이 너무 힘들었어.oneul iri neomu himdeureosseo.Work was so hard today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun많이 힘들었구나. 힘내, 민지야.man-i himdeureotguna. himnae, Minji-ya.It must have been tough. Hang in there, Minji.
- 민지 Min-ji고마워, 지훈아. 덕분에 기분이 좋아졌어.gomawo, Jihun-a. deokbune gibuni joajyeosseo.Thanks, Jihun. I feel better because of you.
- 지훈 Ji-hun맛있는 거 먹으러 가자.masinneun geo meogeureo gaja.Let's go eat something delicious.
