잘 먹겠습니다
jal meokgesseumnida
The English phrase "eat well" is translated into Korean as 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida).
잘 먹겠습니다 is a polite phrase used specifically at the beginning of a meal to show gratitude for the food and to acknowledge the person who prepared or provided it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 먹- (to eat) and the -겠습니다 suffix, which expresses intention or a polite promise, literally meaning "I will eat well".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 잘 먹겠습니다 is the formal, polite version used when speaking to elders, superiors or in formal settings. If you are speaking to close friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal version 잘 먹을게. To wish someone else to enjoy their meal, you can use the formal 잘 드세요 (please eat well) or 맛있게 드세요 or the informal 잘 먹어 (enjoy your meal) and 맛있게 먹어 among friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
jal meokgesseumnida
When do people say it?
When someone says 잘 먹겠습니다, a common response is 맛있게 드세요, which means "Please enjoy your meal".
Did you know?
- Even when eating alone, some Koreans still whisper 잘 먹겠습니다 as a way of showing gratitude to the ingredients and the effort that went into the food.
- In some traditional settings, the youngest person at the table waits for the eldest to say 잘 먹겠습니다 or take the first bite before starting their own meal.
- When someone says 잘 먹겠습니다, the host might respond with 많이 드세요, which translates to 'please eat a lot' rather than just 'enjoy'.
Examples in context
- 잘 먹겠습니다!jal meokgetseumnida!I will eat well!
- 준비해주셔서 잘 먹겠습니다.junbi-haejusyeoseo jal meokgetseumnida.Thank you for preparing this, I will eat well.
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo are at a restaurant and the food has just arrived.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 음식 나왔어요.Hyeonu ssi, eumsik nawasseoyo.Hyunwoo, the food is here.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo와, 맛있겠다! 잘 먹겠습니다.Wa, masitgetda! jal meokgetseumnida.Wow, it looks delicious! I will eat well.
- 민지 Min-ji저도 잘 먹겠습니다.Jeodo jal meokgetseumnida.I will eat well too.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo많이 드세요, 민지 씨.Manhi deuseyo, Minji ssi.Please eat a lot, Minji.
