What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 즐거운 휴가 보내세요 means "have a pleasant vacation", where 즐거운 means "pleasant/joyful", 휴가 means "vacation" and 보내세요 means "please spend/pass (time)".
Which one should you use?
While 즐거운 휴가 보내세요 is a standard way to express this wish, you might also encounter 즐거운 휴가 되세요, which means "Have an enjoyable vacation" or 좋은 휴가를 보내세요, which means "Have a good vacation". Another very common alternative is 휴가 잘 다녀오세요, which literally means "go and come back well from your vacation" and is used to wish someone a safe and good trip.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 즐거운 휴가 보내세요 is polite and suitable for use with colleagues, acquaintances or people older than you. For a more formal tone, you can use 즐거운 휴가 되세요 or 좋은 휴가를 보내세요. If you are speaking to close friends or younger people, you can use the informal versions 휴가를 즐겨 or 휴가 잘 보내, as well as the shortened 즐거운 휴가 보내.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase 즐거운 휴가 보내세요 informal, you can drop the polite ending 세요 to create 즐거운 휴가 보내, which is used with close friends or younger people.
How do you pronounce it?
jeulgeoun hyuga bonaeseyo
Did you know?
- Using the form 즐거운 휴가 되세요 is grammatically unusual because it literally tells the person to 'become' a pleasant vacation.
- The word 휴가 is specifically used for granted leave from work or military service, while the word 방학 is used for school vacations.
- The word 휴가 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning its characters have Chinese roots. The first character, 休, depicts a person leaning against a tree, symbolizing rest.
Examples in context
- 휴가 잘 보내고 오세요Have a good vacation and come back safely
- 가족들과 즐거운 휴가 보내세요.gajokdeul-gwa jeulgeoun hyuga bonaeseyo.Enjoy your vacation with your family.
Example conversation
Subin says goodbye to Minjun at the office before his trip.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 내일부터 여행 가시죠?Minjun-ssi, naeilbuteo yeohaeng gasijyo?Minjun, you are going on a trip starting tomorrow, right?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 드디어 떠나요.ne, deudieo tteonayo.Yes, I am finally leaving.
- 수빈 Su-bin즐거운 휴가 보내세요!jeulgeoun hyuga bonaeseyo!Enjoy your vacation!
- 민준 Min-jun감사합니다, 수빈 씨도 잘 지내세요.gamsahamnida, Subin-ssido jal jinaeseyo.Thank you, Subin, you take care too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 휴가, CC BY-SA 4.0.
