Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 잘 했어요 | jal haesseoyo |
| 수고하셨어요 | sugohasyeosseoyo |
In Korean, the way you say 'good job' depends on whether you want to focus on the quality of the result or the effort the person put in. Use 잘 했어요 and its variations to praise the quality of an action or result. Use 수고하셨어요 and its variations to acknowledge the labor, dedication or effort expended by a person, typically when a task is finished or someone is leaving a workplace.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 잘 했어요 is composed of 잘 (well) and 했어요 (did), which literally means 'did well'.
Which one should you use?
잘 했어요 focuses on the quality of the result (doing something well), whereas 수고하셨어요 focuses on the effort and labor expended by the person. Other variations include 고생했어, which translates to 'you worked hard' or 'good job' to recognize someone's dedication or efforts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies significantly across the different forms. For casual praise with friends, siblings or people younger than you, use the informal 잘 했어. For a polite approach, use 잘 하셨어요. In highly professional or official settings, you can use the formal 잘 했습니다. Regarding effort-based praise, 수고하셨습니다 is common in formal situations, especially at the workplace. Use 고생했어 to recognize hard work.
How do you pronounce it?
jal haesseoyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 수고하셨어요 toward a superior, such as a boss or teacher. In Korean hierarchy, using this phrase toward a superior can imply that you are evaluating their labor, which is considered impolite.
When do people say it?
수고하셨어요 is the standard phrase used to acknowledge someone's effort when a task is finished, often used when leaving a workplace or finishing a project.
Did you know?
- When leaving a workplace, Koreans often say 수고하셨습니다 not just to praise a specific job, but as a standard way to say 'goodbye'.
- The word 잘 in 'did well' is actually an abbreviation of the older word 자루 (jaru).
- The phrase 수고하셨어요 is often accompanied by a slight bow to reinforce the respect being shown for the other person's labor.
Examples in context
- 너 어제 공연 정말 멋있게 했어!You did an amazing job at the performance yesterday!
- 고생했어, 정말 잘 했어!Good job, you did really well!
- 이번 프로젝트에서 너 훌륭한 일을 해냈어.You did an excellent job on this project.
- 이번 시험 정말 잘 했어요.ibeon siheom jeongmal jal haesseoyo.You did a good job on this exam.
Example conversation
Minji praises Jihun for completing a difficult presentation at work.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨, 발표 정말 잘 했어요.Jihun ssi, balpyo jeongmal jal haesseoyo.Jihun, you did a great job on the presentation.
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다, 민지 씨.Gamsahamnida, Minji ssi.Thank you, Minji.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 잘 했어요.jeongmal jal haesseoyo.You really did a good job.
- 지훈 Ji-hun응원해 주셔서 고마워요.eungwonhae jusyeoseo gomawoyo.Thank you for your support.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good job” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
