시험 잘 봐
siheom jal bwa
To say "good luck on your exam" in Korean, you use 시험 잘 봐 (siheom jal bwa).
This phrase is used to wish someone success before they take a test. While English speakers often wish for "luck," Korean speakers more commonly express this sentiment by telling the person to "take the exam well."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 시험 잘 봐 literally means "take the exam well". The part 시험 (siheom) means exam, 잘 (jal) means well and 봐 (bwa) is the imperative form of the verb meaning to see or take an exam.
Which one should you use?
In English, it is common to use phrases about luck, such as 행운을 빌어! In Korean, it is much more common to use the expression 시험 잘 봐, which focuses on the person performing well on the test.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite version suitable for elders or people you are not close to, use 시험을 잘 보세요.
How do you pronounce it?
siheom jal bwa
Did you know?
- In Korea, it is a common custom to give students sticky rice cakes called 찹쌀떡 before an exam because the sticky texture symbolizes the answers sticking to the paper.
- While 시험 잘 봐 is a kind wish, Korean students sometimes avoid saying it because they believe speaking of success too early might jinx the result.
- The word 시험 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning its roots are tied to Chinese characters 試驗 rather than being a native Korean word.
Examples in context
- 내일 시험 잘 봐!naeil siheom jal bwa!Good luck on your exam tomorrow!
- 준비 많이 했으니까 시험 잘 봐.junbi mani haesseunikka siheom jal bwa.You prepared a lot, so good luck on your exam.
- 수학 시험 잘 봐!suhak siheom jal bwa!Good luck on your math exam!
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Minji are saying goodbye at school before Minji's big test.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo민지야, 내일 시험 잘 봐!Minji-ya, naeil siheom jal bwa!Minji, good luck on your exam tomorrow!
- 민지 Min-ji고마워, 현우야. 긴장된다.gomawo, Hyunwoo-ya. ginjangdoenda.Thanks, Hyunwoo. I'm nervous.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo너라면 분명히 잘 볼 거야.neoramyeon bunmyeonghi jal bol geoya.I'm sure you'll do well.
- 민지 Min-ji응, 최선을 다할게!eung, choeseoneul dahalge!Yeah, I'll do my best!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 시험, 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
