열공하세요
yeolgonghaseyo
To say good luck with your studies in Korean, say 열공하세요 (yeolgonghaseyo), which means please study hard. It encourages someone to work hard and succeed.
열공하세요 is commonly used to support students or anyone preparing for an exam.
What does it mean word for word?
열공 is a shortened form of a longer phrase meaning study passionately, and 하세요 is the polite request ending, so the whole phrase means please study hard.
Which one should you use?
공부 화이팅하세요! is another way to say good luck with your studies, using the popular cheer word 화이팅. 공부 열심히 해! means study hard! And is informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the polite ending gives 열공해, which suits close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
Say yeolgonghaseyo in five syllables, with the stress spread evenly.
Did you know?
- While the English 'good luck' implies a hope for chance or fortune, the Korean term 열공 focuses entirely on the intensity of the effort itself. Success is viewed as a direct result of passion rather than luck.
- While 열공하세요 encourages hard work, Korean students often pair this sentiment with the gift of 'exam snacks' or 'sticky rice cakes' to wish for success on a test.
- The cheer 화이팅 used in 공부 화이팅하세요! is a Korean adaptation of the English word 'fighting'. In this context, it does not mean a physical fight but serves as a shout of encouragement like 'Go for it!'
Examples in context
- 수능 공부 화이팅하세요!Good luck with your College Scholastic Ability Test studies!
- 열공하세요!yeolgong-haseyo!Good luck with your studies!
- 시험 기간이니까 열공하세요.si-heom gi-gan-i-ni-kka yeolgong-haseyo.It's exam period, so study hard.
- 오늘도 열공하세요.o-neul-do yeolgong-haseyo.Good luck with your studies today too.
Example conversation
Minji and Hyunwoo are meeting at a cafe before he starts studying.
- 민지 Min-ji현우 씨, 이제 공부 시작해요?Hyunwoo ssi, i-je gong-bu si-jak-hae-yo?Hyunwoo, are you starting to study now?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 오늘 할 일이 많아요.ne, o-neul hal il-i man-a-yo.Yes, I have a lot to do today.
- 민지 Min-ji그럼 열공하세요!geu-reom yeolgong-haseyo!Then, good luck with your studies!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo감사합니다, 민지 씨도 화이팅하세요.gam-sa-ham-ni-da, Minji ssi-do hwa-i-ting-ha-se-yo.Thank you, good luck to you too, Minji.
