Which one should you use?
While 수고하셨습니다 focuses on acknowledging effort or expressing gratitude for hard work, other phrases serve different purposes. 잘 하셨어요 is a common way to say "good job" or "well done" in a formal setting, and 대단하십니다 is used to express admiration when someone's work is truly impressive or exceeds expectations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Korean uses different forms depending on who you are talking to. The polite/formal version 수고하셨습니다 is used toward seniors or in professional settings. For informal settings, you can use 수고했어 to show appreciation for hard work or 고생했어 to acknowledge someone's effort. If you want to say "well done" or "good job" casually, you can use 잘 했어.
How do you pronounce it?
sugohasyeossseumnida
What mistakes should you avoid?
When speaking to a much higher superior, such as a CEO or a high-ranking official, avoid using 수고하셨습니다. Because it can imply you are evaluating their performance, it is better to use expressions of gratitude instead.
Did you know?
- While 수고하셨습니다 is used as a goodbye in offices, saying it to a teacher or a grandparent can be seen as rude because the phrase historically implies a superior is praising a subordinate.
- If you are the person leaving the office while colleagues are still working, you might say 수고하세요 to them, which functions like 'keep up the good work'.
- Even though it translates to 'you have suffered/labored', using 수고하셨습니다 is a polite way to acknowledge someone's effort rather than a literal comment on their pain.
Example conversation
At the office after finishing a big project.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 정말 수고하셨습니다.jieun ssi, jeongmal sugo-hasyeossseumnida.Ji-eun, you really worked hard.
- 지은 Ji-eun도현 씨도 수고하셨습니다.dohyeon ssi-do sugo-hasyeossseumnida.You worked hard too, Do-hyeon.
- 도현 Do-hyeon내일 만나요.naeil mannayo.See you tomorrow.
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 조심히 들어가세요.ne, josimhi deureogaseyo.Yes, get home safely.
