감사하다
gamsahada[ˈka̠(ː)msʰa̠ɦa̠da̠]
The English phrase "grateful" can be translated into Korean using 감사하다 (gamsahada) or 고맙다.
Meaning: of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 감사하다 | gamsahada | [ˈka̠(ː)msʰa̠ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 고맙다 | gomapda | [ˈko̞(ː)ma̠p̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Both terms are used to express gratitude or appreciation regarding a person's actions or feelings.
Which one should you use?
감사하다 is more formal and is often used in official settings, written communications or when expressing gratitude to superiors. In contrast, 고맙다 is more common in daily spoken conversation and feels more personal and warm than 감사하다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form of 감사하다 is used when thanking someone you do not know well or someone of higher status. The casual form of 고맙다 is used with close friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
gamsahada
Did you know?
- While 감사하다 is the standard way to say 'thank you' in formal settings, the word 감사 can also mean 'an audit' or 'inspection' in a professional context.
- The word 고맙다 feels warmer and more personal because it is a native Korean word, whereas 감사하다 relies on Sino-Korean roots.
- In some traditional social circles, expressing too much gratitude too often can be seen as creating a 'debt' of obligation that the other person feels pressured to repay.
Examples in context
- 고맙습니다! 정말 감사합니다!Thank you! I am really grateful!
- 친절한 마음씨에 감사하다는 말을 전하고 싶어요.chinjeolhan maeumsie gamsahadaneun mareul jeonhago sipoyo.I want to express that I am grateful for your kind heart.
Example conversation
Ji-hoon helps Ji-eun carry heavy boxes.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 도와줘서 정말 감사해요.Ji-hun ssi, dowajwoseo jeongmal gamsahaeyo.Ji-hoon, I'm really grateful for your help.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니에요, 별거 아니에요.anieyo, byeolgeo anieyo.Not at all, it was nothing.
- 지은 Ji-eun그래도 정말 감사하다니까요.geuraedo jeongmal gamsahadanikkayo.Still, I'm telling you I'm very grateful.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그럼 다음에도 제가 도와줄게요.geureom da-eumedo jega dowajulgeyo.Then I'll help you next time too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grateful” translations and entries 감사하다, 고맙다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
