오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요
oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo
The English phrase "have a good day at work" can be expressed in Korean as 오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요 (oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo).
This phrase is a friendly wish used when someone is leaving home to go to their job. Instead of simply saying "go," the expression uses a verb meaning "go and come back," which implies the speaker expects the person to return home after their workday is finished.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "today work well go and come back" (오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요).
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version of the phrase is 오늘 일 잘 다녀와.
How do you pronounce it?
oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo
Did you know?
- The word for 'today', 오늘, is etymologically built from a form of the verb 'to come' and a word for 'day', meaning 'the day that has come'.
- In Korean culture, wishing someone to 'go and come back' is more common than simply wishing them a 'good day'.
- While 오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요 is used for work, similar 'go and come back' structures are used for school or errands to emphasize the bond between the speaker and the traveler.
Examples in context
- 오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요.oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo.Have a good day at work today.
- 오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요, 어머니.oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo, eomeoni.Have a good day at work, mother.
Example conversation
Minji is leaving the house for work and Dohyun says goodbye.
- 민지 Min-ji나 이제 출발해.na ije chulbalhae.I'm leaving now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon오늘 일 잘 다녀오세요, 민지 씨.oneul il jal danyeo-oseyo, Minji-ssi.Have a good day at work, Minji.
- 민지 Min-ji고마워요, 도현 씨.gomawoyo, Dohyun-ssi.Thank you, Dohyun.
- 도현 Do-hyeon조심해서 가요.josimhaeseo gayo.Go safely.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 오늘, 일, 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
