잘 먹었습니다
jal meogeotseumnida
In Korean, "I ate well" is expressed as 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida).
This phrase is used specifically after a meal to express gratitude to the person who prepared or provided the food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 잘 (well), 먹 (the verb stem for eat) and the past tense formal ending -었습니다.
Which one should you use?
While 잘 먹었습니다 is said after a meal, the phrase 잘 먹겠습니다 (I will eat well) is used before a meal to express thanks in advance.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal version 잘 먹었습니다 is a polite way to express "I ate well" and is used to show respect to a host or elders. For a casual or friendly way to say "I ate well" to friends, peers or people younger than you, you can use the informal 잘 먹었어 or 맛있게 먹었어.
How do you pronounce it?
jal meogeotseumnida
Did you know?
- The verb 먹다 (to eat) is used in Korean to describe things English speakers would not 'eat', such as 'eating' a shock or 'eating' a loss in a game.
- In Korea, saying 잘 먹었습니다 is often accompanied by a slight bow to the host or the person who paid for the meal.
- In Korean culture, the focus of the phrase is not just on the taste of the food, but on the effort of the person who provided the meal.
Examples in context
- 정말 잘 먹었습니다.jeongmal jal meogeossseumnida.I really ate well.
- 맛있게 잘 먹었습니다.masitge jal meogeossseumnida.I ate well, it was delicious.
Example conversation
Seoyeon is finishing a meal at Minjun's house.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨, 정말 잘 먹었습니다.Minjun ssi, jeongmal jal meogeossseumnida.Minjun, I really ate well.
- 민준 Min-jun별거 아니지만 맛있게 드셨다니 다행이에요.byeolgeo anijiman masitge deusyeotdani dahaeng-ieyo.It was nothing, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.
- 서연 Seo-yeon준비해 주셔서 감사합니다.junbihae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.Thank you for preparing this.
- 민준 Min-jun다음에 또 놀러 오세요.da-eume tto nolleo oseyo.Please come visit again sometime.
