좋았어요
joasseoyo
In Korean, "I liked it" is expressed as 좋았어요 (joasseoyo).
This phrase is used to express satisfaction with an experience, such as a movie, a meal or a trip.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 좋았어요 is composed of the adjective 좋다 (to be good) in its past tense form and the polite ending –어요.
Which one should you use?
While English uses a transitive verb "to like" that requires an object, this Korean form uses an adjective meaning "to be good", which describes the state of the thing itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
Removing the –요 from the end of 좋았어요 makes the phrase 좋았어, which is the informal version. The form 좋았습니다 is the formal version used in professional settings or when speaking to someone of much higher status.
How do you pronounce it?
joasseoyo
Did you know?
- When someone asks if you liked something, a Korean speaker might respond with 그냥 그랬어요, meaning 'it was just so', to politely avoid saying they disliked it.
- If you are eating a delicious meal, you might say 좋았어요 to describe the experience, but if you want to say the food itself tastes good, you would use the verb 맛있어요 instead. Using 좋았어요 for food can sound like you are rating the service or the atmosphere rather than the flavor.
- While 좋았어요 describes a general state of being good, Koreans use 좋아해요 to express a personal preference or an active liking for a person or a hobby.
Examples in context
- 영화를 좋아했습니다.I liked the movie.
- 그 영화 정말 좋아했어.I really liked that movie.
- 이 책 진짜 좋았어.This book was really good.
- 그 공연 완전 좋았어.That performance was absolutely good.
- 분위기가 정말 좋았어요.bunwiga jeongmal joasseoyo.The atmosphere was really good.
- 여행이 아주 좋았어요.yeohaengi aju joasseoyo.The trip was very good.
- 영화가 참 좋았어요.yeonghwaga cham joasseoyo.The movie was quite good.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are talking about a movie they just watched.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 영화 어땠어요?do-hyeon ssi, yeong-hwa eo-ttaet-eo-yo?Dohyun, how was the movie?
- 도현 Do-hyeon저는 정말 좋았어요.jeo-neun jeong-mal jo-at-eo-yo.I really liked it.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요, 저도 좋았어요.ma-ja-yo, jeo-do jo-at-eo-yo.Right, I liked it too.
- 도현 Do-hyeon다음에 또 같이 봐요.da-eum-e tto gat-i bwa-yo.Let's watch another one together next time.
