What does it mean word for word?
The expression 맛있어요 is a combination of 맛, meaning 'taste' and 있어요, meaning 'to exist' or 'to have', so it literally translates to 'taste exists'.
Which one should you use?
맛있어 and 맛있다 are both used in informal settings, while 맛있습니다 is used for more formal situations. Additionally, 정말 맛있습니다 and 진짜 맛있어 can be used when you want to specifically say that something tastes 'really' good.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality depends on your relationship with the listener. 맛있습니다 is a highly formal and versatile version suitable for professional settings or speaking to a large audience. 맛있어요 is the polite or standard form, making it the safest and most common choice when speaking to strangers or acquaintances. For casual settings, you can use the informal 맛있어 with friends or people younger than you or the plain form 맛있다 among close friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
맛있어요 is the polite/standard form of the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
mas-isseoyo
Did you know?
- Koreans sometimes use the phrase 맛이 갔다 to describe food that has spoiled, but it is also a slang term for someone who has 'lost their mind'.
- If you want to say something is delicious in a way that sounds more 'vivid' or 'slangy', you might hear people use the word 꿀맛, which literally means 'honey taste'.
- In a restaurant, you might hear people say 맛있게 드세요, which is a polite way to tell someone else 'please eat deliciously'.
Examples in context
- 비빔밥이 정말 맛있습니다The bibimbap is really delicious.
- 이 음식 정말 맛있어요.i eumsik jeongmal masisseoyo.This food is really delicious.
- 이 커피 아주 맛있어요.i keopi aju masisseoyo.This coffee tastes very good.
- 빵이 참 맛있어요.ppangi cham masisseoyo.The bread tastes really good.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are eating lunch at a restaurant.
- 서연 Seo-yeon민준 씨, 이 비빔밥 맛있어요?Minjun ssi, i bibimbap masisseoyo?Minjun, is this bibimbap good?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 정말 맛있어요.ne, jeongmal masisseoyo.Yes, it tastes really good.
- 서연 Seo-yeon다행이네요.dahaengineyo.That's a relief.
- 민준 Min-jun서연 씨도 드셔 보세요.Seoyeon ssi-do deusyeo boseyo.Seoyeon, you should try some too.
