됐어요
dwaesseoyo
The English phrase "no thank you" is expressed in Korean as 됐어요 (dwaesseoyo). Wiktionary also lists 됐습니다 (dwaetseumnida).
Meaning: polite way of saying no (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 됐어요 | dwaesseoyo |
| 됐습니다 | dwaetseumnida |
됐어요 is a common way to decline an offer of food, service or assistance. It allows you to refuse an offer without explicitly using the word for "no."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a form of the verb 되다 (to become/to be done), and it literally means "It is done" or "It is sufficient."
Which one should you use?
됐어요 is the standard polite form for everyday situations.
How do you pronounce it?
dwaesseoyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid combining the word for "no" (아니요) with this phrase to say "No, thank you" (e.g., 아니요, 됐어요). In Korean, it is more natural to simply say 됐어요 to decline an offer.
When do people say it?
In relaxed settings, you may also use 괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo) to mean "it's okay" or "I'm fine" as a gentle way to refuse something.
Did you know?
- In certain heated or impatient contexts, the phrase 됐어 can be used to dismiss a person entirely, similar to saying 'Forget it' or 'Leave me alone' in English.
- When refusing a second helping of food, Koreans often use body language, such as a small wave of the hand in front of the chest, alongside 됐어요.
- In very formal settings, such as with a high-ranking boss, 됐습니다 is used instead of 됐어요 to ensure the refusal does not sound overly casual or dismissive.
Examples in context
- 괜찮아요, 됐어요.gwaenchanayo, dwaesseoyo.It's okay, no thank you.
Example conversation
Dohyeon offers Seoyeon more water during a meal.
- 도현 Do-hyeon물 더 드릴까요?mul deo deurilkayo?Would you like more water?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 됐어요.aniyo, dwaesseoyo.No, thank you.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말 괜찮으세요?jeongmal gwaenchaneuseyo?Are you really okay?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 정말 됐어요.ne, jeongmal dwaesseoyo.Yes, I'm all set.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no thank you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
