다행이다
dahaeng-ida
The English phrase 'thank God' is expressed in Korean as 다행이다 (dahaeng-ida).
The phrase is used as an exclamation to express gratitude or relief that a situation has turned out well. It is important to note that, unlike the English 'thank God', the Korean expression 다행이다 does not actually mention a deity.
Meaning: exclamation of gratitude or relief (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the noun 다행, which means 'good fortune' or 'luck' and the verb 'to be' (이다), which makes the phrase literally mean 'it is a good fortune'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 다행이다 is informal and should be used with friends or people younger than you. In polite social settings, such as when speaking to strangers or superiors, you should use the polite form 다행이에요. For a highly formal context where you wish to literally say 'I offer my thanks to God', you can use 하느님께 감사인사 올립니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 다행이다 combines the noun for luck with the verb 'to be' (이다) to express that 'it is a relief' or 'it is a good thing'.
How do you pronounce it?
dahaeng-ida
Did you know?
- The word 다행 shares its root with the concept of 'luck' but is used specifically when a negative outcome was avoided, rather than when a positive prize was won.
- In highly formal contexts, the phrase 하느님께 감사인사 올립니다 uses the verb 올리다, which means 'to lift' or 'to offer up' a gift to a superior.
- If you use the word 다행 in a conversation about a disaster or a very serious accident, it can sound strangely lighthearted because it emphasizes 'good luck' rather than the gravity of the situation.
Examples in context
- 정말 다행이다!Thank god! / That's such a relief!
- 비가 안 와서 다행이다.bi-ga an wa-seo da-haeng-i-da.Thank god it's not raining.
- 시험에 합격해서 정말 다행이다.si-heom-e hap-gyeok-hae-seo jeong-mal da-haeng-i-da.Thank god I passed the exam.
- 지갑을 찾아서 정말 다행이다.ji-gap-eul chat-a-seo jeong-mal da-haeng-i-da.Thank god I found my wallet.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are talking after Minji found her lost phone.
- 민준 Min-jun민지 씨, 휴대폰 찾았어요?Min-ji ssi, hyu-dae-pon chat-at-eo-yo?Minji, did you find your phone?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 가방 안에 있었어요. 정말 다행이다!Ne, ga-bang an-e it-eot-eo-yo. Jeong-mal da-haeng-i-da!Yes, it was in my bag. Thank god!
- 민준 Min-jun정말 다행이네요.Jeong-mal da-haeng-i-ne-yo.That is such a relief.
- 민지 Min-ji고마워요, 민준 씨.Go-ma-wo-yo, Min-jun ssi.Thank you, Minjun.
