What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 잘 먹었습니다 literally means "I ate well". The word 잘 (jal) means "well" and 먹었습니다 (meogeoss-eumnida) is the formal past tense of "to eat".
Which one should you use?
While 잘 먹었습니다 is used after a meal is finished, you should use 잘 먹겠습니다 (I will eat well) to express gratitude before you begin eating. If you want to specifically emphasize that the food was delicious, you can use 정말로 맛있게 먹었습니다 (I really enjoyed the meal).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 잘 먹었습니다 is in a formal, polite register, making it appropriate for use with elders, hosts or in professional settings. For an informal setting, such as when speaking to close friends or people younger than you, you can use 잘 먹었어 or 맛있게 먹었어.
How do you pronounce it?
jal meogeoss-eumnida
When do people say it?
It is customary to say this phrase immediately after finishing a meal to show appreciation to your host or the person who provided the food.
Did you know?
- Using 잘 먹었습니다 in a professional setting helps maintain kibun, a complex Korean concept referring to the mood, social harmony and dignity of the group.
- If you are dining in a traditional setting, saying 잘 먹었습니다 while holding your spoon or chopsticks can be seen as less polished than placing them neatly on the table first.
- The word 잘 in this phrase is an abbreviation of the native Korean word 자루.
Examples in context
- 정말로 맛있게 먹었습니다. 고맙습니다.I really enjoyed the meal. Thank you.
- 정말 잘 먹었습니다.jeongmal jal meogeotseumnida.I really enjoyed the meal.
- 잘 먹었습니다, 감사합니다.jal meogeotseumnida, gamsahamnida.Thank you for the meal.
- 너무 잘 먹었습니다!neomu jal meogeotseumnida!I ate so well!
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- 민준 Min-jun맛있게 잘 먹었습니다.masitge jal meogeotseumnida.I ate very well and it was delicious.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맛있게 드셨다니 다행이에요.masitge deusyeotdani dahaeng-ieyo.I'm glad you enjoyed it.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 잘 먹었습니다, 서연 씨.jeongmal jal meogeotseumnida, Seoyeon ssi.I really enjoyed the meal, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon별말씀을요, 민준 씨.byeolmalsseumeullyo, Minjun ssi.You're very welcome, Minjun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
