What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from 기다리다 (to wait), 주시다 (to give the favor of) and 감사합니다 (to thank). Unlike the English 'thank you for waiting', the Korean version explicitly includes a verb meaning 'to give the favor of', which emphasizes the listener's kindness in waiting.
Which one should you use?
While 기다려 주셔서 감사합니다 is the standard formal way to say it, you can use 기다려 주셔서 감사드립니다 as a polite way to show gratitude for waiting. For a more sincere tone, 기다려 주셔서 진심으로 감사합니다 means 'Thank you sincerely for waiting'. In informal settings, 기다려 줘서 고마워 is used for friends or people younger than you, while 기다려 줘서 정말 고마워 expresses deeper gratitude and 기다려 줘서 진짜 고마워 uses the word 진짜 to mean 'really' or 'truly'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
기다려 주셔서 감사합니다 is highly polite and suitable for professional settings, such as a customer service representative speaking to a client. 기다려 주셔서 감사드립니다 is also a polite, formal option. In contrast, 기다려 줘서 고마워 is the casual version used with friends or people younger than you.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammatical structure '-어/아 주셔서' is used to express gratitude for an action performed by the listener for the speaker's benefit, meaning 'because [you] did [something] for me'.
How do you pronounce it?
gidaryeo jusyeoseo gamsahamnida
Did you know?
- While English speakers might say 'sorry for the wait', Koreans frequently lead with gratitude using 기다려 주셔서 감사합니다. This shifts the focus from the speaker's mistake to the listener's kindness.
- In a business context, if a client has waited a very long time, a speaker might combine this phrase with a slight bow. The depth of the bow corresponds to the length of the wait and the status of the person.
- In highly formal settings, the word 감사드립니다 is used instead of 감사합니다. The addition of 드리다 means 'to give' in a humble form, literally suggesting that the speaker is offering their gratitude upward to a superior.
Examples in context
- 고마워요, 기다려 주셔서!Thank you, for waiting!
- 오랫동안 기다려 주셔서 감사합니다.oraetdongan gidaryeo jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.Thank you for waiting for a long time.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo meets Jieun at a cafe after being late.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨, 정말 미안해요.Jieun ssi, jeongmal mianhaeyo.Jieun, I am truly sorry.
- 지은 Ji-eun괜찮아요. 천천히 오세요.gwaenchannayo. cheoncheonhi oseyo.It's okay. Take your time.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo기다려 주셔서 감사합니다.gidaryeo jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.Thank you for waiting for me.
- 지은 Ji-eun아니에요, 괜찮아요.anieyo, gwaenchannayo.No problem, it's fine.
