감사합니다
gamsahamnida[ˈka̠(ː)msʰa̠ɦa̠mnida̠]
In Korean, 'thank you' can be expressed as 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) or 고맙습니다.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | [ˈka̠(ː)msʰa̠ɦa̠mnida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 고맙습니다 | gomapseumnida | [ko̞ma̠ps͈ɯmnida̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
These phrases are used to express gratitude to others.
Which one should you use?
감사합니다 is a slightly more formal and professional way to say thank you, whereas 고맙습니다 is a polite expression that feels slightly more personal or warm.
How does it change in a sentence?
The -ㅂ니다 ending in 감사합니다 makes it a formal polite form. The informal version of the phrase is 고마워.
How do you pronounce it?
gamsahamnida
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the informal 고마워 with elders or strangers, as this can be perceived as rude.
Did you know?
- In some social situations, Koreans may respond to a 'thank you' by apologizing or saying 미안합니다, which means 'I am sorry'. This expresses that the person feels bad for putting the other person to the trouble of doing something for them.
- While English speakers use 'thank you' to mean many things, in Korean, using the highly formal 감사합니다 to a close friend can actually make the relationship feel distant or cold.
- In many formal Korean settings, saying 'thank you' is often accompanied by a slight bow, where the depth and duration of the bow signal the level of your sincerity.
Examples in context
- 고맙습니다.Thank you.This example shows how to use 고맙습니다 to say thank you.Tatoeba #9466297 by jujungsik, translation #1876041 by Asma
- 진심으로 감사합니다.I thank you from the bottom of my heart.This example shows how to use 감사합니다 to express deep gratitude.Tatoeba #11105117 by intertime, translation #268952 by CK
- 감사합니다!Thank you!This example shows how to use 감사합니다 for a standard thank you.Tatoeba #1531876 by cc_neko, translation #374827 by sysko
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon hands Minjun a book she borrowed.
- 서연 Seo-yeon여기 책 있어요.yeogi chaek isseoyo.Here is the book.
- 민준 Min-jun아, 감사합니다 서연 씨.a, gamsahamnida Seoyeon ssi.Oh, thank you, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니에요. 재미있게 읽었어요.anieyo. jaemiitge ilgeosseoyo.No problem. I enjoyed reading it.
- 민준 Min-jun다행이네요.dahaeng-ineyo.I'm glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries 감사합니다, 고맙습니다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
