What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 최선을 다하세요 is composed of 최선 (best/utmost), the object marker 을 and 다하세요 (to do/exhaust/pour out in a polite imperative form).
Which one should you use?
Use 최선을 다하십시오 or 최선을 다해 주십시오 for formal requests, use 최선을 다 해봐라 for an informal 'give it your all' and use 최선을 다하겠습니다 if you are the one promising to do your best (I will do my best) rather than telling someone else to do so.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
최선을 다하십시오 is the highly formal version used in professional settings, speeches or when addressing a superior. For very informal or blunt speech, such as an elder speaking to a junior, you may use the command 최선을 다해라.
How does it change in a sentence?
To create casual versions of the phrase, you can drop the polite ending -하세요. This results in the informal/casual 최선을 다해, which is used with friends or younger people. The form 최선을 다해라 is a blunt imperative used by elders to juniors or in very forceful casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
choeseoneul dahaseyo
Did you know?
- Koreans often use the phrase 화이팅 (Fighting!) alongside 최선을 다하세요 to provide an emotional burst of energy that the formal phrase lacks.
- In a professional Korean environment, telling a superior to 최선을 다하세요 might actually be seen as rude or inappropriate. Even the polite version can sound like you are giving an order, so it is safer to use expressions of support instead.
- The word 다하다 in the phrase 최선을 다하세요 literally translates to 'to exhaust' or 'to pour out' something until it is completely gone. It implies that you are emptying your own resources to reach your goal.
Examples in context
- 최선을 다 해봐라!Give it your all!
- 시험에서 최선을 다하세요.si-heom-e-seo choe-seon-eul da-ha-se-yo.Try your best on the exam.
- 오늘 경기에서 최선을 다하세요.o-neul gyeong-gi-e-seo choe-seon-eul da-ha-se-yo.Try your best in today's match.
- 항상 최선을 다하세요.hang-sang choe-seon-eul da-ha-se-yo.Always try your best.
Example conversation
Minji is encouraging Dohyun before his job interview.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 면접 잘 보세요.Do-hyeon ssi, myeon-jeop jal bo-se-yo.Dohyun, good luck with your interview.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 최선을 다할게요.Ne, choe-seon-eul da-hal-ge-yo.Yes, I will try my best.
- 민지 Min-ji긴장하지 말고 최선을 다하세요.gin-jang-ha-ji mal-go choe-seon-eul da-ha-se-yo.Don't be nervous and try your best.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 민지 씨.go-ma-wo-yo, Min-ji ssi.Thank you, Minji.
