받을 자격이 있어요
badeul jagyeogi isseoyo
The English phrase "you deserve it" is translated into Korean as 받을 자격이 있어요 (badeul jagyeogi isseoyo).
This phrase is used to acknowledge someone's merit or hard work in achieving a positive result, expressing that they should receive a reward or a positive outcome because of their efforts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 받을 (to receive), 자격 (qualification/right) and 있어요 (to have/exist), literally meaning "to have the qualification to receive".
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form 받을 자격이 있어요 can be changed to the informal 받을 자격이 있어 when speaking to close friends or younger people, or to the formal 받을 자격이 있습니다 for highly professional or respectful settings.
How do you pronounce it?
badeul jagyeogi isseoyo
Did you know?
- To say someone 'deserves' something bad (like a punishment), Koreans rarely use 자격 and instead use the word 꼴, as in 꼴 좋다, to sarcastically say 'serves you right'.
- When praising someone's hard work, Koreans may prefer saying 고생 많으셨어요 ('you went through much trouble') instead of telling them they 'deserve' the result.
- The word 자격 is a Hanja-based word, derived from the Chinese characters for 'self' and 'pattern' or 'standard'.
Examples in context
- 당신은 당연히 그것을 받아야 합니다.You should naturally receive it.
- 정말 그걸 받을 만하다고 생각해.I really think you deserve to receive it.
- 정말 열심히 했으니까 받을 자격이 있어요.jeongmal yeolsimhi haesseunikka badeul jagyeogi isseoyo.You worked so hard, so you deserve it.
- 당신은 충분히 받을 자격이 있어요.dangsin-eun chungbunhi badeul jagyeogi isseoyo.You certainly deserve it.
Example conversation
Ji-eun congratulates Ji-hoon on his recent promotion.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 승진 정말 축하해요!Ji-hun ssi, seungjin jeongmal chukahaeyo!Ji-hoon, congratulations on your promotion!
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 지은 씨. 정말 기뻐요.Gomawoyo, Ji-eun ssi. Jeongmal gippeoyo.Thank you, Ji-eun. I am so happy.
- 지은 Ji-eun그동안 고생 많았으니 받을 자격이 있어요.Geudongan gosaeng manasseuni badeul jagyeogi isseoyo.You've worked so hard, so you deserve it.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그렇게 말해주니 정말 힘이 나네요.Geureoke malhae-juni jeongmal himi naneyo.Hearing you say that really gives me strength.
