잘했어
jalhaesseo
The English phrase "you did great" is translated into Korean as 잘했어 (jalhaesseo).
This phrase is used to praise someone's performance or an achievement, similar to "good job" or "well done" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 잘 (well) and the past tense form of 하다 (to do).
Which one should you use?
You might also use 정말 잘했어! to say "You did really well!" If you wish to express that someone is amazing or remarkable, you can use 대단하십니다.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For standard polite conversation with people you are not intimately close to, use the polite version 잘했어요. To say "you did great" politely to someone older or in a higher social position, use the honorific form 잘하셨어요.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite version of the phrase is 잘했어요.
How do you pronounce it?
jalhaesseo
Did you know?
- The root verb 하다 (to do) is so versatile that 잘했어 can also be used sarcastically to mean 'nice one' or 'look what you've done' when someone makes a mistake.
- In Korean culture, extreme praise like 대단하십니다 may be met with humble denial, as it is traditional to downplay one's own achievements rather than simply saying 'thank you'.
- While 잘했어 means 'you did great', the phrase 수고했어 is more common when praising someone for the hard work or effort they put in, regardless of the actual result.
Examples in context
- 너무 멋있게 해냈어!You did it so amazingly!
- 시험 잘했어!si-heom jal-haess-eo!You did great on the exam!
- 오늘 발표 정말 잘했어.o-neul bal-pyo jeong-mal jal-haess-eo.You did a really great job on your presentation today.
- 수빈아, 진짜 잘했어.Su-bin-ah, jin-jja jal-haess-eo.Subin, you really did great.
Example conversation
A friend congratulating another after a successful performance.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 오늘 공연 정말 잘했어!Hyeon-woo-ya, o-neul gong-yeon jeong-mal jal-haess-eo!Hyunwoo, you did a great job on the performance today!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말? 고마워, 수빈아.jeong-mal? go-ma-wo, Su-bin-ah.Really? Thanks, Subin.
- 수빈 Su-bin긴장 안 하고 잘하더라.gin-jang an ha-go jal-ha-deo-ra.You did great without looking nervous.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네 덕분에 잘 끝냈어.ne deok-bu-ne jal kkeun-naess-eo.I finished it well thanks to you.
