수고했어
sugohaesseo
In Korean, "you worked hard" is expressed as 수고했어 (sugohaesseo).
This phrase is used to acknowledge someone's effort after they have finished a task or a long day of work. It is a common way to say goodbye to coworkers or teammates after a shared task or at the end of a workday. You can intensify the expression of their hard work by adding the adverbs 엄청 or 정말 before it.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 수고 refers to hardship, effort or toil.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 수고했어 is informal and should only be used with friends or people younger than you. For a polite or formal version used to show respect to colleagues or superiors, use 수고하셨습니다. You can also make a verb polite by adding –요 to the end.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the past tense marker '-었-' to indicate that the period of effort has concluded.
How do you pronounce it?
sugohaesseo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying 수고하셨습니다 to someone of much higher social status or an elder, as it can sometimes imply you are evaluating their performance.
Did you know?
- In Korea, people often say 수고하세요 to taxi drivers or shopkeepers when leaving. In this context, it is not about a shared task but a friendly wish for them to 'keep up the good work' as they continue their day.
- When speaking to someone much more senior, Koreans often switch to 고생하셨습니다. This replaces the word for 'effort' with a word meaning 'hardship' or 'agony', shifting the focus from a task completed to a struggle endured.
- Using the informal 수고했어 with a colleague of the same rank who happens to be slightly older can cause significant social awkwardness. In Korea, age often outweighs professional rank when choosing the level of politeness.
Examples in context
- 오늘 정말 수고했어.oneul jeongmal sugohaesseo.You really worked hard today.
- 시험 보느라 수고했어.siheom boneura sugohaesseo.You worked hard taking the exam.
- 프로젝트 하느라 수고했어.peurojekteu haneura sugohaesseo.You worked hard on the project.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyeon are finishing a long day of studying together.
- 민지 Min-ji도현아, 오늘 공부하느라 수고했어.Dohyeon-a, oneul gongbuhanura sugohaesseo.Dohyeon, you worked hard studying today.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워, 민지도 정말 수고했어.Gomawo, Minji-do jeongmal sugohaesseo.Thanks, Minji, you worked hard too.
- 민지 Min-ji이제 집에 가서 쉬자.Ije jibe gaseo swija.Let's go home and rest now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그래, 조심히 들어가.Geurae, josimhi deureoga.Okay, get home safely.
