Meal Expressions (식사 표현)

Meal expressions in Korean are essential cultural phrases used before, during, and after eating. These expressions show gratitude, politeness, and respect for food and those who prepared it.

Before Eating

잘 먹겠습니다 - I will eat well

Most important meal phrase:

• 잘 먹겠습니다: I will eat well (formal)
• 잘 먹겠어요: I will eat well (polite)
• 잘 먹을게요: I will eat well (casual polite)
• 잘 먹을게: I will eat well (casual)

Meaning:

• Literal: "I will eat well"
• Shows gratitude to those who prepared food
• Acknowledges the value of food
• Always say before eating

When to use:

• Before every meal
• At restaurants (less common but polite)
• At someone's home (essential)
• When someone buys you food

Formality levels:

• 잘 먹겠습니다 (formal)
• 잘 먹겠어요 (polite)
• 잘 먹을게요 (casual polite)
• 잘 먹을게 (casual)

맛있겠다 - Looks delicious

Expressing anticipation:

• 맛있겠다: Looks delicious (casual)
• 맛있겠어요: Looks delicious (polite)
• 맛있겠네요: Looks delicious (polite)

Use when:

• Food is served
• Before starting to eat
• Shows appreciation for presentation

이거 다 먹어도 돼요? - Can I eat all of this?

Polite inquiry:

• Shows consideration
• Asks permission
• Humble attitude toward abundance

After Eating

잘 먹었습니다 - I ate well

Essential after-meal phrase:

• 잘 먹었습니다: I ate well (formal)
• 잘 먹었어요: I ate well (polite)
• 잘 먹었어: I ate well (casual)

Meaning:

• Literal: "I ate well"
• Shows gratitude for the meal
• Thanks the cook/host
• Always say after finishing

When to use:

• After every meal
• When leaving a restaurant
• At someone's home
• To whoever prepared food

Formality levels:

• 잘 먹었습니다 (formal)
• 잘 먹었어요 (polite)
• 잘 먹었어 (casual)

맛있었어요 - It was delicious

Expressing satisfaction:

• 맛있었어요: It was delicious (polite)
• 맛있었습니다: It was delicious (formal)
• 맛있었어: It was delicious (casual)

Common variations:

• 정말 맛있었어요 (It was really delicious)
• 너무 맛있었어요 (It was so delicious)
• 아주 맛있었습니다 (It was very delicious)

배불러요 - I'm full

Showing satisfaction:

• 배불러요: I'm full (polite)
• 배불러: I'm full (casual)
• 배불렀어요: I'm full (polite past)
• 배불렀어: I'm full (casual past)

Stronger expressions:

• 배터지겠어요: I'm about to burst (polite)
• 배터져: I'm stuffed (casual)

잘 먹고 갑니다 - I ate well and am leaving

When leaving after meal:

• 잘 먹고 갑니다: Ate well and leaving (formal)
• 잘 먹고 가요: Ate well and leaving (polite)
• 잘 먹고 가: Ate well and leaving (casual)

Use when:

• Leaving someone's home after meal
• Leaving a restaurant
• Shows double gratitude (food + hospitality)

During the Meal

많이 드세요 - Please eat a lot

Host to guest:

• 많이 드세요: Please eat a lot (polite)
• 많이 드십시오: Please eat a lot (formal)
• 많이 먹어: Eat a lot (casual)

Variations:

• 더 드세요: Please have more (polite)
• 더 드실래요?: Would you like more? (polite)

천천히 드세요 - Please eat slowly

Common host phrase:

• 천천히 드세요: Eat slowly / Take your time (polite)
• 천천히 먹어: Eat slowly (casual)

Shows:

• Hospitality
• No rush
• Relaxed atmosphere

맛있어요? - Is it delicious?

Host asking guest:

• 맛있어요?: Is it delicious? (polite)
• 맛있어?: Is it good? (casual)
• 입에 맞으세요?: Does it suit your taste? (polite)

Guest response:

• 네, 맛있어요 (Yes, it's delicious)
• 정말 맛있어요 (It's really delicious)
• 너무 맛있어요 (It's so delicious)

이거 정말 맛있어요 - This is really delicious

Complimenting during meal:

• Shows appreciation
• Encourages conversation
• Makes host happy

Variations:

• 이거 진짜 맛있네요 (This is really good)
• 정말 맛있게 잘 만드셨어요 (You made this really well)

Offering Food

드세요 - Please eat/have

Offering food politely:

• 드세요: Please eat (polite)
• 드십시오: Please eat (formal)
• 먹어: Eat (casual)

With specific food:

• 이거 드세요 (Please have this)
• 김치 드세요 (Please have some kimchi)
• 더 드세요 (Please have more)

같이 먹어요 - Let's eat together

Inviting to share:

• 같이 먹어요: Let's eat together (polite)
• 같이 먹을래요?: Shall we eat together? (polite)
• 같이 먹자: Let's eat together (casual)

한 입만 - Just one bite

Offering taste:

• 한 입만 먹어 봐: Try just one bite (casual)
• 한 번 드셔 보세요: Please try it once (polite)
• 맛 좀 봐: Taste it (casual)

Restaurant Expressions

Ordering

여기요 / 저기요:

• Excuse me (getting server's attention)

주문할게요:

• We'll order (polite)

주문하겠습니다:

• We'll order (formal)

이거 주세요:

• Please give me this (polite)

이거 하나 주세요:

• One of this, please (polite)

During Service

물 좀 주세요:

• Some water, please (polite)

반찬 더 주세요:

• More side dishes, please (polite)

포장 가능해요?:

• Can I get this to go? (polite)

계산할게요:

• I'll pay (polite)

카드 돼요?:

• Do you take card? (polite)

Leaving Restaurant

잘 먹었습니다:

• Thank you for the meal (to staff - formal)

잘 먹었어요:

• Thank you for the meal (polite)

맛있었어요:

• It was delicious (polite)

Special Meal Situations

First Meal Together

처음 같이 먹네요:

• This is our first time eating together (polite)

자주 같이 먹어요:

• Let's eat together often (polite)

Someone Treating You

잘 먹겠습니다:

• I will eat well (showing gratitude)

감사합니다:

• Thank you (for treating)

다음에 제가 살게요:

• I'll treat next time (polite)

나중에 제가 한턱낼게요:

• I'll treat you later (polite)

Reciprocating

제가 살게요:

• I'll pay / I'll treat (polite)

제가 한턱낼게요:

• Let me treat you (polite)

이번엔 제가 낼게요:

• I'll pay this time (polite)

Declining Food Politely

I'm Full

배불러요:

• I'm full (polite)

배불러서 못 먹겠어요:

• I'm full so I can't eat more (polite)

충분히 먹었어요:

• I've eaten enough (polite)

I'm Fine

괜찮아요:

• I'm okay / I'm fine (polite)

됐어요:

• It's okay / I'm good (polite)

이미 많이 먹었어요:

• I already ate a lot (polite)

Dietary Restrictions

이거 못 먹어요:

• I can't eat this (polite)

매운 거 못 먹어요:

• I can't eat spicy food (polite)

고기 안 먹어요:

• I don't eat meat (polite)

알레르기가 있어요:

• I have allergies (polite)

Drinking Culture Expressions

Before Drinking

건배:

• Cheers (formal)

위하여:

• For (someone/something) (toast)

짠:

• Cheers (casual, from clinking sound)

Receiving Drink from Elder

두 손으로 받아요:

• Receive with both hands (cultural rule)

감사합니다:

• Thank you (when receiving)

잘 마시겠습니다:

• I will drink well

Offering Drink

한 잔 하시겠어요?:

• Would you like a drink? (polite)

따라 드릴게요:

• I'll pour for you (polite)

After Drinking

잘 마셨습니다:

• I drank well / Thank you for the drinks (formal)

취했어요:

• I'm drunk (polite)

Cooking and Preparation

Complimenting the Cook

요리 잘 하시네요:

• You cook well (polite)

맛있게 잘 만드셨어요:

• You made this deliciously (polite)

손맛이 좋으세요:

• You have good hand taste (idiomatic compliment)

Asking About Food

이게 뭐예요?:

• What is this? (polite)

어떻게 만들어요?:

• How do you make this? (polite)

레시피 좀 알려주세요:

• Please tell me the recipe (polite)

Traditional Expressions

수저 놓다 - Setting the table

밥상 차렸어요:

• I've set the table (polite)

진지 드세요:

• Please eat (honorific, to elders)
• 진지 = honorific for 밥 (rice/meal)

진지 잡수세요:

• Please eat (very formal honorific)

For Elders

진지 잘 드셨어요?:

• Did you eat well? (honorific)

진지 잡수셨어요?:

• Did you eat well? (very honorific)

약 드셨어요?:

• Did you take your medicine? (honorific)

Regional Variations

Dialect Forms

Busan/Gyeongsang:

• 잘 묵겠습니다 (I will eat well)
• 많이 묵어라 (Eat a lot)

Jeolla:

• 실컷 무이소 (Eat a lot)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: Not saying anything before eating

Considered impolite

✅ Correct: Always say 잘 먹겠습니다

Essential cultural practice

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❌ Incorrect: Starting to eat before elders

Disrespectful

✅ Correct: Wait for eldest to start eating

Shows respect

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❌ Incorrect: Using 먹다 for elders' eating

Not respectful

✅ Correct: Use 드시다 (honorific)

Shows proper respect

Cultural Notes

Table Manners

Important rules:

• Say 잘 먹겠습니다 before eating
• Wait for elders to start
• Don't lift bowl to mouth (for rice/soup)
• Use spoon for rice and soup
• Finish what's in your bowl
• Say 잘 먹었습니다 after

Host-Guest Dynamics

Host responsibilities:

• Keep offering food
• Encourage eating more
• Never let guest's bowl be empty
• Humble about own cooking

Guest responsibilities:

• Praise food generously
• Accept food when offered
• Don't finish everything (shows host gave enough)
• Express gratitude multiple times

Paying Culture

Common practices:

• Older person usually pays
• Fight over paying (gesture, not serious)
• Take turns treating
• Never split bill with elders

Summary Table

Expression	Timing	Meaning	Formality
잘 먹겠습니다	Before eating	I will eat well	Formal
잘 먹었습니다	After eating	I ate well	Formal
맛있어요	During/after	It's delicious	Polite
많이 드세요	During	Please eat a lot	Polite
배불러요	During/after	I'm full	Polite
드세요	Offering food	Please eat	Polite
같이 먹어요	Invitation	Let's eat together	Polite
잘 먹고 갑니다	Leaving	Ate well and leaving	Formal
진지 드세요	To elders	Please eat (honorific)	Honorific
건배	Drinking	Cheers	Formal