Thanks Expressions (감사 표현) | Korean Grammar Documentation

Thanks (감사) expressions in Korean range from casual to highly formal. Showing gratitude appropriately is essential in Korean culture.

Basic Thank You

감사합니다 - Thank you (Formal)

Most formal thank you:

감사합니다: Thank you (formal)
감사해요: Thank you (polite)
Literal: "I am grateful"

Use when:

Formal situations
To strangers, elders, superiors
Professional settings
Shows deep respect

Variations:

감사드립니다 (even more humble/formal)
감사드려요 (humble polite)

고맙습니다 - Thank you (Polite)

Standard polite thanks:

고맙습니다: Thank you (polite formal)
고마워요: Thank you (polite)
고마워: Thanks (casual)
고마워: Thanks (very casual)

Use when:

Friends and acquaintances
Warm, friendly tone
Less formal than 감사합니다
Everyday situations

Formality levels:

고맙습니다 (polite formal)
고마워요 (polite)
고마워 (casual)

Difference: 감사 vs. 고마워

감사합니다:

More formal and respectful
Professional contexts
To strangers and superiors
Maintains social distance

고마워요:

More personal and warm
To friends and family
Shows closeness
Emotional warmth

Intensifying Thanks

정말/진짜 - Really

Adding emphasis:

정말 감사합니다 (Thank you very much - formal)
정말 고마워요 (Thank you so much - polite)
진짜 고마워 (Really thanks - casual)

너무 - So much

Expressing deep gratitude:

너무 감사합니다 (Thank you so much - formal)
너무 고마워요 (Thank you so much - polite)

대단히 - Greatly

Very formal emphasis:

대단히 감사합니다 (Thank you very much - formal)
대단히 감사드립니다 (Thank you very much - humble)

Multiple Intensifiers

Strongest gratitude:

정말 정말 감사합니다 (Thank you very very much)
너무너무 고마워요 (Thank you so so much)

Specific Thank You Situations

For Help

도와줘서 감사합니다:

Thank you for helping (formal)

도와줘서 고마워요:

Thank you for helping (polite)

도와줘서 고마워:

Thanks for helping (casual)

For a Gift

선물 주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for the gift (formal)

이렇게까지 하실 필요 없는데요:

You didn't have to do this
Humble response to generosity

잘 쓸게요:

I'll use it well
Common when receiving gifts

For Waiting

기다려 줘서 고마워요:

Thanks for waiting (polite)

기다려 줘서 미안하고 고마워요:

Sorry and thank you for waiting (polite)

For Food/Meal

잘 먹겠습니다:

I will eat well / Thank you for the meal (before eating)
Said before eating

잘 먹었습니다:

I ate well / Thank you for the meal (after eating - formal)

잘 먹었어요:

Thank you for the meal (after eating - polite)

맛있게 먹었어요:

I ate deliciously (polite)

For Time/Attention

시간 내주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for your time (formal)

신경 써주셔서 고마워요:

Thank you for caring (polite)

배려해 주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for your consideration (formal)

Responding to Thanks

You're Welcome

아니에요:

No, it's okay / You're welcome (polite)

아니야:

No, it's okay (casual)

천만에요:

You're welcome / Not at all (polite)
Literally: "Don't mention it"

별말씀을요:

Don't mention it (formal)
Literally: "What are you saying?"

괜찮아요:

It's okay / No problem (polite)

괜찮습니다:

It's okay (formal)

당연하죠:

Of course / Naturally (polite)

당연한 거예요:

It's natural / It's nothing (polite)

제가 더 감사하죠:

I'm the one who's thankful

Formal/Business Thanks

Written Thanks

깊이 감사드립니다:

We deeply thank you (very formal)

진심으로 감사드립니다:

We sincerely thank you (formal)

감사의 말씀을 드립니다:

We express our gratitude (very formal)

Appreciating Support

성원에 감사드립니다:

Thank you for your support (formal)

많은 도움 주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for all your help (formal)

항상 감사합니다:

Always thankful (formal)

Expressing Ongoing Gratitude

Always Grateful

항상 고마워요:

I'm always grateful (polite)

늘 감사합니다:

Always thankful (formal)

언제나 감사해요:

Always grateful (polite)

Thank You in Advance

미리 감사드립니다:

Thank you in advance (formal)

미리 고마워요:

Thanks in advance (polite)

For Future Help

앞으로도 잘 부탁드립니다:

Please continue to help in the future (formal)

앞으로도 잘 부탁해요:

Please continue to help (polite)

Thank You for Specific Actions

Teaching

가르쳐 주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for teaching me (formal)

가르쳐 줘서 고마워요:

Thanks for teaching me (polite)

Listening

들어줘서 고마워요:

Thanks for listening (polite)

이야기 들어줘서 고마워:

Thanks for listening to my story (casual)

Understanding

이해해 줘서 고마워요:

Thanks for understanding (polite)

이해해 주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for understanding (formal)

Visiting

와 줘서 고마워요:

Thanks for coming (polite)

찾아와 줘서 감사합니다:

Thank you for visiting (formal)

Casual Thanks

Among Friends

고마워:

Thanks (casual)

고맙다:

Thanks (casual, masculine)

ㄱㅅ / ㄱㅁ:

Thanks (very casual text abbreviation)
ㄱㅅ = 감사
ㄱㅁ = 고마워

땡큐 / 땡스:

Thank you / Thanks (borrowed from English, very casual)

땡큐베리감사:

Thank you very much (playful, mixing English and Korean)

Thanking Humbly

Receiving Beyond Expectations

과분한 대우에 감사드립니다:

Thank you for the excessive kindness (humble)

이렇게까지 해주셔서 감사합니다:

Thank you for going this far (formal)

너무 잘해주셔서 감사해요:

Thank you for being so good to me (polite)

Accepting Compliments

아니에요, 별로예요:

No, it's nothing special (humble)

과찬의 말씀이십니다:

You're too kind (formal)

감사합니다 (but humble deflection):

Thank you (while downplaying)

Email/Letter Thanks

Opening

먼저 감사의 말씀을 드립니다:

First, I'd like to express my gratitude (formal)

Closing

다시 한번 감사드립니다:

Once again, thank you (formal)

감사합니다:

Thank you (formal closing)

늘 감사한 마음입니다:

Always grateful (formal)

Thank You with Action

Will Repay

은혜를 잊지 않겠습니다:

I won't forget this kindness (formal)

꼭 보답하겠습니다:

I will definitely repay you (formal)

언젠가 꼭 갚을게요:

I'll repay you someday (polite)

Will Cherish

소중히 간직할게요:

I'll treasure it (polite)

잘 간직할게요:

I'll keep it well (polite)

Cultural Thank You Expressions

잘 먹겠습니다 - Before Eating

Before meals:

Shows gratitude to cook
Acknowledges food's value
Cultural requirement

수고하셨습니다 - Good Work

After someone's effort:

Thank you for your hard work (formal)
Said to service workers, coworkers
Shows appreciation for effort

수고하셨어요:

Good work (polite)

수고했어요:

Good work (casual)

수고하세요:

Keep up the good work (during work)

Thanking Groups

Multiple People

여러분 감사합니다:

Thank you, everyone (formal)

다들 고마워요:

Thanks everyone (polite)

모두 감사드립니다:

Thank you all (formal)

Expressing Indebtedness

Feel Indebted

신세를 많이 졌습니다:

I'm greatly indebted to you (formal)

신세 많이 졌어요:

I owe you a lot (polite)

빚진 것 같아요:

I feel like I owe you (polite)

Will Remember

평생 잊지 못할 거예요:

I'll never forget this

큰 은혜입니다:

This is a great kindness (formal)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 고마워 to elderly stranger

Too casual, disrespectful

✅ Correct: 감사합니다

Appropriate formality

❌ Incorrect: 감사합니다 repeatedly to close friends

Too formal, creates distance

✅ Correct: 고마워

Natural for friends

Cultural Notes

Bowing While Thanking

Physical gesture:

Slight bow for minor thanks
Deeper bow for significant gratitude
Multiple bows for great kindness

Gift Giving Culture

When receiving:

Say 감사합니다 / 고마워요
Add 이렇게까지 하실 필요 없는데요 (You shouldn't have)
Often initially refuse (be polite)
Accept after 2-3 refusals

Actions Over Words

Demonstrating gratitude:

Offer to buy meal/coffee
Return favor in kind
Remember birthdays/occasions
Actions show sincerity

Degrees of Formality

Very Formal

대단히 감사드립니다
깊이 감사드립니다
진심으로 감사드립니다

Formal

감사합니다
감사드립니다
고맙습니다

Polite

감사해요
고마워요

Casual

고마워
고맙다
땡큐

Very Casual

ㄱㅅ
ㄱㅁ

Summary Table

Expression	Formality	Situation	Tone
대단히 감사드립니다	Very High	Very formal, humble	Respectful
감사합니다	High	Formal, standard	Respectful
고맙습니다	Medium	Polite formal	Warm
고마워요	Medium-Low	Polite casual	Friendly
고마워	Low	Friends, family	Casual
잘 먹겠습니다	Medium	Before eating	Grateful
수고하셨습니다	High	Thanking for work	Appreciative
천만에요	Medium	You're welcome	Polite
아니에요	Medium	You're welcome	Casual