How to Say Thank You in Korean: 감사합니다 vs 고마워요

Learn the polite ways to say thank you in Korean, when to choose 감사합니다, 감사해요, or 고마워요, and how to answer when someone thanks you.

Start with 감사합니다

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the safest “thank you” in Korean. It is polite and works with shop staff, taxi drivers, hotel clerks, teachers, and people you have just met. If you learn only one form, learn this one.

The ending -ㅂ니다 belongs to the formal polite style, often called 합쇼체 or the 습니다 style. It sounds respectful and a little formal, which is exactly right when you are not sure how close you are to someone.

Pronunciation tip: the ㅂ before ㄴ is pronounced like m, so 감사합니다 sounds like gam-sa-ham-ni-da.

When to use the other forms

감사해요 (gamsahaeyo) is the same word in the softer polite 해요체 style. It is common in everyday speech and still polite.

고마워요 (gomawoyo) comes from a native Korean word. It is polite but feels warmer and a bit more personal. It suits coworkers your age, acquaintances, or a friend's friend. 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) is the formal version and is perfectly respectful.

고마워 (gomawo) drops the 요 and is casual speech, or 반말. Use it with close friends or people younger than you who have agreed to speak casually. Using it with a stranger can sound rude.

A short exchange at a shop

A: 여기 영수증이요.
“Here's your receipt.”

B: 감사합니다.
“Thank you.”

A: 안녕히 가세요.
“Goodbye.” (said to someone leaving)

B: 네, 수고하세요.
“Okay, take care.” (a common goodbye to someone who stays at work)

How to answer a thank-you

When someone thanks you, 아니에요 (anieyo), literally “it's nothing,” is a natural reply. Textbooks often teach 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo), “you're welcome,” but in everyday conversation it can sound a bit bookish. 별말씀을요 (byeolmalsseumeullyo) is a humble, polite reply for more formal situations.

Common mistakes

Learners sometimes use 고마워 with everyone because it is short. Keep 요 or the 습니다 ending until someone invites you to speak casually. Another mistake is to add 너무 or 정말 to every thanks: 정말 감사합니다 (“Thank you so much”) is great when someone really helped you, but a simple 감사합니다 is enough for a receipt.

Practice saying thanks in three situations

Say 감사합니다 to an imagined cashier, 고마워요 to a coworker who held the door, and 아니에요 in response to someone thanking you. Focus on the m sound in 합니다. Then repeat the shop exchange above, adding 수고하세요 as you leave.

When you want to decline something politely, read how to say “no, thank you” in Korean.

Explore Saystep for Korean speaking practice with feedback. You can also practice this article's dialogue independently, without using an app.