Master 수고하셨습니다 & 9 Essential Beginner Phrases

This review focuses on the subtle social etiquette of Korean greetings that textbooks often oversimplify for beginners.

Weekly recap (60 seconds)

• Practiced the most common way to end a workday or task with colleagues.
• Mastered the distinction between arriving and leaving greetings.
• Explored how to say thank you and sorry in polite social settings.
• Reviewed basic identification phrases for introducing yourself to new friends.

Flashcards (10)

List all 10 expressions with a one-line meaning each:

• 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseupnida = Good job / Thank you for your hard work
• 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo = Hello (polite)
• 감사합니다gamsahapnida = Thank you (formal)
• 죄송합니다joesonghapnida = I am sorry (formal)
• 반갑습니다bangapseupnida = Nice to meet you
• 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo = Goodbye (to someone staying)
• 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo = Goodbye (to someone leaving)
• 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeuripnida = I look forward to working with you
• 네ne = Yes / I see
• 아니요aniyo = No

Mini quiz (10 questions)

Fill in the blank with one of: 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseupnida, 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo, 감사합니다gamsahapnida, 죄송합니다joesonghapnida, 반갑습니다bangapseupnida, 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo, 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo, 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeuripnida, 네ne, 아니요aniyo

1. When you finish a group project meeting, you say to everyone: ____.
2. You walk into a cafe and greet the barista: ____.
3. Someone gives you a gift, you say: ____.
4. You accidentally step on someone's foot in the subway: ____.
5. You meet a new coworker for the first time: ____.
6. You are leaving a friend's house while they stay home: ____.
7. Your friend is leaving your house while you stay home: ____.
8. You are introduced to a new team and want to show a good attitude: ____.
9. Someone asks if you are a student, and you want to say "Yes": ____.
10. Someone asks if you like spicy food, and you want to say "No": ____.

Answers:

1. 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseupnida
2. 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo
3. 감사합니다gamsahapnida
4. 죄송합니다joesonghapnida
5. 반갑습니다bangapseupnida
6. 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo
7. 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo
8. 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeuripnida
9. 네ne
10. 아니요aniyo

Notes:

• Q1: 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseupnida is the standard way to acknowledge effort after a shared task or workday.
• Q2: 안녕하세요annyeonghaseyo is the most versatile polite greeting for any time of day.
• Q3: 감사합니다gamsahapnida is the most common formal way to express gratitude.
• Q4: 죄송합니다joesonghapnida is the appropriate formal apology for mistakes or accidents.
• Q5: 반갑습니다bangapseupnida is used specifically when meeting someone for the first time.
• Q6: 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo literally means "Stay peacefully," used when you are the one leaving.
• Q7: 안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyo literally means "Go peacefully," used when you are staying and the other person is leaving.
• Q8: 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeuripnida is a cultural staple used to ask for someone's favor or cooperation in a new relationship.
• Q9: 네ne is the standard polite affirmative.
• Q10: 아니요aniyo is the standard polite negative.

Next steps

1. Record yourself saying 수고하셨습니다sugohasyeotseupnida and 잘 부탁드립니다jal butakdeuripnida to check your intonation.
2. Write a short self-introduction using at least four of these phrases.
3. Practice the difference between 계세요gyeseyo and 가세요gaseyo by imagining you are at a convenience store.