Saying thank you and sorry

The most common phrase is 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida). It is polite and works almost everywhere: shops, restaurants, taxis and with people you've just met. It sounds like "gam-sa-ham-ni-da," and a slight nod of the head while saying it makes it feel even more respectful.

Both are polite and mean the same thing. 감사 comes from Chinese roots, while 고맙다 is a native Korean word, and either is perfectly respectful. Some people feel 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) sounds slightly warmer, but you can use whichever comes to mind more easily.

With close friends, use the casual 고마워 (gomawo). For a friendly but still polite tone, say 고마워요 (gomawoyo). To show you're really grateful, add an intensifier, as in 진짜 고마워 (jinjja gomawo, "thanks so much"). With elders or people you've just met, 감사합니다 is the safe choice.

Add words like 정말 (jeongmal, "really"), 진심으로 (jinsimeuro, "sincerely") or 너무 (neomu, "so"). 정말 감사합니다 and 진심으로 감사드립니다 fit when someone has helped you a lot. In writing or formal settings, 감사드립니다 (gamsadeurimnida) adds an extra layer of politeness and suits thank-you notes.

천만에요 (cheonmaneyo, "you're welcome") appears in textbooks but sounds a bit stiff in real conversation. Koreans more often say 아니에요 (anieyo, "not at all"), 별말씀을요 (byeolmalsseumeuryo, "don't mention it") or 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo). Shop staff often simply reply with 네, 감사합니다 (ne, gamsahamnida).

The polite way to apologize is 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida). Use it when you make a mistake, arrive late or apologize to customers or older people. It works for small things too, and for a deeper apology, say 정말 죄송합니다 (jeongmal joesonghamnida) with a deeper bow.

죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is more humble and formal. 미안합니다 (mianhamnida) is still polite but suits peers or people younger than you, so with elders and superiors 죄송합니다 is the usual choice. With friends, the casual form is 미안해 (mianhae), which you should keep for close friends.

실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) means "excuse me" when you might be bothering someone, such as walking in front of them or interrupting. Starting a question with 실례지만 (sillyejiman, "excuse me, but...") sounds courteous. In a crowded subway, people more often just say 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo, "just a moment") to squeeze past.

괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) can mean "it's okay," "no problem" or "no, thank you," depending on context. When someone apologizes, it accepts the apology. When someone offers you something, it works as a polite refusal. With a rising tone, 괜찮아요? becomes a question: "Are you okay?"

Yes. Before eating, say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida, "I will eat well"), and afterward, 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida, "I ate well"). These thank whoever cooked or paid for the meal. Saying 잘 먹었습니다 to restaurant staff as you leave is also a nice touch.

덕분에요 (deokbuneyo) means "thanks to you," crediting the other person for something going well. If someone asks 여행 잘했어요? ("Did you have a good trip?"), you can reply 네, 덕분에요 (ne, deokbuneyo). It can also start a sentence, as in 덕분에 잘 찾았어요 (deokbune jal chajasseoyo, "Thanks to you, I found it easily").

Say 늦어서 죄송합니다 (neujeoseo joesonghamnida, "I'm sorry for being late"). The pattern "-어서 죄송합니다" lets you add a reason to any apology, such as 기다리게 해서 죄송합니다 (gidarige haeseo joesonghamnida, "sorry for making you wait"). With friends, 늦어서 미안해 (neujeoseo mianhae) is fine.

Partly. 수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida) means "you've worked hard" and is said when finishing work together or when someone has made an effort for you, so it carries appreciation. People say it at the end of meetings, events or to delivery workers. Some feel 감사합니다 is safer when speaking to superiors.

Formal emails and documents often end with 감사드립니다 (gamsadeurimnida) or 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida). Mentioning what you're thankful for makes it more courteous, as in 보내 주셔서 감사합니다 (bonae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida, "thank you for sending this"). Messages to friends can be as casual as 고마워~ (gomawo).

If someone says 죄송합니다, reply with 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo, "it's okay") or 아니에요 (anieyo, "not at all"). For a warmer touch, say 신경 쓰지 마세요 (singyeong sseuji maseyo, "don't worry about it"). With friends, use the casual 괜찮아 (gwaenchana). Any of these will put the other person at ease.

Yes. For a small apology, a slight nod of the head is enough, while a serious apology comes with a deeper bow from the waist. If you bump into someone on the street, saying 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) with a small bow is plenty. Body language matters, so combining the two makes your apology feel sincere.

고마워요 (gomawoyo) ends in 요, so it's polite and not rude, but it can feel a bit light with someone much older or someone you've just met. With elders and customers, 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) or 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) is the safer choice. With people your age or acquaintances, 고마워요 sounds natural.

Say thank you and add how you'll use it: 감사합니다, 잘 쓸게요 (gamsahamnida, jal sseulgeyo, "thank you, I'll make good use of it"). If it's food, say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida). It's polite to receive a gift with both hands, while opening it on the spot depends on the situation.

For something minor, like brushing into someone, a quick 앗, 죄송해요 (at, joesonghaeyo, "oops, sorry") is enough. 죄송해요 is a slightly softer version of 죄송합니다. Among friends, 앗, 미안 (at, mian) works fine. What matters most is saying it right away.

In a way. 잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida) expresses goodwill and advance thanks to someone you'll be dealing with, roughly "I'm counting on you, thank you in advance." It's common when starting a new job, asking for help or ending a self-introduction. There's no exact English match; "I look forward to working with you" is close.