Thank You & Sorry

Politeness words do the most work per syllable of anything you'll learn. With today's four phrases, you can already be a genuinely pleasant person in Korean.

Thank you

Sorry

Responding to a minor apology: 괜찮아요

Try it

Choose by what happened, not just by formality

Use a thank-you when someone has helped you, and an apology when you caused an inconvenience. A polite ending does not make those two purposes interchangeable. If a cashier gives you a receipt, 감사합니다 acknowledges the service. If you knock over another customer's cup, 죄송합니다 acknowledges your mistake; the words alone do not repair the spill.

Here is an original practice exchange after a small accidental bump: A: 죄송합니다. (I'm sorry.) B: 괜찮아요. (It's okay.) B's reply accepts this minor apology. Do not use the exchange as a script for deciding that somebody else's injury or concern is unimportant.

The same reply can do a different job

Compare an offer: A: 물 더 드릴까요? (Would you like more water?) B: 아니요, 괜찮아요. 감사합니다. (No, I'm fine, thank you.) Here 괜찮아요 declines more water. It is not an apology, and it is not a general-purpose replacement for “you're welcome.” The previous turn tells you how to interpret it.

What you just learned

• 감사합니다 / 죄송합니다 — formal polite expressions for thanks and apology.
• 고마워요 / 미안해요 — the warmer everyday pair.
• 괜찮아요 — its meaning depends on the preceding question or situation.

References

Revised September 29, 2026 by Korean ESY with AI assistance. This revision adds contextual practice and corrects overbroad explanations. Examples and answers are original editorial material; no independent teacher or classroom review is claimed. See our editorial policy or report a correction.

• National Institute of Korean Language: 괜찮다 — core meanings of acceptability and absence of a problem; checked September 16, 2026 for our longer explanation. It does not certify every social scenario above.