How to Say Excuse Me and Thank You for the Meal in Korean
Learn polite Korean phrases for leaving the table briefly during a meal and for finishing a meal, with Hangul, Revised Romanization and usage notes.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Korean meals, leaving the table is not just a physical action; it is usually announced with a short polite phrase. If you need to step away for a moment, you say 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagesseumnida), literally 'I will be excused.' When you finish eating, you say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida), 'I ate well,' which functions like 'Thank you for the meal.' This lesson teaches these two core situations only: a temporary pause during the meal and the end of the meal. You will learn the exact phrases, when to use them, and how to respond naturally.
By the end, you can…
- politely excuse myself from the table for a moment in Korean.
- thank the host or cook at the end of a meal in Korean.
- recognize and respond to 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida).
- choose between the polite -습니다 (-seumnida) and casual -어/아 (-eo/a) styles appropriately.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
실례하겠습니다
Excuse me for a moment.
sillye-hagesseumnida
Polite and safe with hosts, elders, or people you do not know well. Said as you rise from the table.
잠시만요
Just a moment, please.
jam-si-man-yo
Softer and more casual than 실례하겠습니다. Useful when you are with friends or close family and just need to step away briefly.
잘 먹었습니다
Thank you for the meal. (I ate well.)
jal meogeosseumnida
The standard polite phrase after finishing a meal. Say it to the person who cooked or paid, or to the group.
잘 먹겠습니다
I will eat well. (Thank you for the food.)
jal meokgesseumnida
Said before starting to eat, not when leaving. Included here because it pairs with 잘 먹었습니다 and learners often confuse the two.
먼저 일어나도 될까요?
May I get up first?
meonjeo ireonado doelkkayo?
A polite permission question for leaving the table before others have finished. Useful at a formal or work meal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The polite ending -습니다 (-seumnida) makes these phrases safe in most situations. 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagesseumnida) uses the verb 실례하다 (sillyehada), 'to be excused,' with the future-style ending -겠습니다 (-gesseumnida), so it sounds like 'I will excuse myself.' 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) uses the past tense 먹었습니다 (meogeosseumnida), 'ate,' with 잘 (jal), 'well.' Together they mean 'I ate well.' For close friends, you can shorten to 잘 먹었어 (jal meogeosseo) and 잠시만 (jamsiman), but with hosts or elders keep the full -습니다 form.
When to use it
Use 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagesseumnida) or 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) when you leave the table during the meal and plan to return. Use 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) when the meal is finished and you are leaving for good. If others are still eating and you must go, say 먼저 일어나도 될까요? (meonjeo ireonado doelkkayo?) to ask permission. Do not say 잘 먹었습니다 when you are only stepping away for a moment; it signals that you are done eating. At a restaurant with friends, 잘 먹었어 (jal meogeosseo) is fine, but with a boss or host, use the -습니다 form.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
잘 먹겠습니다.
Thank you for the food. (I will eat well.)jal meokgesseumnida네, 많이 드세요.
Yes, please eat a lot.ne, mani deuseyo잠시만요. 화장실에 다녀올게요.
Just a moment. I will go to the restroom and come back.jamsimanyo. hwajangsire danyeoolgeyo네, 다녀오세요.
Okay, go and come back.ne, danyeooseyoA little context goes a long way
In Korean meals, announcing your departure is considered polite, especially when eating with elders, hosts, or colleagues. 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) is not only thanks for the food; it also acknowledges the effort of the person who prepared or paid for the meal. At a restaurant, the person who paid often receives this phrase from the group. With close friends, a simple 잘 먹었어 (jal meogeosseo) is enough, but using the polite form never sounds wrong.
One thing to watch for
Saying 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) when you only want to step away for a moment.
Try this instead: 잘 먹었습니다 means the meal is finished. For a temporary pause, say 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagesseumnida) or 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo). Example: 잠시만요, 금방 올게요. (jamsimanyo, geumbang olgeyo.) 'Just a moment, I will be right back.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are eating with your friend's parents and need to use the restroom. What do you say as you get up?
Show a sample answer
실례하겠습니다.
This is the polite, safe choice with people you do not know well. 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) is also acceptable, but 실례하겠습니다 is more formal and respectful.
2The meal is over and your host cooked for you. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
잘 먹었습니다.
This thanks the host for the meal. With close friends, 잘 먹었어 (jal meogeosseo) is also fine, but the polite form is always appropriate.
3You must leave before everyone else has finished eating. What polite question can you ask?
Show a sample answer
먼저 일어나도 될까요?
This asks permission to get up first. Another valid option is 먼저 가도 될까요? (meonjeo gado doelkkayo?), which asks permission to leave first.
Say 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagesseumnida) or 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) for a brief pause, and 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) when the meal is truly over.
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