How to Say Thanks for Having Me in Korean: Event-Specific Gratitude
Learn Korean phrases to thank a host after an event, using 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다 and 잘 먹었습니다. Includes pronunciation, dialogue, and cultural tips.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you leave a Korean gathering, a simple thank-you is not enough. You need phrases that specifically thank the host for the invitation and the hospitality. This lesson teaches you how to say 'Thanks for having me' and 'I had a great time' in Korean, focusing on event-specific gratitude. You will learn key expressions, when to use them, and how they differ from general thanks. By the end, you will be able to politely thank a host at a dinner, party, or meeting.
By the end, you can…
- thank a host for inviting me to an event using 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다.
- express that I enjoyed an event with 잘 먹었습니다 or 즐거웠습니다.
- use the correct politeness level when thanking a host in Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
초대해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for inviting me.
cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Polite and formal. Use when arriving at or leaving a formal event, such as a dinner or ceremony.
와 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for coming.
wa ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Said by the host to guests. If you are the guest, do not use this; instead use the phrase above.
잘 먹었습니다.
I ate well (thank you for the meal).
jal meo-geot-seum-ni-da
Common after a meal. It thanks the host for the food and implies you enjoyed it.
즐거웠습니다.
I had a great time.
jeul-geo-wot-seum-ni-da
Use after a party, gathering, or any enjoyable event. It expresses that you had fun.
다음에 또 초대해 주세요.
Please invite me again next time.
da-eum-e tto cho-dae-hae ju-se-yo
A friendly follow-up. Use with people you know well or in casual polite situations.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -해 주셔서 감사합니다 means 'Thank you for doing [verb] for me.' It combines the verb stem with 해 주셔서 (hae ju-syeo-seo), which shows the action was done for your benefit, and 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da), meaning 'thank you.' For example, 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다 (cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da) means 'Thank you for inviting me.' You can replace 초대하다 (cho-dae-ha-da, to invite) with other verbs: 도와주셔서 감사합니다 (do-wa-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da) means 'Thank you for helping me.' This pattern is polite and works in most formal and informal situations.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are a guest and want to thank the host. At a meal, say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meo-geot-seum-ni-da) after eating, before you leave. At a party or gathering, say 즐거웠습니다 (jeul-geo-wot-seum-ni-da) to express you had a good time. If you want to thank the host for the invitation itself, use 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다 (cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da). These are different from a general thank you like 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da), which is fine for small favors but does not specifically acknowledge the event. For close friends, you can use the casual 잘 먹었어 (jal meo-geo-sseo) and 즐거웠어 (jeul-geo-wot-sseo).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. 잘 먹었습니다.
Thank you for inviting me. I ate well.cho-dae-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jal meo-geot-seum-ni-da.와 주셔서 감사합니다. 즐거우셨죠?
Thank you for coming. Did you enjoy it?wa ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jeul-geo-u-syeot-jyo?네, 정말 즐거웠습니다. 다음에 또 초대해 주세요.
Yes, I really had a great time. Please invite me again next time.ne, jeong-mal jeul-geo-wot-seum-ni-da. da-eum-e tto cho-dae-hae ju-se-yo.그럼요. 조심히 들어가세요.
Of course. Get home safely.geu-reom-yo. jo-sim-hi deu-reo-ga-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean culture, showing appreciation to the host is important. Using the formal polite style (합쇼체) with -습니다 endings is safe for adults you do not know well. With friends, use casual polite (해요체) or casual (반말). Also, saying 잘 먹었습니다 after a meal is a standard courtesy, even if you did not eat much. It acknowledges the host's effort.
One thing to watch for
Using 감사합니다 alone to thank a host for an event.
Try this instead: 감사합니다 is a general thank you and does not specify the event. To thank the host for the invitation, say 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. For the meal, say 잘 먹었습니다. For the fun, say 즐거웠습니다.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a friend's dinner party. Thank the host for the invitation and say you had a good time.
Show a sample answer
초대해 주셔서 감사합니다. 즐거웠습니다.
This combines thanks for the invitation and for the enjoyable time. You could also add 잘 먹었습니다 if you want to thank them for the food.
2Your friend invited you to a casual gathering. Use casual polite Korean to say 'Thanks for inviting me.'
Show a sample answer
초대해 줘서 고마워요.
Using 줘서 instead of 주셔서 and 고마워요 instead of 감사합니다 makes it casual polite. This is appropriate for friends or people you are close to.
3After a meal at a Korean friend's home, what should you say to the host before leaving?
Show a sample answer
잘 먹었습니다.
This is the standard phrase to thank the host for the meal. It literally means 'I ate well' and implies you enjoyed it. You can also add 감사합니다 for extra politeness.
To thank a host in Korean, be specific: use 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다 for the invitation, 잘 먹었습니다 for the meal, and 즐거웠습니다 for the fun. Match the politeness level to your relationship.
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