How to Respond to Compliments in Korean: Accept, Deflect, or Return Them
Learn beginner Korean phrases for responding to compliments politely, with formal and casual options, Hangul, Revised Romanization, and a short dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When someone compliments you in Korean, the right response depends on who is speaking, how close you are, and how modest or appreciative you want to sound. A simple thank-you can work, but many Korean speakers soften compliments with phrases like 잘 못해요 (I'm not very good) or 격려해 주셔서 감사합니다 (thank you for the encouragement). This lesson teaches you how to accept, deflect, and return compliments at different politeness levels. You will practice full phrases, not just single words, so you can respond naturally without sounding either too stiff or too casual.
By the end, you can…
- accept a compliment politely in Korean using formal and casual speech.
- deflect a compliment modestly without rejecting the speaker's kindness.
- return a compliment or redirect attention to the other person.
- choose an appropriate response based on the other person's age and status.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
감사합니다.
Thank you.
gam-sa-ham-ni-da
The safest polite acceptance in most formal or unfamiliar situations.
칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Thank you for the compliment.
ching-chan-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Formal and warm; good with teachers, coworkers, or elders.
아직 잘 못해요.
I'm still not very good at it.
a-jik jal mo-tae-yo
A common modest deflection. It does not mean you are bad; it lowers the compliment.
그렇게 말씀해 주시니 기뻐요.
I'm happy that you say so.
geu-reo-ke mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ni gi-ppeo-yo
Polite and appreciative; useful when you want to accept without boasting.
고마워! 너도 정말 잘해.
Thanks! You're really good too.
go-ma-wo! neo-do jeong-mal jal-hae
Casual speech with a close friend; returns the compliment naturally.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A useful pattern is compliment + 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) or compliment + 고마워 (go-ma-wo). For example, 칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다 means 'thank you for complimenting me,' and 도와줘서 고마워 means 'thanks for helping.' The ending changes with politeness: -습니다/-ㅂ니다 is formal polite, -아요/-어요 is informal polite, and -아/-어 is casual intimate. So 감사합니다 is formal polite, 고마워요 is informal polite, and 고마워 is casual intimate. Choose the ending based on the listener, not on how you feel.
When to use it
Use 감사합니다 and 칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다 with strangers, elders, teachers, and workplace seniors. Use 고마워요 with people you know well but still treat politely, such as older friends or acquaintances. Use 고마워 only with close friends or people younger than you. If you want to deflect, 아직 잘 못해요 works in polite settings, but with a close friend you can say 아직 잘 못해. If you want to return a compliment, add 너도 or -도: 너도 정말 잘해. Avoid saying 아니에요 alone too often; it can sound like you are rejecting the other person's kind words.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
한국어 정말 잘하시네요!
You speak Korean really well!han-gu-geo jeong-mal jal-ha-si-ne-yo!아직 잘 못해요. 칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다.
I'm still not very good. Thank you for the compliment.a-jik jal mo-tae-yo. ching-chan-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.아니에요, 정말 잘하세요.
No, you really do speak well.a-ni-e-yo, jeong-mal jal-ha-se-yo.그렇게 말씀해 주시니 기뻐요.
I'm happy that you say so.geu-reo-ke mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ni gi-ppeo-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean compliments often focus on effort, improvement, or a specific skill rather than appearance. A modest response is usually appreciated, but completely denying a compliment can feel like you are dismissing the speaker's judgment. In formal situations, combine a short thank-you with a modest phrase. With close friends, a simple 고마워 or a returned compliment sounds natural. Age and workplace rank strongly affect which ending you choose.
One thing to watch for
Using casual 고마워 with a teacher, boss, or stranger because you want to sound friendly.
Try this instead: Use 감사합니다 or 고마워요 instead. For example, say 칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다 to a teacher, not 칭찬해 줘서 고마워. The casual form can sound rude when the listener is older or has higher status.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A coworker you do not know well says 한국어 잘하시네요. What is a safe polite response?
Show a sample answer
칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다.
This accepts the compliment formally and thanks the speaker. 아직 잘 못해요 is also acceptable if you want to sound modest, but it should usually be followed by a thank-you.
2Your close friend says 너 정말 똑똑하다! How can you return the compliment casually?
Show a sample answer
고마워! 너도 똑똑해.
고마워 is appropriate with a close friend, and 너도 returns the compliment. 너도 똑똑해요 would be more polite but less casual between close friends.
3You want to deflect a compliment politely without rejecting it. Which phrase works?
Show a sample answer
아직 잘 못해요.
This modest phrase lowers the compliment while staying polite. You can add 감사합니다 or 칭찬해 주셔서 감사합니다 to show you appreciate the kind words.
Match your response to the relationship: use 감사합니다 in formal settings, 고마워요 in polite casual settings, and 고마워 with close friends. A short thank-you plus a modest phrase is usually the safest way to respond to a Korean compliment.
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