Korean for Beginners: Sharing Good News Like 'I Got the Job!' and 'We're Moving!'
Learn to announce personal achievements in Korean, express excitement with friends, and use the pattern -았/었어요 for past events.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When something great happens—you land a job, pass an exam, or move to a new home—you want to tell your friends right away. In Korean, sharing good news is not just about the facts; it is about matching your friend’s energy and using the right level of politeness. This lesson teaches you how to say 'I got the job!', 'We’re moving!', and other personal achievements in casual and polite Korean. You will learn key phrases, the past tense pattern -았/었어요, and how to react with excitement. By the end, you will be able to announce your own good news and respond warmly when a friend shares theirs.
By the end, you can…
- announce a personal achievement in Korean, such as getting a job or moving.
- express excitement and congratulate a friend using appropriate casual or polite Korean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
취직했어!
I got a job!
chwijikhaesseo!
Casual, to close friends. 취직하다 means 'to get a job'; the past form 취직했어 literally means 'got a job'. Use when you have just been hired.
이사했어!
I moved! (We moved!)
isahaesseo!
Casual, to friends. Korean does not require a subject, so this can mean 'I moved' or 'We moved' depending on context.
합격했어!
I passed! (an exam, interview, etc.)
hapgyeokhaesseo!
Casual, to friends. Use for exams, auditions, or any selection process.
축하해!
Congratulations!
chukahae!
Casual, to friends. The polite form is 축하해요 (chukahaeyo). Use when reacting to good news.
진짜? 대박이다!
Really? That’s awesome!
jinjja? daebagida!
Casual, to friends. '대박' is slang for 'awesome' or 'jackpot'. Use to show strong excitement. Note: 대박이다 is a plain-style statement, so it is used to yourself or to close friends, not directly to someone older.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To talk about a past achievement, attach -았/었어요 to the verb stem. For verb stems whose last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, use -았어요; for all other vowels, use -었어요. Example: 취직하다 (chwijikhada) → 취직했어요 (chwijikhaesseoyo) 'I got a job.' 이사하다 (isahada) → 이사했어요 (isahaesseoyo) 'I moved.' In casual speech, drop 요: 취직했어! (chwijikhaesseo!) This pattern works for many achievements: 합격했어 (hapgyeokhaesseo) 'I passed', 승진했어 (seungjinhaesseo) 'I got promoted'.
When to use it
Use the casual forms (without 요) with close friends, siblings, or people your age whom you know well. Use the polite forms (with 요) with acquaintances, colleagues, or anyone older. For example, to a friend: 나 취직했어! (na chwijikhaesseo!) 'I got a job!' To a colleague: 저 취직했어요. (jeo chwijikhaesseoyo.) 'I got a job.' When reacting, match their level: 축하해! (chukahae!) to a friend, 축하해요! (chukahaeyo!) to an acquaintance. If you are unsure, use the polite form—it is always safe.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
나 취직했어!
I got a job!na chwijikhaesseo!진짜? 축하해! 어디야?
Really? Congratulations! Where is it?jinjja? chukahae! eodiya?서울에 있는 회사야. 다음 주에 이사해.
It’s a company in Seoul. I’m moving next week.seoure inneun hoesaya. daeum jue isahae.와, 대박이다! 정말 잘됐다!
Wow, that’s awesome! That’s really great!wa, daebagida! jeongmal jaldoetda!A little context goes a long way
In Korean, sharing good news often includes expressing humility or acknowledging others. For example, after saying 취직했어! you might add 열심히 할게 (yeolsimhi halge) 'I’ll work hard.' When congratulating, it is common to ask for details to show genuine interest, as in 어디야? (eodiya?) 'Where is it?' This keeps the conversation warm and engaged. Avoid bragging; instead, share excitement while staying modest.
One thing to watch for
Using the polite form with close friends, e.g., 취직했어요! to a best friend, which can sound distant.
Try this instead: With close friends, drop 요 and use the casual form: 취직했어! (chwijikhaesseo!) Save the polite form for acquaintances or superiors: 취직했어요. (chwijikhaesseoyo.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you tell a close friend that you passed an exam?
Show a sample answer
합격했어!
This uses the casual past tense form of 합격하다 (hapgyeokhada) 'to pass'. It is appropriate for friends. A polite alternative is 합격했어요.
2Your friend says '나 이사했어!' How do you congratulate them casually?
Show a sample answer
축하해!
축하해 is the casual form of 'congratulations'. You could also say 와, 대박이다! to show excitement. For a more polite response, use 축하해요.
3Change this polite sentence to casual: 저 취직했어요.
Show a sample answer
나 취직했어!
Remove 저 and 요, and change the subject to 나 (casual 'I'). The verb stem remains the same. This is suitable for friends.
To share good news in Korean, use the past tense pattern -았/었어요 (polite) or -았/었어 (casual). Match your friend’s level of politeness, and react with enthusiasm using 축하해! or 대박이다!
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr