In this workshop you will practise saying thank you in Korean and responding politely when someone thanks you. You will hear short recorded lines, learn what each one means in English, and then use them in three speaking tasks. The recordings give you the exact Korean to repeat, so you can focus on when to use each phrase and on keeping a warm, natural tone.
Two ways to say thank you
Korean has more than one common way to say thank you, and the choice depends on how formal or polite you want to sound. The first recorded line is a formal, polite thank-you: «감사합니다». Use this when you want to be clearly respectful, for example with someone older, a teacher, or a person you have just met. The second recorded line is also polite but slightly less formal: «고맙습니다». It still sounds friendly and respectful, and it fits everyday situations with people you know reasonably well. Both lines are safe in many daily situations; the difference is a matter of tone and relationship. When you repeat them, keep your voice calm and clear, and let the ending sound finished rather than rushed.
Replying when someone thanks you
When someone says thank you, you can answer with a short, friendly reply. One recorded reply is «천만에요», which means you're welcome. Another recorded reply is «괜찮아요», which means it's okay or no problem. Both are useful when you want to make the other person feel at ease. In a short exchange, the pattern is simple: the other person thanks you, and you give one of these replies. You do not need to add a long explanation. A light, pleasant tone is enough. If you are the one saying thank you, you can use «감사합니다» or «고맙습니다», and the other person may answer with «천만에요» or «괜찮아요». Practise both roles so you can recognise the lines quickly when you hear them.
A short recorded exchange
The recordings also include a short scene with two speakers. Speaker A asks for help: «저기요, 이거 어떻게 하는지 아세요?». Speaker B answers: «네, 이렇게 하시면 돼요.». Speaker A then says: «아, 감사합니다!». Speaker B replies: «천만에요.». This scene shows a common order: a request for help, a helpful answer, a thank-you, and a polite reply. Notice that the thank-you comes after the help, and the reply comes after the thank-you. When you practise, keep that order. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check yourself against the meanings given here. The goal is to say each line at the right moment and with a natural, polite tone.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
감사합니다
Thank you (formal, polite)
gam-sa-ham-ni-da
고맙습니다
Thank you (polite, slightly less formal)
go-map-seum-ni-da
천만에요
You're welcome
cheon-man-e-yo
괜찮아요
It's okay / No problem
gwaen-chan-a-yo
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
저기요, 이거 어떻게 하는지 아세요?
Excuse me, do you know how to do this?네, 이렇게 하시면 돼요.
Yes, you can do it like this.아, 감사합니다!
Ah, thank you!천만에요.
You're welcome.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided thank-you exchange
Work with a partner or with the audio. One person will thank the other, and the other will reply politely. Use only the recorded lines you have practised.
Your task: Partner A says the formal thank-you «감사합니다». Partner B replies with the you're-welcome line «천만에요». Then Partner A says the slightly less formal thank-you «고맙습니다», and Partner B replies with the it's-okay line «괜찮아요». Say each line clearly and wait for your partner's reply before moving to the next line.
Choose the right reply
Listen to or read each situation below. Then choose the best recorded reply from the options. This task checks whether you understand what each reply means.
Your task: Situation 1: Someone says the formal thank-you «감사합니다» to you. Do you reply with «천만에요» or with «감사합니다»? Situation 2: Someone says the slightly less formal thank-you «고맙습니다» to you. Do you reply with «괜찮아요» or with «고맙습니다»? Situation 3: In the recorded scene, Speaker A says «아, 감사합니다!» after receiving help. Does Speaker B answer with «천만에요.» or with «저기요, 이거 어떻게 하는지 아세요?»?
Recall the scene in order
Use the short recorded scene with Speaker A and Speaker B. Cover the lines or look away from them, then rebuild the exchange from memory.
Your task: First, say the line where Speaker A asks for help: «저기요, 이거 어떻게 하는지 아세요?». Then say Speaker B's helpful answer: «네, 이렇게 하시면 돼요.». Next, say Speaker A's thank-you: «아, 감사합니다!». Finally, say Speaker B's reply: «천만에요.». Keep this order: request, answer, thank-you, reply. After you finish, swap roles with your partner and say the same four lines in the same order, with the new person taking Speaker A's parts and the other taking Speaker B's parts.
Common questions
Which thank-you should I use first?
Start with the formal, polite thank-you «감사합니다» when you want to be clearly respectful. The slightly less formal thank-you «고맙습니다» is also polite and works well in everyday situations. Both are recorded, so you can listen and repeat. If you are unsure, the formal one is a safe choice.
What should I say after someone thanks me?
You can reply with the you're-welcome line «천만에요» or the it's-okay line «괜찮아요». Both are short and friendly. In the recorded scene, Speaker B replies to a thank-you with «천만에요.». Keep your reply after the thank-you, and use a calm, pleasant tone.
Sources and further reading
- korean: saying please and thank youChecked September 2026
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