고마워 vs 감사: Casual Warmth vs Formal Gratitude

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  고마워! 도와줘서 정말 고마워.

  go-ma-wo! do-wa-jwo-seo jeong-mal go-ma-wo., go ma wo! do wa jwo seo jeong mal go ma wo.

  Natural and appropriate when speaking to friends or close people.

• ❌

  감사! 도와줘서 정말 감사.

  gam-sa! do-wa-jwo-seo jeong-mal gam-sa., gam sa! do wa jwo seo jeong mal gam sa.

  감사 is a noun and should not be used alone or repeated; ‘감사합니다’ is correct.

• ⭕

  선생님, 정말 감사합니다.

  seon-saeng-nim, jeong-mal gam-sa-hap-ni-da., seon saeng nim, jeong mal gam sa hap ni da.

  Appropriate in formal situations using honorifics.

• ⭕

  엄마, 고마워! 맛있는 밥 해줘서 고마워.

  eom-ma, go-ma-wo! mas-iss-neun bap hae-jwo-seo go-ma-wo., eom ma, go ma wo! mas iss neun bap hae jwo seo go ma wo.

  Suitable casual thanks between family members.

• ❌

  고마워요, 고객님.

  go-ma-wo-yo, go-gaek-nim., go ma wo yo, go gaek nim.

  ‘고마워요’ is awkward between informal and formal; use ‘감사합니다’ for customers.

• ⭕

  감사합니다, 고객님. 문의해 주셔서 감사합니다.

  gam-sa-hap-ni-da, go-gaek-nim. mun-ui-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-hap-ni-da., gam sa hap ni da, go gaek nim. mun ui hae ju syeo seo gam sa hap ni da.

  Appropriate formal, honorific customer service expression.

• ⭕

  친구야, 고마워! 생일 선물 정말 고마워.

  chin-gu-ya, go-ma-wo! saeng-il seon-mul jeong-mal go-ma-wo., chin gu ya, go ma wo! saeng il seon mul jeong mal go ma wo.

  Natural and casual thanks between friends.

• ❌

  감사, 친구야.

  gam-sa, chin-gu-ya., gam sa, chin gu ya.

  Using ‘감사’ alone with friends is too stiff; use ‘고마워’ instead.

1. Which is appropriate to thank a friend?

   친구에게 감사할 때 적절한 표현은?(chin-gu-e-gegam-sa-halttaejeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, chinguegegamsahalttaejeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)
   • 고마워(go-ma-wo, gomawo)
   • 감사(gam-sa, gamsa)
   • 감사합니다(gam-sa-hap-ni-da, gamsahapnida)

2. How to thank a boss at work?

   회사 상사에게 감사할 때 올바른 표현은?(hoe-sasang-sa-e-gegam-sa-halttaeol-ba-reunpyo-hyeon-eun?, hoesasangsaegegamsahalttaeolbareunpyohyeoneun?)
   • 고마워(go-ma-wo, gomawo)
   • 감사합니다(gam-sa-hap-ni-da, gamsahapnida)
   • 고마워요(go-ma-wo-yo, gomawoyo)

3. Proper thanks to a customer?

   고객에게 감사 인사를 할 때 적절한 말은?(go-gaek-e-gegam-sain-sa-reulhalttaejeok-jeol-hanmal-eun?, gogaekegegamsainsareulhalttaejeokjeolhanmaleun?)
   • 고마워(go-ma-wo, gomawo)
   • 감사(gam-sa, gamsa)
   • 감사합니다(gam-sa-hap-ni-da, gamsahapnida)

4. Most natural thanks to family?

   가족에게 감사할 때 가장 자연스러운 표현은?(ga-jok-e-gegam-sa-halttaega-jangja-yeon-seu-reo-unpyo-hyeon-eun?, gajokegegamsahalttaegajangjayeonseureounpyohyeoneun?)
   • 감사(gam-sa, gamsa)
   • 고마워(go-ma-wo, gomawo)
   • 감사합니다(gam-sa-hap-ni-da, gamsahapnida)