Mahalo Blog #1 — How to Say “Thank You” in Korean

“감사합니다” vs “고맙습니다”

Same ‘thank you,’ different heart.

In Korean, 감사합니다 and 고맙습니다 both mean “thank you.”
They’re both polite and totally natural —
but they carry slightly different feelings.

감사합니다 sounds formal, polite, and professional.
You’ll often hear it in business settings, classrooms, presentations, or emails.

고맙습니다 feels warmer, more personal, and heartfelt.
It’s perfect for conversations with friends, students, clients, or family.

How They Feel

감사합니다 feels like a formal thank you — it’s polite and respectful, the kind of gratitude you’d express in professional or formal situations. It carries a sense of Professional Mahalo 🌺, warm yet refined.

고맙습니다 feels like a heartfelt thank you — it’s more personal, friendly, and emotional, similar to Warm Mahalo 🌸. It shows genuine warmth between people who already share a connection.

Example Sentences

If you want to thank your teacher politely, you can say:

가르쳐 주셔서 감사합니다. (Thanks for teaching me.)

If you’re thanking a friend or one of your students, you can say:

오늘 와줘서 고맙습니다. (Thanks for coming today.)