How to say “Don't worry” in Korean
- 걱정하지 마세요geokjeonghaji maseyo
Don't worry
"Don't worry" in Korean is 걱정하지 마세요 (geokjeonghaji maseyo) in polite speech and 걱정 마 (geokjeong ma) with friends. Adding 괜찮아 (gwaenchana), "it's okay", makes it extra comforting.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 걱정 마 geokjeong ma | Casual | Short and warm "Don't worry" for friends, partners and family. |
| 걱정하지 마 geokjeonghaji ma | Casual | The full casual form. Sounds a little more sincere. |
| 걱정 마세요 geokjeong maseyo | Polite | Short polite version, natural with anyone. |
| 걱정하지 마세요 geokjeonghaji maseyo | Polite | The standard polite "Don't worry". Safe with anyone older or new. |
| 괜찮아 gwaenchana | Casual | "It's okay." Often said together with 걱정 마. Polite: 괜찮아요. |
| 걱정하지 마십시오 geokjeonghaji masipsio | Formal | Formal, for customer service, announcements or work. |
Examples
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Offering to handle a task
Comforting someone after a small accident
Calling home before a trip
Tips
The pattern -지 마 (-ji ma) means "don't". Once you know 걱정하지 마, you can also say 울지 마 (ulji ma, "don't cry") and 가지 마 (gaji ma, "don't go").
Koreans often pair comfort words together: 걱정 마, 괜찮아 ("don't worry, it's okay") or 걱정 마, 잘될 거야 (geokjeong ma, jaldoel geoya, "don't worry, it'll work out").
More on 괜찮아 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do I say "don't worry about it" when someone apologizes?
Say 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo), "it's okay", or 신경 쓰지 마세요 (singyeong sseuji maseyo), "don't worry about it".
What is the difference between 걱정 마 and 걱정하지 마?
They mean the same thing. 걱정 마 is shorter and more casual; 걱정하지 마 is the full form and sounds a bit more careful.