How to say “Good job” in Korean
- 잘했어요jalhaesseoyo
Good job
"Good job" in Korean is 잘했어요 (jalhaesseoyo), which literally means "you did well." With friends and kids you say 잘했어 (jalhaesseo). After a long day of work, Koreans also say 수고했어요 (sugohaesseoyo), "you worked hard."
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 잘했어 jalhaesseo | Casual | To friends, kids, and younger people. Often said with 진짜 (really) or 너무 (so) in front. |
| 잘했어요 jalhaesseoyo | Polite | Polite praise for someone around your age or younger. It can sound like grading if said to a boss. |
| 수고했어요 sugohaesseoyo | Polite | "You worked hard." Said at the end of a task or workday to thank someone for their effort. |
| 수고하셨습니다 sugohasyeotseumnida | Formal | The formal version, heard at the end of meetings, shifts, and events. |
| 대단해요 daedanhaeyo | Polite | "That's amazing." Praise for an impressive result rather than effort. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Your friend nailed a performance
A teammate finished their presentation
Packing up at the end of a workday
Tips
Be careful praising people above you with 잘했어요. It can sound like you are judging their work. To a boss or elder, 수고하셨습니다 or a specific compliment like 발표 정말 좋았어요 (the presentation was really good) is safer.
수고했어요 is one of the most useful phrases in Korean workplaces. Coworkers say it to each other when leaving, after a project, or after any shared effort.
잘했어 is said in one smooth breath: "jal-hae-sseo."
More on 수고했어요 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
What does 수고했어요 mean?
It means "you worked hard" or "thanks for your effort." Koreans use it at the end of work or after someone finishes a task.
Can I say 잘했어요 to my boss?
It is better not to. Praising a superior's performance can sound a bit presumptuous. Say 수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida) instead.