How to say “Okay” in Korean

  1. 알겠어요algesseoyo

    Okay, got it

"Okay" in Korean is 알겠어요 (algesseoyo) when you mean "okay, got it", and with friends you can say 알았어 (arasseo). For "it's okay" or "I'm okay", Koreans use 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) instead.

Ways to say it

KoreanLevelWhen to use it
알겠어요
algesseoyo		Polite"Okay, I understand" when agreeing to a request or instruction.
알겠습니다
algesseumnida		Formal"Understood." Used at work, with customers, or with elders.
알았어
arasseo		Casual"Okay, got it" to friends, partners and younger people.
좋아요
joayo		Polite"Sounds good" when agreeing to a plan.
그래
geurae		Casual"Okay" or "sure" to a friend's suggestion.
괜찮아요
gwaenchanayo		Polite"It's okay" or "I'm okay". Also used as a question: 괜찮아요? ("Are you okay?")

Examples

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Your manager gives you a task

Yes, understood.

A friend suggests meeting at seven

Okay, see you at seven.

Someone trips in front of you

Are you really okay?
Kkachi the magpie

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Tips

Koreans do say 오케이 (okei) in casual speech, and in texts you will see ㅇㅋ. It is fine with friends but sounds too casual for elders or work.

알겠어요 and 괜찮아요 are both "okay" in English but not interchangeable. 알겠어요 means "I got it", while 괜찮아요 means "it's fine" or "I'm fine".

알았어요 (arasseoyo) is also common and polite, but 알겠어요 can sound a little softer.

More on 알겠습니다, 알았어 and 그래 in our Korean phrase guides.

Questions learners ask

Do Koreans say okay?

Yes, 오케이 (okei) is used casually, especially by younger people. In polite situations, 알겠어요 (algesseoyo) or 네 (ne) is better.

How do you ask "are you okay?" in Korean?

Say 괜찮아요? (gwaenchanayo?) with a rising tone. To a friend, 괜찮아? (gwaenchana?).

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