What does 됐어 (dwaesseo) mean?
- 됐어dwaesseo
Forget it / That's enough
Casual: friends and people younger than you
됐어 (dwaesseo) means "Forget it", "Never mind" or "That's enough". It can also mean "It's done" or "It worked", and said sharply it shuts a conversation down.
Where it comes from
됐어 is the past tense of 되다, "to become" or "to be done", with a casual ending. Literally it is close to "It's done" or "That will do".
How to use 됐어
The most common use is refusing or ending something: 됐어, 내가 할게 ("Forget it, I'll do it myself"). Said coldly, it is like "Whatever, forget it" and can hurt feelings, especially in an argument.
It is also positive: when something finally works or is finished, people say 됐다! or 됐어!, like "Got it!" or "Done!"
With people you should be polite to, 됐어요 is a common way to decline something, like "No thanks, I'm fine". Even so, a soft tone matters, because 됐어요 said flatly sounds cold.
Examples
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Your friend keeps offering to help, too late
Finally fixing your laptop
Declining a shop's plastic bag
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 됐어요 | No thanks, I'm fine | Polite refusal. |
| 됐다 | Done! / It worked! | Often said with relief or joy. |
| 됐거든 | I said forget it | Sharp and annoyed. |
| 이제 됐어 | Now it's fine | Something has been fixed. |
Questions learners ask
Is dwaesseo rude?
It depends on the tone. Said sharply in an argument it is dismissive, like "Forget it". Said with relief, it just means "Done!"
What does dwaesseoyo mean?
됐어요 is the polite form. It is often used to decline, like "No thanks, I'm fine".
What is the difference between dwaesseo and gwaenchana?
Both can decline an offer. 괜찮아 sounds gentle ("I'm okay"), while 됐어 is blunter and can sound like "Forget it".