What does 괜찮아 (gwaenchana) mean?
- 괜찮아gwaenchana
It's okay / Are you okay?
Casual: friends and people younger than you
괜찮아 (gwaenchana) means "It's okay", "I'm fine" or, as a question, "Are you okay?" in casual Korean. It is one of the most useful words for comforting someone or politely saying no.
Where it comes from
괜찮아 comes from the adjective 괜찮다, meaning "to be fine" or "to be all right".
How to use 괜찮아
Ask 괜찮아? to check on a friend, and answer 괜찮아 to say you are fine. Said warmly, 괜찮아 괜찮아 is a common way to comfort someone.
It also means "No, thanks". If someone offers you more food, 괜찮아요 politely declines.
괜찮아 is casual, for friends and younger people. Use 괜찮아요 with most adults and 괜찮습니다 in formal settings.
Examples
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A friend trips on the stairs
Comforting a friend before results come out
Turning down a second helping
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 괜찮아요 | It's okay / I'm fine | Polite form, safe with most people. |
| 괜찮습니다 | It's fine | Formal, for work or customers. |
| 괜찮아? | Are you okay? | Casual question. |
| 괜찮을 거야 | It'll be okay | Comforting someone about the future. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
- 시작이 다르더라도 괜찮아Even if our beginnings are different, it's okay.Wait For You · PLAVE
- 어디로 가도 괜찮아It's okay no matter where I go.The View · Stray Kids
- No worries 난 괜찮아No worries, I'm alright.No Doubt · ENHYPEN
- 바쁘게 걸어가다 보면 괜찮아지겠지 비 온 뒤에 땅이 굳고 다시금 꽃이 피듯이If I keep walking busily, I'll be okay, right? Just like the ground hardens after the rain and flowers bloom again.Secret Secret · Stray Kids
Questions learners ask
How do you say gwaenchana politely?
Say 괜찮아요. In formal situations, use 괜찮습니다.
Can gwaenchana mean no thanks?
Yes. 괜찮아요 is a common, polite way to turn down an offer.
How do you spell gwaenchana in Korean?
It is 괜찮아. The ㅎ in 찮 is silent, which is why it sounds like "gwaenchana".