Stuck for ways to agreeto a request orconfirm that you get what’sother is saying in Korean? Try saying ok in Korean.
The common way of saying “ok” in Korean is “괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo)“ and the closest translation of “ok” is (gwaenchana).
but this greeting has multiple meanings.
Here we will go over 10 common and advanced Korean greetings to say “okay” in Korean plus how to ask “Are you okay in Korean”, with real-life examples and exercises.
Alright world, it’s time to dig in (to the core).
Table of Contents
How to say okay in Korean like a native?
The word 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) in hangul is the most common way of saying ‘OK’ or ‘Are you OK? The closest and informal way to translate “okay” in Korean is 괜찮아 (gwaenchana). You use this with friends, siblings, or people younger than you. But sometimes people say “yes” in Korean 네 (ne) to show their agreement .알았어요 (arasseoyo) also means “ok, I know” in Korean.
Here are the 10 most common ways to say okay inKorean language, depending upon the politeness level and age of the person you are taking to.
- 괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo)
- 알았어요 (Arasseoyo)
- 네 (ne)
- 괜찮아 (Gwaenchana)
- 알았어 (arasseo)
- 응 (eung)
- 오게이 (o-ke-i)
- 괜찮습니다 (gwaenchanseumnida)
- 알겠습니다 (Algetseumnida)
- ㅇㅋ
The standard way to say ok in Korean
괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo)
괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo) is the standard polite way of saying ok in Korean and can be used in most situations, like with your coworker or people older than you. However, sometimes people say yes in Korean 네 (ne).
알았어요 (Arasseoyo)
알았어요 (Arasseoyo) means “I know” in Korean. It comes from the verb ‘알다” which means “to know. You can say these phrases when you understand what the person is trying to say.
네 (ne)
However, sometimes people say yes in Korean 네 (ne) to show their agreement.
The informal way to say okay in Korean
The informal way to say okay in Korean is 괜찮아 (gwaenchana) came from the verb 괜찮다 (gwaenchanta) means fine or it’s alright. you can use this with friends, siblings, children, or people younger than you. Koreans also use 응 (eung) which means yes, and 알았어 (arasseo) means “OK (I know)”.
Let me explain in detail
알았어 (arasseo)
알았어 (arasseo) is the informal version of the phrase 알았어요 (Arasseoyo) without the polite ending “요” and it means “I know” in Korean. You can use them with friends, siblings, and people younger than you.
응 (eung)
응 is the word foryes in Korean language, which is mostly used bywomen.The way it’s pronounced is a sound, “Eung”.
Now, when you want to go ahead and say yes to your family and friends
it’s really simple: just simply nod and say 응(eung).
How to use
Koreans usually say that when they are told something and they say 응 to confirm that they heard the person. But you can also type it “ㅇㅇ” because it’s easier to type on a keyboard.
It is very important! – If you use this to others, you may offend people. “네” is used to say to a stranger or someone who is older than you.
Example Conversation
Are you busy?
바빠?-bappa
Yes
응.(eung)
오게이 (o-ke-i)
오게이 (o-ke-i) is the Konglish version of okay in Korean. It just sounds the same as the English word “okay.”
People usually use this phrase to sound cute when messaging.
The modern generation prefers to say it as it is easier to pronounce.
괜찮습니다(gwaenchanseumnida)—a formal way to say OK in Korean.
괜찮습니다 (gwaenchanseumnida)
괜찮습니다 (gwaenchanseumnida) is the most formal way of saying OK in Korean. People rarely use it in daily life conversations.
You might have heard this phrase in meetings, announcements, or interviews.
알겠습니다 (Algetseumnida)
알겠습니다 (Algetseumnida) is the most formal way to say ok in Korean which means “I know” in Korean, you might have heard this phrase in different Kdramas.
The slang way to say okay in Korean while texting |ㅇㅋ
While texting in Korean, use the short form ㅇㅋ to say okay in Korean. It is the super formal/slang way to say OK in text messages and is mostly used by the younger generation.
9 common ways to Say “Are You Okay?” in Korean.
When your friend/family has a bad day and feels sad/hurt and you are worried about it. so you want to ask them if they’re okay and how they are doing.
But How to Say “Are You Okay in Korean?”
This is the most common way to ask, “Are You Okay in Korean” is 괜찮아? (gwaen-chana)/괜찮아요?(Gwaenchanayo).
Here are 9 other common phrases that you can use to ask someone “Are You Okay in Korean?”
- What’s the matter/ what’s wrong?-왜 그래? (wae get-rae)
- Are you not in a good mood? – 기분 안 좋아? (gi-bun an jo-a)
- Is there something wrong?- 무슨 일 있어요? (mu-seun il i-sseo-yo)
- Are you feeling sick? – 어디 아파요?
- Are you having a rough time?-
- Why do you have such a long face?
- Why do you look so depressed? –
- Why are you so quiet? – 왜 그렇게 조용하세요?wae geuroke joyonghaseyo
- What is wrong with the air?
To answer such a question, rather than saying yes, you should respond with ‘괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo)’ or ‘안괜찮아요 (angwaenchanayo).
The real meaning of 괜찮다(gwaenchanta) in Korean.
You can also use 괜찮다(gwaenchanta) when you wanna say something is decent or pretty good or compliment something in general
괜찮다 (gwaenchanta) can be used to say that something is ‘good’, ‘alright’, or ‘fine’. It can also be used to ask about somebody’s feelings.
For example
- Your girlfriend looks like a nice girl
너 여자친구 괜찮다. – nae yojachingu gwaenchanta
- This dress is nice.
이 드레스 정말 괜찮다 – i deureseu jongmal gwaenchanta
- This comic is pretty good.
이 만화 괜찮다- i manhwa gwaenchanta
Learn how to say OK in Korean with real-life dialogue.
Example
- Minho: What’s wrong with you today? Are you alright?
오늘 너 왜 그래? 괜찮아? (o-neul neo wae geu-rae,Gwaen-cha-na?)
- Yes, I’m okay
네, 괜찮아? (gwaen-chan-a)
- You don’t look all right.
너 안 괜찮아 보여. (neo an gwaen-cha-na bo-yeo)
- I’ve had a stomach ache since this morning. took the medicine. I’m okay now.
오늘 아침부터 배가 아프다. 약을 먹었어. 나는 이제 괜찮아
oneul achimbuto baega apeuda yageul mogosso naneun ije gwaenchana
- Are you sure? You didn’t have to go to the hospital?
확실해? 병원에 갈 필요 없었어?
hwakssilhae? byongwone gal pilryo opssosso
- Yes, I need to sleep a little longer.
네,좀 더 자야겠어.- nejom do jayagesso
- All right. Go to sleep.
알았어, 좀 자 al-ass-eo, jom ja
Some other uses for 괜찮아요 would be to use it when someone offers you food or a beverage. You can say 아니요, 괜찮아요 to politely refuse.
For the casual form, you can say 괜찮아. For the formal form, you can say 괜찮습니다.
Conclusion
Great job. You finally know how to say okay in Korean.
If you are ever unsure of how to say “ok” in Korean, then it is best to stick with what you know and use 괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo),괜찮아 (Gwaenchana),알았어 (arasseo),네 (ne)
All these words are widely used and accepted in Korea.
Well, it’s time for you to apply it in real life and improve your pronunciation.
So go out and next time you get a chance to say okay in Korean, just use any of these as much as you can. Koreans will understand you even if you got it wrong.
Looking for more Korean phrases and when to use them you can check out our other articles on this topic.
Here are some recommended lessons:
- A Complete Guide to say Good Night In Korean
- The Common Ways To Say No In Korean
- Ready To Learn Korean ways to say Thank You In Korean?
- How To Say Sorry In Korean
- How To Say Goodbye In Korean
- How Korean Celebrate New Year And Wish Happy New Year In Korean
- How to say happy birthday in Korean
Can’t remember all 10 phrases. If you want to practice all these phrases we just learned here, here are some useful resources I found on the web
https://quizlet.com/42130273/are-you-okay-korean-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/42130273/are-you-okay-korean-flash-cards/
https://quizlet.com/496803924/common-korean-phrases-flash-cards/
That’s it for today’s lesson. I hope you enjoyed it
