A2 Expression Formal

오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다.

Oneul harudo sugo maneusyeotseumnida.

You worked hard today.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite way to say 'Good job today' while acknowledging someone's effort and hard work.

  • Means: 'You have endured much hardship/effort today' (polite acknowledgement).
  • Used in: Leaving work, ending a class, or finishing a group project.
  • Don't confuse: Never say '수고하세요' to a superior when you are staying and they are leaving.
🌅 + 💼 + 🤝 = '오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다'

Explanation at your level:

This is a very important phrase for saying 'goodbye' at work or school. It means 'You worked hard today.' Use it when you leave a place where people were working. It is very polite.
At the A2 level, you should use this to show respect to teachers and colleagues. It combines 'today' (오늘), 'one day' (하루), and 'hard work' (수고). The ending '-습니다' makes it formal. It's the best way to end a workday politely.
This expression is a staple of Korean social etiquette. It acknowledges the effort (수고) someone has put in. By adding '도' (also) to '오늘 하루' (today), you imply a continuous recognition of their daily dedication. It's more than 'goodbye'; it's a validation of their labor.
This phrase functions as a performative utterance that maintains social harmony (Chemyeon). The use of the honorific infix '-시-' in '많으셨습니다' is crucial for addressing superiors. It transitions the relationship from active work mode to a respectful conclusion of the day's duties.
Linguistically, this phrase exemplifies the Korean focus on process over result. Unlike the English 'Good job,' which evaluates the outcome, '수고 많으셨습니다' focuses on the 'bitterness' (苦) endured during the process. It is an essential component of 'nunchi'—knowing when to offer this acknowledgement to maintain workplace hierarchy and rapport.
This expression serves as a socio-linguistic marker of collective endurance. The etymological roots in Hanja {受苦} reflect a deeply ingrained cultural stoicism. Mastery involves navigating the subtle boundary between '수고' and '고생,' and understanding that while it is a standard greeting, its omission can be perceived as a significant breach of 'yewi' (etiquette) in high-stakes professional environments.

Significado

A polite expression to acknowledge someone's hard work at the end of the day.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Leaving the office before your boss (ya-geun) is a sensitive topic. Using this phrase is a way to soften the 'guilt' of leaving early. Students almost always say this to their 'hagwon' (private academy) teachers after a long night of classes. It is common to say '수고하세요' to bus drivers or security guards, acknowledging their service to the public. On KakaoTalk, people often use the abbreviation 'ㅅㄱ' (s-g) for '수고,' but only with very close friends. For work, they use the full phrase.

🎯

The Bow is Key

Always accompany this phrase with a slight bow. The deeper the bow, the more respect you show.

⚠️

Hierarchy Matters

If you are much younger than the person, consider using '고생 많으셨습니다' to avoid sounding like you are evaluating them.

Significado

A polite expression to acknowledge someone's hard work at the end of the day.

🎯

The Bow is Key

Always accompany this phrase with a slight bow. The deeper the bow, the more respect you show.

⚠️

Hierarchy Matters

If you are much younger than the person, consider using '고생 많으셨습니다' to avoid sounding like you are evaluating them.

💬

Don't expect a 'You're welcome'

The typical response is '네' (Yes) or '수고하셨습니다' back to you. It's a mutual acknowledgement.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the blank with the correct honorific form to address your boss.

부장님, 오늘 하루도 수고 ________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 많으셨습니다

'-으셨습니다' is the correct honorific past formal ending for a superior.

Which phrase is most appropriate when YOU are leaving the office and your colleagues are still working?

You are leaving. Your colleagues are staying.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 수고하세요

'수고하세요' (Keep up the hard work) is used when you leave and others stay.

Complete the dialogue between two close friends.

A: 시험 공부하느라 진짜 힘들었다. B: 그러게. 너도 오늘 ________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 수고했어

Friends use 'Banmal' (informal speech), so '수고했어' is correct.

Which Hanja root for '수고' (Sugo) means 'to receive'?

수고 ({?}|{苦})

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 受 (수)

受 (수) means 'to receive' or 'to accept.'

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

When to use 'Sugo'

💼

Work

  • • Leaving office
  • • End of meeting
  • • Project finish
🚕

Service

  • • Taxi exit
  • • Delivery arrival
  • • Security guard
📖

Study

  • • End of class
  • • Study group
  • • Tutor session

Preguntas frecuentes

5 preguntas

Yes, '오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다' is the perfect, safe phrase for a boss.

They are almost identical. '많으셨습니다' (were many) emphasizes the *amount* of work slightly more and sounds a bit warmer.

Only if you use the informal version: '수고했어'. The formal version sounds like you are making fun of them or being cold.

Say '수고하세요' (Keep working hard).

It's better to say '잘 먹었습니다' (I ate well) or '감사합니다'. '수고하세요' as you leave is okay but less common than in a taxi.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

고생 많으셨습니다

similar

You went through a lot of trouble/suffering.

🔗

애쓰셨습니다

specialized form

You put in a lot of effort.

🔗

수고하세요

builds on

Keep up the hard work.

🔗

잘 하셨습니다

contrast

You did well.

Dónde usarla

🏢

Leaving the office

Employee: 부장님, 저 먼저 들어가겠습니다. 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다.

Manager: 네, 김 대리도 수고 많았어요. 조심히 가요.

formal
📚

Ending a private lesson

Student: 선생님, 오늘도 수업 감사합니다. 수고 많으셨습니다.

Teacher: 네, 복습 잊지 마세요. 수고했어요!

formal
💻

After a group project meeting

Team Member A: 드디어 다 끝났네요. 다들 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다!

Team Member B: 진짜 고생하셨어요. 주말 잘 쉬세요.

neutral
🚕

To a taxi driver

Passenger: 여기서 내려주세요. 수고 많으셨습니다.

Driver: 네, 감사합니다. 안녕히 가세요.

formal
📞

Ending a phone call with a client

Staff: 네, 알겠습니다. 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다.

Client: 네, 수고하세요.

formal
📦

To a delivery person

Resident: 감사합니다! 수고 많으셨습니다.

Delivery Person: 네, 좋은 하루 되세요!

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Sugo' as 'Super Good' effort that someone 'Received' (Su).

Visual Association

Imagine a worker wiping sweat from their forehead as the sun sets, and a colleague handing them a cold bottle of water with a bow.

Rhyme

오늘 하루도 수고, 내일은 더 최고! (Today's hard work, tomorrow will be even better!)

Story

You are leaving a tall office building in Seoul. You see the security guard, the cleaning staff, and your manager. To each one, you offer this phrase like a small gift of recognition before you step out into the cool night air.

Word Web

수고 (Hard work)고생 (Suffering/Trouble)노력 (Effort)퇴근 (Leaving work)인사 (Greeting)감사 (Gratitude)하루 (Day)많다 (To be much)

Desafío

Try saying this out loud 5 times with a slight bow (about 15 degrees) to practice the physical etiquette that goes with it.

In Other Languages

Japanese high

お疲れ様でした (Otsukaresama deshita)

Japanese focuses on 'tiredness,' Korean focuses on 'receiving bitterness.'

Chinese high

辛苦了 (Xīnkǔle)

Chinese is often used more briefly than the full Korean formal sentence.

Spanish moderate

Buen trabajo hoy

Spanish is more of a compliment; Korean is more of a social requirement.

French partial

Bon courage

French is used before/during work; Korean is used after.

German moderate

Schönen Feierabend

German focuses on the leisure time ahead; Korean focuses on the work completed.

Arabic high

يعطيك العافية (Ya'tik al-afiya)

Arabic uses a religious/well-being blessing; Korean uses a secular acknowledgement of effort.

Portuguese moderate

Bom trabalho

Portuguese is more casual and optional.

English moderate

Thanks for your hard work

English is often reserved for big projects; Korean is used every single day.

Easily Confused

오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다. vs 수고하세요 vs 수고하셨습니다

Learners often use the present '하세요' when they should use the past '하셨습니다'.

Use '하셨습니다' when the work is DONE. Use '하세요' when the work is CONTINUING.

오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다. vs 수고 vs 고생

Both mean hard work, but '고생' is much heavier.

Use '수고' for daily tasks. Use '고생' for big projects, accidents, or very difficult situations.

Preguntas frecuentes (5)

Yes, '오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다' is the perfect, safe phrase for a boss.

They are almost identical. '많으셨습니다' (were many) emphasizes the *amount* of work slightly more and sounds a bit warmer.

Only if you use the informal version: '수고했어'. The formal version sounds like you are making fun of them or being cold.

Say '수고하세요' (Keep working hard).

It's better to say '잘 먹었습니다' (I ate well) or '감사합니다'. '수고하세요' as you leave is okay but less common than in a taxi.

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