A1 Expression Formel

수고했어요

14

Good job / You worked hard

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A versatile phrase used to acknowledge someone's effort, whether they are finishing a task or you are saying goodbye.

  • Means: 'You have put in effort' or 'Thank you for your hard work.'
  • Used in: Ending meetings, leaving the office, or thanking a service worker.
  • Don't confuse: Avoid using it toward superiors as it can sound condescending.
Handshake + Tired face = Respectful acknowledgment

Explanation at your level:

This is a very common phrase to say 'good job' or 'thank you for your work.' You use it when someone finishes a task. It is very useful in offices or when you finish a group project with friends.
This expression combines 'effort' and 'to do.' It is used to acknowledge that someone has worked hard. It is a standard way to say goodbye to colleagues. However, be careful: do not say this to your boss, as it can sound like you are judging their work.
The phrase is a cornerstone of Korean social etiquette. It functions as a bridge between the completion of a task and the transition to a new activity. By using it, you validate the other person's labor. It is essential to choose the correct conjugation based on the listener's age and status to avoid sounding condescending.
As a sociolinguistic marker, '수고하다' encapsulates the Korean emphasis on collective effort. It is not merely a greeting but a recognition of the 'bitterness' (고) of labor. Mastering its usage requires an understanding of the hierarchical nature of Korean society, where the power to evaluate effort is often reserved for those in higher positions.
The etymological roots of '수고'—{手|수} (hand) and {苦|고} (hardship)—reveal a deep-seated cultural preoccupation with the physical manifestation of labor. In modern discourse, the phrase has become a performative act of empathy. Its usage is highly context-dependent; the shift from '수고하셨습니다' to '수고하세요' marks a transition from retrospective acknowledgment to prospective encouragement, demonstrating the nuanced temporal flexibility of Korean honorifics.
The pragmatics of '수고하다' reveal the intricate interplay between Confucian hierarchy and modern professional etiquette. It functions as a phatic expression that maintains social equilibrium by acknowledging the 'cost' of the interlocutor's agency. The potential for the phrase to be perceived as patronizing when directed upward highlights the rigid boundaries of status-based communication in Korean, where the directionality of 'evaluation' is strictly governed by social capital.

Signification

Acknowledging someone's effort or hard work; a common farewell at work.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Essential for workplace etiquette. Similar to 'Otsukaresama'. Uses 'Xinku' to acknowledge labor. Uses health-based blessings.

⚠️

Don't use with bosses

It sounds patronizing.

Signification

Acknowledging someone's effort or hard work; a common farewell at work.

⚠️

Don't use with bosses

It sounds patronizing.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank for a formal setting.

오늘 회의 준비하시느라 ____.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 수고하셨습니다

Use honorifics for formal settings.

🎉 Score : /1

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Use '수고하셨습니다' to be safe.

Expressions liées

🔄

고생했어요

synonym

You suffered/worked hard

Où l'utiliser

🏢

Leaving the office

Colleague: 먼저 가보겠습니다. 수고하세요!

formal
🎤

After a presentation

Friend: 발표하느라 수고했어요!

neutral
📦

Receiving a delivery

Customer: 감사합니다, 수고하세요!

polite

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Sugo' as 'So-Go' (So, go and rest because you worked hard).

Visual Association

Imagine a tired marathon runner crossing the finish line and a friend handing them water while saying 'Sugo!'.

Rhyme

Work hard, don't be slow, say 'Sugo'!

Story

Min-su finished his report. He felt tired. His boss said, 'Min-su, you worked hard.' Min-su felt proud. He said, 'Thank you!'

Word Web

노력 (effort)고생 (hardship)감사 (gratitude)일 (work)수고하다 (to work hard)인사 (greeting)

Défi

Use '수고하셨습니다' to a colleague or teacher today.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Buen trabajo

Korean emphasizes the 'bitterness' of the labor.

French moderate

Bon travail

French lacks the specific 'hardship' nuance.

German moderate

Gute Arbeit

German is more direct and less ritualized.

Japanese high

お疲れ様です (Otsukaresama desu)

Japanese is even more ubiquitous in daily life.

Arabic high

يعطيك العافية (Ya'teek al-afiya)

Arabic uses a religious blessing.

Chinese high

辛苦了 (Xīnkǔle)

Used very similarly in professional contexts.

Korean high

고생했어요

고생 is slightly more empathetic.

Portuguese moderate

Bom trabalho

Lacks the ritualized farewell function.

Easily Confused

수고했어요 vs 수고하세요 vs 수고하셨습니다

Tense difference

Use -세요 for leaving, -셨습니다 for finishing.

FAQ (1)

Use '수고하셨습니다' to be safe.

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