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.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
A polite expression to acknowledge someone's hard work at the end of the day.
文化的背景
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.
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.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct honorific form to address your boss.
부장님, 오늘 하루도 수고 ________.
'-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.
'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 ________.
Friends use 'Banmal' (informal speech), so '수고했어' is correct.
Which Hanja root for '수고' (Sugo) means 'to receive'?
수고 ({?}|{苦})
受 (수) means 'to receive' or 'to accept.'
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
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
練習問題バンク
5 問題부장님, 오늘 하루도 수고 ________.
'-으셨습니다' is the correct honorific past formal ending for a superior.
You are leaving. Your colleagues are staying.
'수고하세요' (Keep up the hard work) is used when you leave and others stay.
A: 시험 공부하느라 진짜 힘들었다. B: 그러게. 너도 오늘 ________.
Friends use 'Banmal' (informal speech), so '수고했어' is correct.
수고 ({?}|{苦})
受 (수) means 'to receive' or 'to accept.'
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
5 問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.
関連フレーズ
고생 많으셨습니다
similarYou went through a lot of trouble/suffering.
애쓰셨습니다
specialized formYou put in a lot of effort.
수고하세요
builds onKeep up the hard work.
잘 하셨습니다
contrastYou did well.
どこで使う？
Leaving the office
Employee: 부장님, 저 먼저 들어가겠습니다. 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다.
Manager: 네, 김 대리도 수고 많았어요. 조심히 가요.
Ending a private lesson
Student: 선생님, 오늘도 수업 감사합니다. 수고 많으셨습니다.
Teacher: 네, 복습 잊지 마세요. 수고했어요!
After a group project meeting
Team Member A: 드디어 다 끝났네요. 다들 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다!
Team Member B: 진짜 고생하셨어요. 주말 잘 쉬세요.
To a taxi driver
Passenger: 여기서 내려주세요. 수고 많으셨습니다.
Driver: 네, 감사합니다. 안녕히 가세요.
Ending a phone call with a client
Staff: 네, 알겠습니다. 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다.
Client: 네, 수고하세요.
To a delivery person
Resident: 감사합니다! 수고 많으셨습니다.
Delivery Person: 네, 좋은 하루 되세요!
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'Sugo' as 'Super Good' effort that someone 'Received' (Su).
視覚的連想
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.
In Other Languages
The Japanese 'Otsukaresama' is almost an exact cultural match. In English, we might say 'Good job today' or 'Thanks for everything,' but they lack the specific 'enduring hardship' nuance.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try saying this out loud 5 times with a slight bow (about 15 degrees) to practice the physical etiquette that goes with it.
Review this every time you finish your study session for the day. It's the perfect closing phrase.
発音
The 's' is slightly aspirated. 'go' is a clear 'g' sound.
The 'h' in '많' is silent before the vowel. The 'ss' in '습니다' is tensed.
フォーマル度スペクトル
오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다. (General end of day)
오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨어요. (General end of day)
오늘 하루도 수고 많았어. (General end of day)
오늘 고생했누 (very casual/internet slang) (General end of day)
The phrase is rooted in the Hanja compound {受苦} (sugo). Historically, it was used to describe someone undergoing actual physical or mental suffering. Over time, as Korean society became more structured and professional, it shifted from a literal description of pain to a polite acknowledgement of the effort required to perform one's duties.
豆知識
The word '수고' is so common that there is a dedicated emoji on many Korean keyboards that types the whole phrase at once!
文化メモ
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.
“먼저 들어가보겠습니다. 수고 많으셨습니다.”
Students almost always say this to their 'hagwon' (private academy) teachers after a long night of classes.
“선생님, 오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다! 안녕히 계세요.”
It is common to say '수고하세요' to bus drivers or security guards, acknowledging their service to the public.
“기사님, 수고하세요!”
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.
“오늘 다들 수고 많으셨습니다~ (with emojis)”
会話のきっかけ
How would you greet your Korean language teacher at the end of a 2-hour class?
You are leaving your part-time job at a convenience store. What do you say to the next worker?
Your friend just finished a very difficult marathon. What do you say?
よくある間違い
수고하세요 (to a superior leaving)
수고 많으셨습니다 / 안녕히 가세요
L1 Interference
오늘 하루도 수고 많았습니다 (to a boss)
오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다
L1 Interference
Using it at a party
즐거웠습니다 / 초대해 주셔서 감사합니다
L1 Interference
수고 많으셨습니다 (to a friend)
수고했어 / 고생했어
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
お疲れ様でした (Otsukaresama deshita)
Japanese focuses on 'tiredness,' Korean focuses on 'receiving bitterness.'
辛苦了 (Xīnkǔle)
Chinese is often used more briefly than the full Korean formal sentence.
Buen trabajo hoy
Spanish is more of a compliment; Korean is more of a social requirement.
Bon courage
French is used before/during work; Korean is used after.
Schönen Feierabend
German focuses on the leisure time ahead; Korean focuses on the work completed.
يعطيك العافية (Ya'tik al-afiya)
Arabic uses a religious/well-being blessing; Korean uses a secular acknowledgement of effort.
Bom trabalho
Portuguese is more casual and optional.
Thanks for your hard work
English is often reserved for big projects; Korean is used every single day.
Spotted in the Real World
“오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다, 오 차장님.”
Jang Geu-rae says this to his boss at the end of a grueling day at the trading company.
“수고하셨습니다.”
Used frequently as characters leave their office jobs in the evening.
“수고했어 오늘도 / 아무도 너의 슬픔에 관심 없대도”
A comforting song for people coming home after a hard day.
間違えやすい
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.
Both mean hard work, but '고생' is much heavier.
Use '수고' for daily tasks. Use '고생' for big projects, accidents, or very difficult situations.
よくある質問 (5)
Yes, '오늘 하루도 수고 많으셨습니다' is the perfect, safe phrase for a boss.
usage contextsThey are almost identical. '많으셨습니다' (were many) emphasizes the *amount* of work slightly more and sounds a bit warmer.
basic understandingOnly if you use the informal version: '수고했어'. The formal version sounds like you are making fun of them or being cold.
grammar mechanicsSay '수고하세요' (Keep working hard).
practical tipsIt's better to say '잘 먹었습니다' (I ate well) or '감사합니다'. '수고하세요' as you leave is okay but less common than in a taxi.
cultural usage
