열심히 하세요.
Yeolsimhi haseyo.
Do your best.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite way to tell someone to 'work hard' or 'do their best' in any task.
- Means: Please put in your best effort or work hard.
- Used in: School, work, or when someone starts a new hobby.
- Don't confuse: Avoid saying this to a much higher-ranking boss as it sounds like an order.
Explanation at your level:
意思
Encouraging someone to put in maximum effort.
文化背景
The 'Pali-pali' (hurry-hurry) culture often goes hand-in-hand with 'Yeolsimhi.' It's not just about working hard, but working hard and fast. Education Fever: Parents often say this to their children daily. It's a sign of parental love and expectation. Corporate Hierarchy: A junior employee should respond to '열심히 하세요' with '네, 열심히 하겠습니다' (Yes, I will work hard) to show obedience and diligence. Modern Skepticism: Among Gen Z, 'God-saeng' (Living like a god/productive life) is a popular trend that reclaims 'working hard' for personal goals rather than just company loyalty.
The 'I will' response
When someone says this to you, the most natural response is '네, {열심|熱心}히 하겠습니다!' (Yes, I will work hard!)
Boss Alert
Never say this to your boss unless you are very close or they specifically asked for your 'evaluation' of their work (which is rare).
意思
Encouraging someone to put in maximum effort.
The 'I will' response
When someone says this to you, the most natural response is '네, {열심|熱心}히 하겠습니다!' (Yes, I will work hard!)
Boss Alert
Never say this to your boss unless you are very close or they specifically asked for your 'evaluation' of their work (which is rare).
Social Media
On Instagram, use the hashtag #열공 or #열일 (working hard) to show you are being productive.
Effort vs Result
In Korea, showing that you are working hard is often as important as the actual result. This phrase validates that effort.
自我测试
Complete the dialogue between a teacher and a student.
선생님: 내일 시험이죠? ( ). 학생: 네, 선생님. 감사합니다!
A teacher would encourage a student to work hard for an exam.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When you are leaving the office and your colleagues are still working:
It's a polite way to acknowledge colleagues who are staying behind.
Which of these is the most informal version?
Encouraging a close friend to study:
The '-해' ending is the casual/informal form (Banmal).
Fill in the blank with the correct adverb.
한국어를 ( ) 공부해요.
'열심히' is the standard adverb for 'hard' in the context of studying.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Encouragement Levels
常见问题
14 个问题Yes, if they are performing a task (like a street performer or someone studying in a cafe), but it might be a bit intrusive. It's best for people you have at least a slight connection with.
Only if used with someone older or of higher status. With friends or younger people, it's perfectly natural and friendly.
'Fighting' (화이팅) is an exclamation of energy. '열심히 하세요' is a polite request/encouragement for sustained effort.
Yes, it's very common to tell athletes or friends playing sports to 'work hard.'
Use the past tense: '{열심|熱心}히 했어요' (Yeolsimhi haesseoyo).
No, 'Haseyo' is a native Korean grammatical ending.
It's a way to acknowledge that others are still working and to wish them a productive time after you leave.
Yes! '다이어트 {열심|熱心}히 하세요' is a common way to encourage someone on a diet.
Use '{열심|熱心}히 하십시오' (Yeolsimhi hasipsio).
Not exactly. 'Good luck' is '행운을 빌어요.' '열심히 하세요' implies that success depends on your effort, not luck.
Yes, it's very common for adults to say '열심히 해' to children.
Yes, often in the closing to encourage a team or a partner on a shared project.
It's a slang contraction of 'Yeolsimhi Gongbu' (Study hard).
No, that would be strange. Just say '감사합니다' or '수고하세요' when leaving.
相关表达
힘내세요
similarCheer up / Have strength
수고하세요
similarKeep up the good work
최선을 다하세요
similarDo your best
화이팅
similarFighting!
잘 하세요
similarDo it well
쉬엄쉬엄 하세요
contrastTake it easy
在哪里用
Leaving the office
A (Leaving): 저 먼저 퇴근하겠습니다. {열심|熱心}히 하세요!
B (Staying): 네, 고생하셨습니다. 조심히 가세요.
Encouraging a student
Teacher: 내일이 시험이죠? {열심|熱心}히 하세요.
Student: 네, 선생님. {열심|熱心}히 하겠습니다!
At the gym
Friend A: 나 이제 유산소 시작해.
Friend B: 오, 그래? {열심|熱心}히 해!
Starting a new hobby
Person A: 저 요즘 그림 배우기 시작했어요.
Person B: 정말요? {열심|熱心}히 하세요. 멋지네요!
Job Interview (Candidate's promise)
Interviewer: 우리 회사에서 어떻게 일할 건가요?
Candidate: 뽑아주신다면 무엇이든 {열심|熱心}히 하겠습니다!
Texting a friend
User 1: 나 지금 도서관이야 ㅠㅠ
User 2: 고생이 많네 ㅋㅋ {열심|熱心}히 해!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Yell-Sim-He'. You 'Yell' with 'Sim'-ilar 'He'-artfelt passion when you work hard.
Visual Association
Imagine a heart ({심|心}) with a small campfire ({열|熱}) burning inside it, and that heart is running a marathon.
Rhyme
Work with zeal, make it real, 'Yeolsimhi' is the deal!
Story
A young student named Yeol was very cold. He started studying so hard that his heart (Sim) got hot (Yeol). His teacher saw him and said, 'Yeol-Sim-Hi haseyo!' to keep the fire going.
Word Web
挑战
Next time you see someone studying or working, say '열심히 하세요' to them and notice their reaction.
In Other Languages
Work hard / Do your best
English is less sensitive to status when giving this encouragement.
¡Échale ganas!
The Spanish version is much more informal and colloquial.
Bon courage
French focuses on the 'courage' needed, Korean focuses on the 'passion/heat' applied.
Gib dein Bestes
German is more direct and less frequently used as a casual parting greeting.
頑張ってください (Ganbatte kudasai)
Japanese 'Ganbaru' emphasizes 'sticking to it,' while Korean 'Yeolsim' emphasizes 'passion/intensity.'
اجتهد (Ijtahid)
Arabic often includes religious invocations (like 'Inshallah') alongside the encouragement.
努力 (Nǔlì) / 加油 (Jiāyóu)
Jiāyóu is much more common for sports, while Nǔlì is for long-term goals.
Trabalhe duro / Dê o seu melhor
Portuguese speakers might use more physical gestures of support compared to the verbal focus in Korean.
Easily Confused
Both involve 'working,' but 'Sugohaseyo' is only for leaving.
If you are staying, don't say 'Sugohaseyo.' If you want to encourage the task itself, say 'Yeolsimhi haseyo.'
Learners think 'Do well' and 'Work hard' are the same.
'Jal haseyo' can sometimes sound like a challenge or a threat ('You better do it well'), while 'Yeolsimhi haseyo' is always supportive of effort.
常见问题 (14)
Yes, if they are performing a task (like a street performer or someone studying in a cafe), but it might be a bit intrusive. It's best for people you have at least a slight connection with.
Only if used with someone older or of higher status. With friends or younger people, it's perfectly natural and friendly.
'Fighting' (화이팅) is an exclamation of energy. '열심히 하세요' is a polite request/encouragement for sustained effort.
Yes, it's very common to tell athletes or friends playing sports to 'work hard.'
Use the past tense: '{열심|熱心}히 했어요' (Yeolsimhi haesseoyo).
No, 'Haseyo' is a native Korean grammatical ending.
It's a way to acknowledge that others are still working and to wish them a productive time after you leave.
Yes! '다이어트 {열심|熱心}히 하세요' is a common way to encourage someone on a diet.
Use '{열심|熱心}히 하십시오' (Yeolsimhi hasipsio).
Not exactly. 'Good luck' is '행운을 빌어요.' '열심히 하세요' implies that success depends on your effort, not luck.
Yes, it's very common for adults to say '열심히 해' to children.
Yes, often in the closing to encourage a team or a partner on a shared project.
It's a slang contraction of 'Yeolsimhi Gongbu' (Study hard).
No, that would be strange. Just say '감사합니다' or '수고하세요' when leaving.
