gomawo vs kamsahamnida
Gomawo vs Kamsahamnida: Casual vs Formal Thank You in Korean
고마워
gomawo · gomawo
감사합니다
kamsahamnida · gamsahamnida
Quick answer
Gomawo (고마워) is a casual 'thanks' for friends and people you're close to, while kamsahamnida (감사합니다) is the formal 'thank you' for elders, strangers, and professional settings.
Comparison table
| Aspect | gomawo | kamsahamnida |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Thanks / Thank you (casual) | Thank you (formal) |
| Formality | Casual — close friends, family, younger people | Formal / polite — elders, first meetings, work, public |
| Middle option | Gomawoyo (고마워요) — polite but warmer than kamsahamnida | Kamsahamnida is the most formal option |
| Safe with strangers? | Can sound rude to people older than you | Always appropriate |
| K-drama context | Between friends, lovers, siblings | Work settings, formal ceremonies, meeting seniors |
gomawo examples
고마워, 정말 도움 됐어.
Gomawo, jeongmal doum dwaesseo.
Thanks, that really helped.
고마워요, 선배님.
Gomawoyo, seonbaenim.
Thank you, senior. (polite middle form)
kamsahamnida examples
감사합니다, 잘 받겠습니다.
Gamsahamnida, jal batgesseumnida.
Thank you, I'll receive it gratefully.
도와주셔서 감사합니다.
Dowajusyeoseo gamsahamnida.
Thank you for helping me.
Which one should you use?
Use kamsahamnida any time you're not 100% sure — it's always correct and never too much. Switch to gomawo with friends your own age or younger. The middle ground, gomawoyo (고마워요), is a great polite-but-warm option when kamsahamnida feels too stiff.
FAQ
What's the difference between gomawo and gomawoyo?
Gomawo (고마워) is plain casual; gomawoyo (고마워요) adds -yo to make it polite. Gomawoyo sits between gomawo and kamsahamnida in formality.
Which do K-pop idols say when accepting awards?
Kamsahamnida — it's the respectful choice for public, formal moments. You'll often hear 'jeongmal kamsahamnida' (정말 감사합니다, truly thank you).
Is gamsahamnida or kamsahamnida correct?
Both spellings exist because the first consonant ㄱ sounds somewhere between 'g' and 'k' in Korean. The Revised Romanization official form is 'gamsahamnida' but 'kamsahamnida' is widely recognized and understood.