Unlock True Korean ‘Haengbok’: How to Write a Heartfelt Thank-You Letter

Hello! This is Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever wanted to express gratitude to someone in a way that’s deeper and more meaningful than a simple “고마워요 (gomawoyo)”? Today, we’re going to learn how to write a heartfelt thank-you letter in Korean. This is perfect for showing appreciation to a teacher, a close friend, or a family member who has helped you.

Lately in Korea, there’s a beautiful trend of finding ‘소확행’ (Sohwakhaeng), which means “small but certain happiness.” A big part of this is taking the time to appreciate the people around us. Many people are writing handwritten letters or thoughtful social media posts to express their gratitude. So, let’s learn how you can join in and share your own happiness and thanks, Korean-style!

Core Expressions for Your Thank-You Letter

Here are three essential phrases that will make your thank-you letter sound sincere and natural.

1. 덕분에 (deokbune)

• Pronunciation [deokbune]:
• English Meaning: Thanks to you / Because of you (in a positive way)
• Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial expression for showing that someone’s help or existence led to a positive outcome. It’s much more specific than just saying “thank you.” You use it to connect a person’s action directly to the good result. It can be used in both formal and informal situations.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  When you say ‘덕분에’, the final ‘ㄱ’ (k) sound in ‘덕’ and the initial ‘ㅂ’ (b) sound in ‘분’ can sometimes create a slightly tensed sound, almost like [덕뿌네, deok-ppu-ne]. This is a natural phonetic change called ‘tensing’ (경음화) that happens in spoken Korean, making your pronunciation sound much more fluid.

2. 마음을 담아 (maeumeul dama)

• Pronunciation [maeumeul dama]:
• English Meaning: With all my heart / Heartfully
• Detailed Explanation: This beautiful phrase literally means “putting one’s heart into it.” You use it to emphasize that your actions or words are filled with sincerity and genuine feeling. It adds a layer of warmth and earnestness to your message.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Notice how ‘마음을’ is pronounced [마으믈, ma-eu-meul], not ‘ma-eum-eul’. The final consonant ‘ㅁ’ (m) from ‘음’ moves over to the next syllable, which starts with a vowel. This sound-linking rule is called ‘liaison’ (연음), and it’s fundamental to making your Korean sound smooth and connected.

3. -ㄹ/을 수 있어서 기뻤어요 (-(r)eul su isseoseo gippeosseoyo)

• Pronunciation [-(r)eul su isseoseo gippeosseoyo]:
• English Meaning: I was happy that I could… / I was glad to be able to…
• Detailed Explanation: This grammatical pattern is perfect for expressing joy about a past opportunity or experience. You attach it to a verb stem to show that the ability to perform that action brought you happiness. It’s a wonderful way to reflect on a positive shared memory.
  • Verb stem ending in a vowel + -ㄹ 수 있어서 기뻤어요 (e.g., 만나다 -> 만날 수 있어서 기뻤어요)
  • Verb stem ending in a consonant + -을 수 있어서 기뻤어요 (e.g., 먹다 -> 먹을 수 있어서 기뻤어요)
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In ‘있어서’, the ‘ㅆ’ (ss) consonant at the end of ‘있’ moves over to the next syllable, making the pronunciation [이써서, i-sseo-seo]. This is another example of ‘liaison’ (연음). Instead of a choppy “it-eo-seo,” it flows smoothly as “i-sseo-seo.”

Example Conversation

Let’s see how these expressions might be used in a real-life chat.

A: 소연아, 뭐해?

Soyeon, what are you doing?

B: 아, 박 교수님께 감사 편지 쓰고 있어.

Oh, I’m writing a thank-you letter to Professor Park.

A: 정말? 좋은 생각이다!

Really? That’s a great idea!

B: 응. 교수님 덕분에 논문을 잘 마칠 수 있었거든. 정말 마음을 담아 쓰고 싶어.

Yeah. Thanks to him, I was able to finish my thesis well. I really want to write it with all my heart.

A: 교수님이 정말 좋아하시겠다.

He’s going to love that.

B: “교수님과 함께 공부할 수 있어서 기뻤어요“라고 마무리하려고.

I’m planning to end it by saying, “I was so happy that I could study with you.”

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, even in our hyper-digital age, a handwritten letter (손편지, son-pyeonji) is considered one of the most sincere ways to express your feelings. It shows you invested time and effort, which is deeply appreciated.

The concept of 소확행 (Sohwakhaeng) has made this even more popular. People are realizing that happiness isn’t just about big achievements; it’s also found in small, meaningful moments, like receiving a warm letter. You’ll often see K-pop idols writing handwritten letters to their fans on social media, which has made the practice feel modern and cool again.

So, when you use phrases like ‘마음을 담아’, you’re not just using a Korean expression; you’re tapping into a cultural value that places high importance on sincerity (진심, jinsim). Using these phrases shows that you understand and respect this important part of Korean culture!

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! We learned some wonderful expressions to show deep gratitude, connecting with the Korean trend of finding small, certain happiness (소확행).

Now, let’s put it into practice!

1. Fill in the blank:

친구 ______ 힘든 시간을 이겨낼 수 있었어요.
(______ my friend, I was able to get through a difficult time.)

2. Make a sentence:

Imagine a friend gave you a very thoughtful gift. How would you say, “I was happy I could receive this gift”? Use the -ㄹ/을 수 있어서 기뻤어요 pattern.

Leave your answers in the comments below! And why not use one of today’s expressions to write a short thank-you message to someone you’re grateful for?

Happy learning