Mastering “Thank You” After a Big Presentation!
Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 👋
Did you have a big presentation or a team project recently? In Korea, university students and office workers put a lot of effort into presentations (called “PPT” or 발표).
Today, we will learn how to express gratitude to your friends or colleagues who listened to your presentation or helped you prepare.
In Korea these days…
After a stressful presentation or exam, there is a strong culture of relieving stress with spicy food (like Malatang) or sweet desserts. Offering to treat your friends to these trendy foods is the perfect way to say “Thank you!” Let’s learn how to say it naturally!
Key Expressions
Here are 3 essential expressions to thank your friends after a presentation.
1. 들어줘서 고마워.
- Pronunciation: [Deureojwoseo gomawo]
- English Meaning: Thanks for listening.
- Detail: This is a casual expression used with friends. You use this right after you finish speaking or when you step off the podium. It shows you appreciate their attention.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Look at ‘들어 (deul-eo)’. When a syllable ends with a consonant (ㄹ) and the next starts with a vowel (ㅇ), the sound carries over.
- So, instead of ‘deul-eo’, it sounds like [deu-reo]. This is called ‘Liason’ (Yeoneum). It makes your Korean sound much smoother!
2. 너 덕분에 잘 끝냈어.
- Pronunciation: [Neo deokbune jal kkeunnaesseo]
- English Meaning: Thanks to you, I finished it well.
- Detail: ‘덕분에 (deokbune)’ means “thanks to.” It gives credit to the other person. This is a very warm phrase that makes your friend feel important.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘끝냈어’ is tricky! The bottom ‘ㅌ’ (t) sound in ‘끝’ meets the ‘ㄴ’ (n) in ‘냈’.
- The ‘t’ sound changes to an ‘n’ sound for easier flow. So, it is pronounced [kkeunnaesseo], not [kkeutnaesseo]. This is called ‘Nasalization.’
3. 내가 밥 살게! (or 커피 살게!)
- Pronunciation: [Naega bap ssalge!]
- English Meaning: I’ll buy you a meal! (or I’ll buy you coffee!)
- Detail: In Korea, actions speak louder than words. Buying a meal is the most common way to show gratitude. “밥 (Bap)” means rice/meal.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Be careful with ‘살게 (salge)’. Because of the ‘ㅂ’ (p/b) sound in ‘밥’, the ‘ㅅ’ (s) in ‘살’ hardens into a strong ‘ss’ sound.
- It sounds like [bap ssalge]. This phenomenon is called ‘Tensification’ (Gyeong-eum-hwa). Say it with energy!
Real-life Conversation
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real situation.
(Situation: Minji just finished her group presentation, and Jason is her teammate.)
Minji: 휴, 드디어 끝났다! 너무 떨렸어.
(Phew, it’s finally over! I was so nervous.)Jason: 아니야, 너 진짜 잘했어! 목소리도 컸고.
(No, you did really well! Your voice was loud, too.)Minji: 정말? 그렇게 말해줘서 고마워. 너 덕분에 잘 끝냈어.
(Really? Thanks for saying that. Thanks to you, I finished it well.)Jason: 에이, 우린 한 팀이잖아.
(Ey, we are one team.)Minji: 고마우니까 내가 밥 살게! 요즘 유행하는 마라탕 어때?
(Since I’m thankful, I’ll buy you a meal! How about Malatang, which is trendy these days?)Jason: 오, 좋아! 가자!
(Oh, sounds good! Let’s go!)
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis 🇰🇷
“Buying a Meal” (쏜다 / Sson-da)
Did you notice Minji said, “I’ll buy a meal”? In Korean culture, sharing food is sharing affection (Jeong/정).
Especially among Gen Z in Korea, treating friends to “Malatang” (spicy soup) followed by “Tanghulu” (candied fruit) is a very popular “course” after finishing a big project.
If you want to sound like a local, instead of just saying “Thank you,” try suggesting a specific trendy food:
* “오늘 내가 마라탕 쏠게!” (I’ll shoot/treat you to Malatang today!)
Wrap-up & Quiz
Today, we learned how to express gratitude to friends who supported you. Remember, a warm word and a promise of a meal can make your friendship stronger!
📝 Mini Quiz
Fill in the blank to complete the sentence!
“Thanks to you, I finished well.”
= 너 [ _____ ] 잘 끝냈어.
- 때문에
- 덕분에
Answer: (Check the comment section for the answer! 😉)
If you enjoyed this lesson, please leave a comment using one of the expressions you learned today! See you next time!
