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elementary · freeInteractive lesson

수고하세요 and 수고하셨습니다

Keep up the good work; thank you for your effort

Try it freePractice this Korean dialogueShadow each line, then continue with the related scenario practice.Open →

Explanation

수고 refers to effort or trouble. 수고하세요 can function as a farewell that acknowledges the other person will continue working, while 수고하셨습니다 acknowledges effort that has already been made.

You may hear these expressions among coworkers, from customers to workers, after a task, or when one person leaves while others continue. Their exact tone depends strongly on role and hierarchy.

수고하세요 can sound awkward or top-down when directed to someone much senior, because it may resemble telling them to keep working hard. 감사합니다 or 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다 may be safer in sensitive hierarchical situations.

Do not translate the phrase mechanically. Observe who is working, whether the work continues, and whether the relationship allows the speaker to evaluate or acknowledge the other person’s effort.

Examples

저 먼저 퇴근하겠습니다. 수고하세요.

jeo meonjeo toegeunhagetseumnida. sugohaseyo.

I will leave work first. Have a good rest of your shift.

오늘도 수고하셨습니다.

oneuldo sugohasyeotseumnida.

Thank you for your work today.

기사님, 수고하셨습니다. 감사합니다.

gisanim, sugohasyeotseumnida. gamsahamnida.

Driver, thank you for your effort. Thank you.

Mini dialogue

저 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.

I will head out first.

네, 수고하셨어요. 내일 봐요.

Okay, good work. See you tomorrow.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use 수고하세요 as a universal goodbye without considering work and hierarchy.
  • Do not assume 수고하셨습니다 and 감사합니다 are interchangeable; one acknowledges effort, while the other directly expresses thanks.

How to practice

  1. Use 수고하셨습니다 after shared work or a completed task.
  2. Use 수고하세요 carefully when the listener continues working.
  3. Choose 감사합니다 when you mainly want to thank someone and hierarchy makes 수고 language uncertain.

Check yourself

Question 1 of 1

Which phrase most directly acknowledges completed effort?

Connected learning paths

When to use itAll Korean greeting situationsCompare effort-based farewells with neutral goodbyes.GuideRelationship-aware KoreanUnderstand why 수고하세요 can feel natural, hierarchical, or awkward by relationship.RelatedCompare with a neutral friendly goodbyeUse 잘 가요 when you want a friendly departure without evaluating the listener’s work or effort.

Keep learning

Korean greetings by situation안녕: casual hello and goodbye안녕하십니까: formal-deferential hello처음 뵙겠습니다만나서 반갑습니다여보세요: Korean phone hello안녕히 가세요안녕히 계세요

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