감사 vs 고맙다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 감사
Listen to 고맙다
| 감사 | 고맙다 |
|---|---|
gahm-SA noun | go-map-da noun |
| thanks; gratitude | to be thankful; grateful |
How they differ
고맙다 is a descriptive adjective meaning “to be grateful,” while 감사 is a noun meaning “gratitude” or “thanks.” They are related, but 고맙다 is used more naturally in direct expressions of appreciation, especially in speech.
When to use each
When to use 감사: Use 감사 when you need the noun form, such as in formal writing or set expressions.
When to use 고맙다: Use 고맙다 when you want to say directly that someone or something is appreciated.
Side-by-side examples
- 선생님께 감사의 마음을 전했다.
(I expressed my gratitude to the teacher.) - 선생님께 정말 고맙다.
(I am really grateful to the teacher.)
Register & nuance: 감사 is the noun and tends to sound more formal or written, while 고맙다 is more natural in everyday conversation.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for 감사
- See the Word of the Day entry for 고맙다
- Back to today's Korean word