Korean · Greetings & Essentials
"Well done!" in Korean: 잘했어요
잘했어요jalhaesseoyo
Well done! in Korean is 잘했어요 (jalhaesseoyo). 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
Well done!: starting the exchange
발표를 잘했어요.balpyoreul jalhaesseoyo.
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How to pronounce 잘했어요
Say it
jalhaesseoyo
/tɕalhɛs͈ʌjo/
잘했어요 is read jalhaesseoyo. In 정말 잘했어요, read the full phrase as jeongmal jalhaesseoyo.
"Well done!" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 잘했어요jalhaesseoyo | Well done! The inventory form for well done!. | The inventory form for well done!. |
| 정말 잘했어요jeongmal jalhaesseoyo | you did really well 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort. | 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort. |
How to use 잘했어요 in real life
- 1Well done!: starting the exchange
발표를 잘했어요.
balpyoreul jalhaesseoyo.
You did the presentation well.
잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
- 2Well done!: adding useful context
정말 잘했어요. 축하해요.
jeongmal jalhaesseoyo. chukahaeyo.
Well done. Congratulations.
This sentence places 잘했어요 in a complete exchange.
- 3Well done!: a different conversation
오늘도 잘했어요.
oneuldo jalhaesseoyo.
You did well today too.
This sentence places 잘했어요 in a complete exchange.
Mistakes English speakers make with 잘했어요
Incorrect: 발표를 잘했어요이에요.
Correct: 발표를 잘했어요.
When practicing well done, a conjugated predicate already finishes this sentence; do not append the noun copula 이에요. Keep the complete form 발표를 잘했어요.
Incorrect: 발표를 잘했어요습니다.
Correct: 발표를 잘했어요.
When practicing well done, do not append a formal sentence ending to a predicate that already has its polite ending. Keep the complete form 발표를 잘했어요.
Good to know
잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led greetings and essentials study exercise: two sentences with 잘했어요
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
발표를 잘했어요.
balpyoreul jalhaesseoyo.
You did the presentation well.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
정말 잘했어요. 축하해요.
jeongmal jalhaesseoyo. chukahaeyo.
Well done. Congratulations.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Well done!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Well done!" in Korean
What does 잘했어요 mean?
Well done! in Korean is 잘했어요 (jalhaesseoyo). 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
When should I say 정말 잘했어요?
잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
How does 정말 잘했어요 differ from the basic expression?
정말 잘했어요 means “you did really well”. 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
Can I use 잘했어요 in a full sentence?
발표를 잘했어요. means “You did the presentation well.” 잘했어요 praises a completed action; 잘해요 describes ability or a habitual action rather than that completed effort.
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