Dictionary — Entry No. 0063
고마워
gomawo · expression
고마워
gomawo
[GOH-mah-woh]
Expression
Beginner
Meaning
고마워 (gomawo) is the informal way to say “thank you” in Korean, used casually between close friends, family members, or when speaking to someone younger. It comes from the adjective 고맙다 (gomapda), meaning “to be grateful” or “to be thankful.” When you want to express gratitude in a warm, friendly way rather than a formal setting, 고마워 is the go-to phrase.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
You’ll hear 고마워 constantly in K-Dramas whenever two characters are close — it signals intimacy and familiarity between them, so when a cold male lead finally says it to the female lead, fans know it’s a big emotional moment. K-Pop idols often use 고마워 in fan messages, V-Lives, and song lyrics to thank fans in a heartfelt, personal way rather than the stiff formality of 감사합니다. It’s also a staple in fan chants and fan fiction, making it one of the first Korean phrases most K-Pop fans naturally pick up.
Example Sentences
항상 응원해줘서 고마워.
Hangsang eungwonhaejwoseo gomawo.
Thank you for always cheering me on.
생일 선물 고마워! 정말 좋아해.
Saengil seonmul gomawo! Jeongmal johahae.
Thank you for the birthday gift! I really love it.
기다려줘서 고마워, 오래 걸렸지?
Gidaryeojwoseo gomawo, orae geollyeotji?
Thank you for waiting — it took a while, didn’t it?
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.