#104: Why 잘 먹겠습니다 Isn’t Really “I Will Eat Well”: Korean Phrases That Don’t Translate
Korean UnpackedShow Notes
잘 먹겠습니다 translates as “I will eat well” - but nobody at a Korean dinner table is making a promise about their eating. In this episode of Korean Unpacked, Eliza unpacks the everyday Korean phrases that don’t translate neatly into English, and what they’re really doing: marking a moment, and noticing the people in it.
🎧 Episode Overview
Almost every learner meets these phrases early: 잘 먹겠습니다, 수고하셨습니다, 다녀오겠습니다, 잘 부탁드립니다. You probably know roughly when to use them. But the dictionary translations - “I will eat well,” “please take care of me” - often sound strange. After three weeks inside Korean particles, this episode steps away from grammar to look at something different: why Korean gives so many everyday moments a phrase of their own. The question to carry with you: not “what does this phrase translate to?” but “what moment is this phrase marking?”
In this episode, you’ll explore: Phrases for the table - before a meal, after a meal, and when someone treats you Phrases for work - at the end of a meeting, a long day, or a shift Phrases for home - leaving in the morning and coming back at night The phrase that marks the start of working together Goodbyes that surprise learners - including one that finally makes 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요 easy What all these phrases have in common This episode is for learners at every level - especially if you’ve ever used one of these phrases without being quite sure what you were saying.
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