Meals, celebrations, and cheering: Jal meokgesseumnida and Hwaiting

Let's learn expressions that share your feelings in everyday life: meal greetings, congratulations, and words of encouragement.

Meal greetings

Before eating, say "jal meokgesseumnida"; after finishing, say "jal meogeosseumnida."

Congratulations

Cheering someone on

Situation	Expression
Before eating	잘 먹겠습니다
Celebrating	축하해요
Cheering	화이팅 / 힘내요

Comfort and well-wishes

To someone going through a hard time, say "himnaeseyo" (hang in there); to someone who is ill, "momjori jalhaseyo" (take good care of yourself).

New Year and holiday greetings

At New Year, say "saehae bok mani badeuseyo" (may you receive lots of luck). It's a warm, polite greeting used widely on holidays and special days too.

Toasting together

When you raise your glasses together over a meal, call out "geonbae!" It's the equivalent of "Cheers!" and is perfect for celebrating good news as a group.

Occasion	Expression
New Year	새해 복 많이 받으세요
Toast	건배
When ill	몸조리 잘하세요

💡 Tip: "Hwaiting" comes from the English word "fighting," but it doesn't mean "let's fight." It means "hang in there, you've got this!" You'll also hear it as "paiting."