How to Say “Well Done” in Korean: 잘했어 (jalhaesseo)
“Jalhaesseo” means “well done” / “good job” — praise for something someone did well.
“Jalhaesseo” means “well done” / “good job” — praise for something someone did well.
잘했어 (jalhaesseo) — well done / good job
How it feels and when to use it
From “jal” (well) + “haesseo” (did). Watch the direction of politeness: praising up to a senior can feel presumptuous, so to elders use “sugohasyeosseoyo” (you worked hard) instead.
Politeness levels
- 잘했어 (jalhaesseo) — Casual (반말): with close friends and people younger than you
- 잘했어요 (jalhaesseoyo) — Polite (해요체): the safe everyday level for most people
- 수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida) — Formal (합쇼체): in business, announcements, and to elders
Real examples from native Korean
Here’s how native speakers actually use 잘했어 in real Korean:
- 잘했어 — Well done.
- 잘했어. — You did well.
- 잘했어~ — Good job~
A common mistake to avoid
Don’t praise your boss with “jalhaesseoyo” — Evaluating a senior’s work (“good job”) can sound like you’re grading them. For elders and superiors, “sugohasyeosseoyo” (thanks for your hard work) is the respectful choice.
Related expressions
- 수고했어 (sugohaesseo) — good work / thanks for the effort
- 화이팅 (hwaiting) — you got this
Want to hear 잘했어 spoken by real Koreans? Search it on Langle and watch it across dozens of real video clips.
Frequently asked questions
- What does “잘했어” mean in Korean?
- “Jalhaesseo” means “well done” / “good job” — praise for something someone did well. It’s romanized as “jalhaesseo.”
- Is “잘했어” formal or casual?
- “잘했어” is casual (반말); “잘했어요” is polite (해요체); “수고하셨습니다” is formal (합쇼체). Match the level to who you’re talking to.
- How do you pronounce “잘했어”?
- It’s pronounced “jalhaesseo.” Don’t praise your boss with “jalhaesseoyo”: Evaluating a senior’s work (“good job”) can sound like you’re grading them. For elders and superiors, “sugohasyeosseoyo” (thanks for your hard work) is the respectful choice.
- When should I use “잘했어”?
- From “jal” (well) + “haesseo” (did). Watch the direction of politeness: praising up to a senior can feel presumptuous, so to elders use “sugohasyeosseoyo” (you worked hard) instead.
- What can I say instead of “잘했어”?
- Try “수고했어” (good work / thanks for the effort) or “화이팅” (you got this).