🎁

Greetings & Gift-giving Vocabulary

Keywords
인사 / μ„ λ¬Ό / μΆ•ν•˜
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Vocabulary
🎯
TL;DR
  1. 인사 = greeting (noun) πŸ‘‹
  1. μ„ λ¬Ό = gift / present (noun) 🎁
  1. μΆ•ν•˜ = congratulations (noun) πŸŽ‰
  1. 감사 = thanks / gratitude (noun) πŸ™
  1. ν™˜μ˜ = welcome (noun) 🌟
πŸ”Š
Iru Helper Note
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Try this: ν™˜μ˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€! 생일 μ„ λ¬Όλ‘œ 이거 μ€€λΉ„ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”, 그리고 항상 κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”!
(Welcome! I prepared this as a birthday gift. Congratulations, and thank you always!)
Β 

🌈 The Big Picture

These five words cover the warm, social side of Korean β€” how you greet people, thank them, celebrate them, give them things, and welcome them in. 인사 is how every interaction starts, 감사 and μΆ•ν•˜ are the two big feelings you express to others, μ„ λ¬Ό is how you show care physically, and ν™˜μ˜ rolls out the welcome mat for someone new. Together they're the vocabulary of kindness and connection. πŸŽ€

🎨 The Core Greetings & Gifts Family

1. 인사 β€” greeting πŸ‘‹
A noun for "greeting," paired with ν•˜λ‹€ to mean "to greet."
  • 처음 λ§Œλ‚˜μ„œ μΈμ‚¬ν•΄μš”. (Nice to meet you β€” let's greet each other.)
  • μ„ μƒλ‹˜κ»˜ μΈμ‚¬ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I greeted my teacher.)
β€” Grammar note: μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ = "to greet"; 인사λ₯Ό λ‚˜λˆ„λ‹€ = "to exchange greetings." Use μ—κ²Œ/ν•œν…Œ/께 for the person greeted.
2. μ„ λ¬Ό β€” gift / present 🎁
A noun for "gift," paired with ν•˜λ‹€ to mean "to give as a gift."
  • 생일 선물을 μ€€λΉ„ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I prepared a birthday gift.)
  • μ„ λ¬Ό κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”. (Thanks for the gift.)
β€” Grammar note: 선물을 μ£Όλ‹€/λ°›λ‹€ = "to give/receive a gift"; μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€ = "to gift [something]" (verb).
3. μΆ•ν•˜ β€” congratulations πŸŽ‰
A noun for "congratulations," paired with ν•˜λ‹€ to mean "to congratulate."
  • 생일 μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”! (Happy birthday!)
  • 쑸업을 μΆ•ν•˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Congratulations on your graduation.)
β€” Grammar note: μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš” (casual-polite) / μΆ•ν•˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ (formal) are fixed congratulatory phrases.
4. 감사 β€” thanks / gratitude πŸ™
A noun for "gratitude," paired with ν•˜λ‹€ to mean "to be thankful."
  • κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Thank you. β€” formal)
  • λ„μ™€μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”. (Thank you for helping me.)
β€” Grammar note: κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ (formal/written) vs κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš” (everyday casual) both mean "thank you."
5. ν™˜μ˜ β€” welcome 🌟
A noun for "welcome," paired with ν•˜λ‹€ to mean "to welcome."
  • ν™˜μ˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€! (Welcome!)
  • μ‹ μž…μ‚¬μ›μ„ ν™˜μ˜ν•΄μš”. (We welcome the new employee.)
β€” Grammar note: ν™˜μ˜νšŒ = "welcome party"; ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€ = "to welcome" (verb), used for people and ideas alike.

πŸ› οΈ How They Work in a Sentence

  1. 처음 λ΅™κ² μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μΈμ‚¬λ“œλ¦΄κ²Œμš”.
      2. (Nice to meet you. Let me greet you properly.)
      β€” μΈμ‚¬λ“œλ¦¬λ‹€ is a humble/polite form of μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€.
  1. 생일 μ„ λ¬Όλ‘œ 이거 μ€€λΉ„ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
      2. (I prepared this as a birthday gift. Congratulations!)
      β€” μ„ λ¬Ό (the gift) and μΆ•ν•˜ (the occasion's sentiment) work together.
  1. ν™˜μ˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€! λ„μ™€μ£Όμ…”μ„œ 정말 κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
      2. (Welcome! Thank you so much for helping.)
      β€” ν™˜μ˜ opens the interaction, 감사 closes it warmly.

🧩 General Formation Rule

  • 인사/μ„ λ¬Ό/μΆ•ν•˜/감사/ν™˜μ˜ β€” all nouns that become verbs with ν•˜λ‹€: μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€, μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€, μΆ•ν•˜ν•˜λ‹€, κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€, ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€
  • μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”/μΆ•ν•˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€, κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”/κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ β€” same meaning, different formality levels
  • 선물을 μ£Όλ‹€/λ°›λ‹€ β€” to give/receive a gift
  • ν™˜μ˜νšŒ, μΆ•ν•˜ νŒŒν‹° β€” "welcome party," "celebration party"

πŸ“š Cross-check note

All vocabulary cross-checked against korean.go.kr βœ…

πŸͺž Synonym Alert

  • κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ vs 고맙닀 β€” κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ is more formal/written; 고맙닀 (κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”) is everyday casual "thank you."
  • μΆ•ν•˜ vs 감사 β€” μΆ•ν•˜ = congratulating someone on their achievement; 감사 = expressing gratitude for what they did for you.
  • 인사 vs μ•ˆλ…• β€” 인사 = the general act/concept of greeting; μ•ˆλ…• = a specific casual greeting word ("hi/bye").
  • μ„ λ¬Ό vs κΈ°λ…ν’ˆ β€” μ„ λ¬Ό = a gift given out of care for an occasion; κΈ°λ…ν’ˆ = a souvenir, often bought as a memento.
  • ν™˜μ˜ vs 인사 β€” ν™˜μ˜ = specifically welcoming someone new; 인사 = everyday greeting, not just for newcomers.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ Using κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš” in very formal writing β†’ βœ… κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ for formal/written contexts, κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš” for casual speech.
  • ❌ Saying μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš” when you mean "thank you" β†’ βœ… μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš” = congratulations (for their achievement); κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš” = thank you (for what they did for you).
  • ❌ Forgetting the particle before μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ β†’ βœ… μ„ μƒλ‹˜κ»˜ μΈμ‚¬ν•΄μš” ("I greet the teacher" β€” use μ—κ²Œ/ν•œν…Œ/께).
  • ❌ Thinking μ„ λ¬Ό must be physical β†’ βœ… μ„ λ¬Ό can be abstract too, like μ‹œκ°„μ΄λΌλŠ” μ„ λ¬Ό ("the gift of time").
  • ❌ Limiting ν™˜μ˜ to parties only β†’ βœ… ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€ works in everyday welcoming phrases, not just ν™˜μ˜νšŒ.
μΈμ‚¬ν•˜κ³ , μ„ λ¬Ό μ£Όκ³ , μΆ•ν•˜ν•˜κ³ , κ°μ‚¬ν•˜κ³ , ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ©΄ β€” 마음이 λ”°λœ»ν•΄μ Έμš”! πŸŽπŸŽ‰πŸ™
Β 
Try this exercise
Fill in each blank with the correct word (인사, μ„ λ¬Ό, μΆ•ν•˜, 감사, or ν™˜μ˜).
A. 처음 λ§Œλ‚˜μ„œ ___ν•΄μš”. (Nice to meet you, let's greet each other.)
Answer
인사
B. 생일 ___을 μ€€λΉ„ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I prepared a birthday gift.)
Answer
μ„ λ¬Ό
C. 생일 ___ν•΄μš”! (Happy birthday!)
Answer
μΆ•ν•˜
D. λ„μ™€μ£Όμ…”μ„œ ___ν•΄μš”. (Thank you for helping me.)
Answer
감사
E. ___ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€! (Welcome!)
Answer
ν™˜μ˜
F. μ„ μƒλ‹˜κ»˜ ___ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I greeted my teacher.)
Answer
인사
G. ___ κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”. (Thanks for the gift.)
Answer
μ„ λ¬Ό
H. 쑸업을 ___ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Congratulations on your graduation.)
Answer
μΆ•ν•˜
I. ___ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. (Thank you. β€” formal)
Answer
감사
J. μ‹ μž…μ‚¬μ›μ„ ___ν•΄μš”. (We welcome the new employee.)
Answer
ν™˜μ˜
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Box
  • 인사 β€” greeting; μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€
  • μ„ λ¬Ό β€” gift; μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€, 선물을 μ£Όλ‹€/λ°›λ‹€
  • μΆ•ν•˜ β€” congratulations; μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”/ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€
  • 감사 β€” thanks; κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”/ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ vs κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”
  • ν™˜μ˜ β€” welcome; ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€, ν™˜μ˜νšŒ
πŸ’‘
Pitfalls reminder
  • μΆ•ν•˜ (their achievement) β‰  감사 (your gratitude)
  • κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ (formal) vs κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš” (casual)
  • ν™˜μ˜ isn't just for parties
πŸ”
Want more reps? Practice a mini "celebration" scene: greet someone (인사), give them a gift (μ„ λ¬Ό), say congratulations (μΆ•ν•˜), thank them (감사), and welcome them (ν™˜μ˜) β€” all in one short conversation!
Β 
πŸ“¦
Practice Hub: Greetings & Gift-giving (인사 / μ„ λ¬Ό / μΆ•ν•˜ / 감사 / ν™˜μ˜)
Five rounds of warm, social Korean.

Exercise 1 β€” Word Recall: 인사 & μ„ λ¬Ό

A. "I greeted my friend."
Answer
μΉœκ΅¬μ—κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
B. "Let's exchange greetings."
Answer
인사λ₯Ό λ‚˜λˆ μš”.
C. "I bought a gift for him."
Answer
κ·Έμ—κ²Œ 선물을 μƒ€μ–΄μš”.
D. "What gift do you want?"
Answer
μ–΄λ–€ 선물을 μ›ν•΄μš”?
E. "I received a nice gift."
Answer
쒋은 선물을 λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”.
F. "She greeted everyone politely."
Answer
κ·Έλ…€λŠ” λͺ¨λ‘μ—κ²Œ κ³΅μ†ν•˜κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
G. "This is a gift for you."
Answer
이건 당신을 μœ„ν•œ μ„ λ¬Όμ΄μ—μš”.
H. "I forgot to greet my boss."
Answer
μƒμ‚¬μ—κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λŠ” κ±Έ μžŠμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.
I. "I want to gift her flowers."
Answer
κ·Έλ…€μ—κ²Œ 꽃을 μ„ λ¬Όν•˜κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.
J. "Greeting people first leaves a good impression."
Answer
λ¨Όμ € μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ©΄ 쒋은 인상을 μ€˜μš”.
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
  • μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ = to greet (+μ—κ²Œ/ν•œν…Œ/께)
  • μ„ λ¬Ό = gift; μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€, 선물을 μ£Όλ‹€/λ°›λ‹€
  • 인사λ₯Ό λ‚˜λˆ„λ‹€ = to exchange greetings
Β 

Exercise 2 β€” Word Recall: μΆ•ν•˜ & 감사

A. "Congratulations on your wedding!"
Answer
결혼 μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
B. "Thank you so much."
Answer
정말 κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
C. "Congratulations on the promotion!"
Answer
μŠΉμ§„ μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
D. "I'm grateful for your kindness."
Answer
μΉœμ ˆν•˜κ²Œ λŒ€ν•΄ μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
E. "Congratulations on passing the exam!"
Answer
μ‹œν—˜ 합격 μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
F. "Thank you for coming."
Answer
와 μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
G. "Congratulations on the graduation!"
Answer
μ‘Έμ—… μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
H. "I deeply appreciate it."
Answer
정말 κ°μ‚¬ν•˜κ²Œ μƒκ°ν•΄μš”.
I. "Congratulations on the baby!"
Answer
μΆœμ‚° μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
J. "Thank you for understanding."
Answer
이해해 μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
  • μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš” = congratulations (their achievement)
  • κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš” = thank you (for what they did)
  • ~μ•„/μ–΄ μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš” = "thank you for ~ing"
Β 

Exercise 3 β€” Pattern Practice: μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ / μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€ / μΆ•ν•˜ν•˜λ‹€ / κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€ / ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€

A. "I will greet the guests."
Answer
μ†λ‹˜λ“€μ—κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν• κ²Œμš”.
B. "He gifted her a ring."
Answer
κ·ΈλŠ” κ·Έλ…€μ—κ²Œ λ°˜μ§€λ₯Ό μ„ λ¬Όν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
C. "We congratulated the winner."
Answer
우승자λ₯Ό μΆ•ν•˜ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
D. "I thanked my teacher."
Answer
μ„ μƒλ‹˜κ»˜ κ°μ‚¬ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
E. "They welcomed the guests warmly."
Answer
그듀은 μ†λ‹˜μ„ λ”°λœ»ν•˜κ²Œ ν™˜μ˜ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
F. "Let's greet each other first."
Answer
λ¨Όμ € μΈμ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
G. "I want to gift you something special."
Answer
νŠΉλ³„ν•œ κ±Έ μ„ λ¬Όν•˜κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.
H. "Everyone congratulated the couple."
Answer
λͺ¨λ‘ κ·Έ λΆ€λΆ€λ₯Ό μΆ•ν•˜ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
I. "I sincerely thank you."
Answer
μ§„μ‹¬μœΌλ‘œ κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€.
J. "We welcome new members anytime."
Answer
μ–Έμ œλ“ μ§€ μƒˆ 멀버λ₯Ό ν™˜μ˜ν•΄μš”.
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
  • All five take ν•˜λ‹€: μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€, μ„ λ¬Όν•˜λ‹€, μΆ•ν•˜ν•˜λ‹€, κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λ‹€, ν™˜μ˜ν•˜λ‹€
  • μ§„μ‹¬μœΌλ‘œ = "sincerely"
  • μ–Έμ œλ“ μ§€ = "anytime"
Β 

Exercise 4 β€” Pattern Practice: Formality Levels

A. "Thanks!" (casual)
Answer
κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”!
B. "Thank you very much." (formal)
Answer
정말 κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€.
C. "Congrats!" (casual)
Answer
μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄!
D. "My sincerest congratulations." (formal)
Answer
μ§„μ‹¬μœΌλ‘œ μΆ•ν•˜λ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€.
E. "Thanks for the help, friend."
Answer
λ„μ™€μ€˜μ„œ κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œ, μΉœκ΅¬μ•Ό.
F. "Thank you for your hard work." (formal/work)
Answer
μˆ˜κ³ ν•˜μ…¨μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€.
G. "Congratulations on the award!" (formal)
Answer
μˆ˜μƒμ„ μΆ•ν•˜λ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€.
H. "Thanks a lot!" (casual)
Answer
정말 κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œ!
I. "I'm thankful to you." (polite)
Answer
λ‹Ήμ‹ κ»˜ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
J. "Congrats on the new house!"
Answer
μƒˆμ§‘ μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
  • κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œ(μš”) = casual "thanks"
  • κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ = formal "thank you"
  • μΆ•ν•˜λ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€ = very formal "congratulations"
Β 

Exercise 5 β€” Mixed Mastery

A. "Welcome! Thank you for coming, and congratulations on your graduation!"
Answer
ν™˜μ˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€! 와 μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•˜κ³ , μ‘Έμ—… μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
B. "I greeted my senior and gave him a gift."
Answer
μ„ λ°°μ—κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν•˜κ³  선물을 μ€¬μ–΄μš”.
C. "Thank you for the gift, I'm so grateful."
Answer
μ„ λ¬Ό κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”, 정말 κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œμš”.
D. "Congratulations on the new job β€” here's a small gift."
Answer
μƒˆ 직μž₯ μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš” β€” μž‘μ€ μ„ λ¬Όμ΄μ—μš”.
E. "We welcomed the new employee and congratulated her."
Answer
μ‹ μž…μ‚¬μ›μ„ ν™˜μ˜ν•˜κ³  μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄ μ€¬μ–΄μš”.
F. "Thank you for greeting me so warmly."
Answer
λ”°λœ»ν•˜κ²Œ 인사해 μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
G. "I want to thank you and give you a gift."
Answer
κ°μ‚¬ν•œ 마음으둜 선물을 λ“œλ¦¬κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.
H. "Congratulations! This gift is for you."
Answer
μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”! 이 선물은 당신을 μœ„ν•œ κ±°μ˜ˆμš”.
I. "Welcome, and thank you for your patience."
Answer
ν™˜μ˜ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. 그리고 κΈ°λ‹€λ € μ£Όμ…”μ„œ κ°μ‚¬ν•΄μš”.
J. "Let's greet, thank, and congratulate everyone today!"
Answer
였늘 λͺ¨λ‘μ—κ²Œ μΈμ‚¬ν•˜κ³ , κ°μ‚¬ν•˜κ³ , μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄μš”!
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
  • All five together: 인사, μ„ λ¬Ό, μΆ•ν•˜, 감사, ν™˜μ˜
  • κ°μ‚¬ν•œ 마음으둜 = "with a grateful heart"
  • 당신을 μœ„ν•œ κ±°μ˜ˆμš” = "this is for you"
인사, μ„ λ¬Ό, μΆ•ν•˜, 감사, ν™˜μ˜ β€” λ”°λœ»ν•œ λ§ˆμŒμ„ μ „ν•˜λŠ” λ‹€μ„― λ‹¨μ–΄μ˜ˆμš”! πŸ‘‹πŸŽπŸŽ‰πŸ™πŸŒŸ