🙏 Korean Expressions of Modesty and Humility
Humility in Korean: 12 Natural Expressions of Modesty (겸손 표현)
Quick answer: The core word is 겸손 (gyeomson, “humility”). In real talk, accept briefly then add one soft line like 아직 많이 부족해요 (“I still have a lot to learn”) or 그냥 운이 좋았어요 (“I was just lucky”).
📘 Table of Contents (click to open)
1) Why Modesty Matters
Modern etiquette in Korea values social harmony. A neat pattern is: accept → add one modest line → move on. It reads sincere, not boastful.
2) 12 Natural Replies (RR: Revised Romanization)
| Korean (한국어) | Romanization (RR) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 감사합니다. 아직 많이 부족해요. | Gamsahamnida. Ajik mani bujokhaeyo. | Thanks—still a lot to learn. |
| 그냥 운이 좋았어요. | Geunyang uni joasseoyo. | I was just lucky. |
| 도와주신 덕분이에요. | Dowajusin deokbun-ieyo. | Thanks to your help. |
| 배울 게 많아요. | Baeul ge manhayo. | I have a lot to learn. |
| 아직 멀었어요. | Ajik meoreosseoyo. | I’m not there yet. |
| 더 연습해 볼게요. | Deo yeonseubhae bolgeyo. | I’ll practice more. |
| 다음엔 더 잘해 볼게요. | Daeumen deo jalhae bolgeyo. | I’ll do even better next time. |
| 과분한 말씀이에요. | Gwabunhan malsseum-ieyo. | That’s too kind. |
| 운이 따랐네요. | Uni ttaratneyo. | Luck was on my side. |
| 많이 도와주셔서 가능했어요. | Mani dowajusyeoseo ganeunghaesseoyo. | Possible thanks to your help. |
| 칭찬 감사해요. 더 노력할게요. | Chingchan gamsahaeyo. Deo noryeokhalgeyo. | Thanks for the praise—I’ll keep improving. |
| 작게 시작했을 뿐이에요. | Jakge sijakhaesseul ppunieyo. | I just started small. |
3) Mini Dialogues
- Compliment → Soft reply
A: 발음이 정말 자연스러워요!
B: 감사합니다. 아직 많이 부족해요. — Thanks! I’ve still got a way to go. - Prize → Luck
A: 대회 우승 축하해요!
B: 그냥 운이 좋았어요. 응원 덕분이에요. — I was just lucky—your support helped. - Food praise → Modest acceptance
A: 김치찌개 맛있네요!
B: 과분한 말씀이에요. 다음엔 더 맛있게 해 볼게요. — That’s too kind. I’ll make it even better next time.
4) Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Over-denying your ability (“저는 완전 못해요”) → can sound awkward.
Fix: 감사해요. 더 연습해 볼게요. - Rejecting praise outright → may read impolite.
Fix: brief thanks + one modest line. - Too much explanation → keep to one sentence.
5) FAQ
Is “겸손” the exact word for “humility”?
Yes; everyday replies often use soft lines like 아직 멀었어요 instead of the noun itself.
How do I avoid sounding fake?
Accept briefly → add one modest line → move on. Don’t over-deny.
Can I use emojis?
Casual chats: 0–1 🙂 is fine. Formal emails: avoid.
6) Cultural Tips
Pair humility with gratitude. Template: 감사합니다. 더 노력해 보겠습니다. — “Thank you. I’ll keep improving.”
7) Practice Tasks
- Write 3 short replies to common compliments (pronunciation, cooking, test score).
- Record yourself saying two lines: 감사합니다 + one modest line.
- Swap a negative self-talk sentence into a soft, modest one.
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Tags: humility in Korean, Korean modesty phrases, 겸손 표현, Korean etiquette, polite Korean replies, Korean culture, TOPIK intermediate
