- Words
- Hard to translate
- 잘 먹겠습니다
번역되지 않는 말 · Hard to translate
잘 먹겠습니다 jal meokgetseumnida
literally “I will eat well”
a thank-you shaped as a promise, said before the first bite
Before a meal Koreans say 잘 먹겠습니다, "I will eat well", to whoever cooked or paid, and 잘 먹었습니다, "I ate well", afterwards. It is a thank-you shaped as a promise. English has "thanks for the meal", said once, and nothing quite as automatic before the first bite.
The closest English
“bon appétit”
Said to the people about to eat. 잘 먹겠습니다 is said by them, to whoever cooked or paid.
“thank you for the meal”
The right sense, but English rarely says it before eating.
“let's eat”
Starts the meal, but drops the thanks.
In a sentence
잘 먹겠습니다.
Thank you for the meal. (before eating)
Hoya says it
Hoya
잘 먹겠습니다! 와, 반찬이 정말 많아요.
Thank you, this looks wonderful! Wow, so many side dishes.