Lesson 7
The expression 괜찮아요 is used in everyday Korean conversations and is most commonly translated to English as “It is okay” or “I am okay.” Depending on the context of the sentence, 괜찮아요 can have various meanings beyond just “okay”.
괜찮아요 actually comes from a much longer sentence that does not quite make sense in its entirety.
Take a look at the phrase broken down below:
괜하다
= to be pointless; to be meaningless. (This word is almost never used by itself like this.)
괜하 + -지 않다* → 괜하지 않다 → 괜치 않다 → 괜찮다 = It is okay.
* Look back at Level 1, Lesson 21 if you have forgotten what this means!
Present tense = 괜찮아요.
Past tense = 괜찮았어요.
Future tense = 괜찮을 거예요.
Now that you know a little more about 괜찮아요, complete this lesson by taking a look at some examples of how it can be used.
Usages of 괜찮아요
- I am okay.
I am alright.
Everything is fine.
Ex) (You slip and fall on the ground, and someone asks you if you are alright.)
괜찮아요. = I am okay.
- Do not worry.
No worries.
Ex)
(Your friend is worrying about something, and you want to tell her not to worry.)
괜찮아요. = Do not worry.
- It is good.
Ex)
(You refer to something as “cool”, “good”, or “recommendable”.)
이 영화 진짜 괜찮아요. = This movie is really good.
- I am cool.
I am good.
No, thanks.
Ex)
(Your friend offers you a drink, and you want to politely refuse it.)
괜찮아요. = No, thanks. I am good.