Korean Dictionary
How to say "You did great" in Korean
“You did great” in Korean is 잘 하셨어요 (pronounced "Jal hasyeosseoyo").
잘 하셨어요
Jal hasyeosseoyo
Usage & Context
Praising someone for their performance or effort. The casual version is 잘 했어 for peers and friends. 훌륭해요 (excellent/magnificent) can be used for even stronger praise. Used by teachers, coaches, and encouraging friends.
Example Sentence
발표를 정말 잘 하셨어요! 준비를 많이 하셨군요.
You did the presentation really well! You must have prepared a lot.
How to use 잘 하셨어요 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “You did great” is 잘 하셨어요, romanized as Jal hasyeosseoyo.
Usage tip
Check the politeness level before using this word. Korean greetings often change depending on age, relationship, and setting.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 잘 하셨어요.
Pronunciation Guide
'Jal' in 'Jal' sounds like 'jahl' in 'jar'. 'ha' in 'hasyeosseoyo' is like 'hah' in 'haha'. 'syeot' is like 'shyut' in 'shut', but with a 'y' sound after 'sh'. 'eo' is like 'uh' in 'butter', and 'yo' is like 'yo' in 'yogurt'. The '셨어요' part flows quickly, almost like 'shyoss-uh-yo'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
잘 하셨습니다
Jal hasyeosseumnida
A more formal and respectful way to say 'you did great,' often used in official reports or addressing superiors.
Casual (반말)
잘 했어
Jal haesseo
Casual way to say 'you did great,' used among close friends, family, or to subordinates.
More Example Sentences
A teacher praising a student for their excellent exam performance.
이번 시험 정말 잘 하셨어요! 노력의 결과네요.
You did really well on this exam! It's the result of your hard work.
A colleague praising another for a successful presentation.
발표 준비 잘 하셨어요. 덕분에 회의가 성공적이었어요.
You prepared the presentation well. Thanks to you, the meeting was successful.
Encouraging someone who performed well despite being new to a task.
처음인데도 이 정도면 정말 잘 하셨어요.
Even for a first-timer, you did really great.
Cultural Context
Praise is important in Korean culture, and '잘 하셨어요' is a common way to acknowledge someone's effort and achievement. It's versatile, used by teachers, parents, bosses, and even friends. While direct praise is appreciated, Koreans often value humility, so receiving praise might be met with a modest '아니에요' (no, not really) or '부족합니다' (I'm lacking). It's a polite way to show appreciation for someone's work.
Editorial note
We check greetings like 잘 하셨어요 for politeness and timing, since Korean greetings change with relationship, age, and setting.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
정말 잘 하셨어요!
You really did great!
준비를 잘 하셨어요.
You prepared well.
어려운 일인데 잘 하셨어요.
It was a difficult task, but you did well.
Related Expressions
수고하셨습니다
Sugohasyeosseumnida
You worked hard / Good job (often used at the end of a task or day)
훌륭해요
Hullyunghaeyo
Excellent / Magnificent
최고예요
Choegoyeyo
It's the best / You're the best
대단해요
Daedanhaeyo
Amazing / Incredible
More Greetings Words
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