괜찮아?

Using this phrase is incredibly simple. To ask a question, just say 괜찮아? with a rising intonation at the end. To answer that you are fine, say the exact same word 괜찮아 with a flat or falling intonation. It’s a two-way street! In texting, friends often shorten it to just the consonants ㄱㅊ?. Just remember that this specific version is 'Banmal' (informal). You only use it with people you are close to or people younger than you.

Use this when you see a friend stumble or drop something. It’s perfect for checking in when a friend seems quieter than usual. You can also use it to confirm plans. For example, 'Is pizza okay for dinner?' would involve 괜찮아?. If you are at a cafe and someone asks to take the empty chair next to you, they might use a polite version of this. It’s the go-to phrase for showing you care about the other person's current state.

Do not use 괜찮아? with your boss, your teacher, or a grandparent. Because it lacks the polite ending 요, it can sound rude or overly blunt to superiors. If you use it with a stranger, they might give you a confused look. Also, avoid using it if someone is clearly in a major emergency requiring professional help. In those cases, more specific questions about their pain are better. For anyone older or in a higher position, always stick to 괜찮으세요? instead.

Korean culture places a high value on 'Jeong' (social harmony and connection). Checking on others is a way to maintain this bond. In the past, when food was scarce, people checked on each other's well-being constantly. Today, this manifests as a culture of 'Gwaenchana'. There is even a famous 'Gwaenchana spirit' in Korea. it refers to being easy-going and resilient. It’s about letting the small things slide and focusing on the relationship instead of the mistake.

If you want to be polite to a stranger, add 요 to get 괜찮아요?. If you are speaking to someone much older, use the honorific 괜찮으세요?. In very formal settings, like a news report or a military context, you might hear 괜찮습니까?. On the flip side, if you are texting your best friend and are in a huge rush, just type ㄱㅊ. If you want to emphasize it, you can say 정말 괜찮아? which means 'Are you really okay?'