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잘 먹었습니다 (jal meo-geo-sseum-ni-da) is a Korean phrase used after finishing a meal. It translates to “I ate well,” but the deeper meaning is more like “Thank you for the meal” or “I enjoyed the meal.”
By saying this, you are expressing appreciation and respect, similar to how people say “Thank you for the food” in English. It’s often directed at the person who prepared or provided the food.
Breakdown of the phrase:
- 잘 (jal): well
- 먹 (meok): eat (root of the verb 먹다, meaning ‘to eat’)
- 었습니다 (eo-sseum-ni-da): formal past tense ending, indicating that the action is completed.
