KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean phrases › Greetings & basics › 그동안 별고 없으셨습니까?
How to Say “Have you been well all this time” in Korean
그동안 별고 없으셨습니까?
geudongan byeolgo eopseusyeotseumnikka?
Meaning
Have you been well all this time? (very formal)
Usage note
별고 means “any particular trouble.” This phrase asks an elder or superior whether things have been going well since you last met, a courteous greeting.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
Said aloud, it sounds like [그동안 별고 업쓰셛씀니까].
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 그동안 | ||
| 그 | ㄱ+ㅡ | geu |
| 동 | ㄷ+ㅗ+ㅇ | dong |
| 안 | ㅇ+ㅏ+ㄴ | an |
| 별고 | ||
| 별 | ㅂ+ㅕ+ㄹ | byeol |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 없으셨습니까 | ||
| 없 | ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅄ | [업] eop |
| 으 | ㅇ+ㅡ | [쓰] seu |
| 셨 | ㅅ+ㅕ+ㅆ | [셛] syeot |
| 습 | ㅅ+ㅡ+ㅂ | [씀] seum |
| 니 | ㄴ+ㅣ | ni |
| 까 | ㄲ+ㅏ | kka |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 없으 → [업쓰]
- Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 셨습니 → [셛씀니]
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 습니 → [슴니]
Speech style
Ends in -ㅂ니다 or -습니다. The most formal polite style, used for announcements, presentations, business and first meetings.
It contains the honorific -(으)시-, which shows respect to the person being talked about or talked to.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 없다 | adjective | to not exist, to not have | TOPIK level 1 |
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “그동안”
- 그동안 정말 수고 많으셨어요Thank you so much for your hard work all this time
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “그동안 별고 없으셨습니까?” mean?
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Answer: Have you been well all this time? (very formal)
Question 2 How do you say “Have you been well all this time? (very formal)” in Korean?
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Answer: 그동안 별고 없으셨습니까? geudongan byeolgo eopseusyeotseumnikka?
Question 3 How is “그동안 별고 없으셨습니까?” pronounced?
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Answer: [그동안 별고 업쓰셛씀니까]
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameMore phrases for this situation
- 먼 길 오시느라 고생 많으셨습니다Thank you for making such a long trip
- 아무쪼록 건강하시기 바랍니다Please, above all, take good care of your health
- 그간 격조했습니다I apologize for having been out of touch
- 덕분에 잘 지내고 있습니다Thanks to you, I’m doing well
- 폐를 끼쳐서 죄송합니다I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you
- 신세 많이 졌습니다Thank you for everything you’ve done for me
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