What it means
The casual form of 괜찮아요 — asking if someone is okay, or saying "it's fine." Essential phrase you'll hear constantly in K-dramas when a character looks upset or falls.
Nuance & when to use
괜찮아요 (polite): Are you okay? / I'm fine. 괜찮아? (casual): Are you okay? / It's okay. 괜찮아 can be a question OR an answer. Very context-dependent.
⚠ Common mistake
Don't use 괜찮아 alone when saying you're fine to someone older — add 요: 괜찮아요.
Example sentences
넘어졌잖아. 괜찮아?
Neomeojeossjanh. Gwaenchana?
You fell. Are you okay?
걱정 마, 괜찮아.
Geokjeong ma, gwaenchana.
Don't worry, I'm fine.
실수했어도 괜찮아.
Silsuhaesseo-do gwaenchana.
Even if you made a mistake, it's okay.
See also
괜찮아요
어떻게 지냈어?
피곤해?
FAQ
When is this used?
괜찮아요 (polite): Are you okay? / I'm fine. 괜찮아? (casual): Are you okay? / It's okay. 괜찮아 can be a question OR an answer. Very context-dependent.
What's a common mistake?
Don't use 괜찮아 alone when saying you're fine to someone older — add 요: 괜찮아요.
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