괜찮아요.
When to use
Use '괜찮아요' to respond when someone apologizes for a small mistake, or to indicate that something is alright.
Speech Level
The '-아요/어요' ending signifies the standard polite informal speech level, making it suitable for most everyday situations.
How it works
This phrase is derived from the adjective '괜찮다' (to be okay, to be alright), conjugated into the polite informal speech level.
- 괜찮-: Adjective stem meaning 'to be okay' or 'to be alright'
- -아요: Polite informal sentence ending
Pronunciation
The 'ㅎ' batchim in '찮' is silent when followed by the vowel '아'. The 'ㄴ' carries over, making it sound like '괜차나요' (gwaenchanayo).
Notes
A versatile phrase to reassure someone that a minor issue is acceptable.