Korean Basic Phrases for Beginners
Essential everyday Korean expressions with pronunciation. Greetings, restaurant phrases, shopping, and more.
Korean Basic Phrases for Beginners
Essential everyday expressions to start speaking Korean right away
You don't need to master grammar to start communicating in Korean. These essential phrases will help you navigate basic conversations, whether you're traveling to Korea, making Korean friends, or just getting started with the language.
Click the icon to hear the pronunciation, or to copy.
Haven't learned Hangul yet? Check out our Complete Hangul Guide first!
Greetings & Basics
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Hello (formal)
안녕
annyeong
Hi / Bye (casual)
감사합니다
gamsahamnida
Thank you (formal)
고마워요
gomawoyo
Thanks (polite)
죄송합니다
joesonghamnida
I'm sorry (formal)
괜찮아요
gwaenchanayo
It's okay / I'm fine
네
ne
Yes
아니요
aniyo
No
Introducing Yourself
저는 [이름]입니다
jeoneun [ireum]-imnida
I am [name] (formal)
만나서 반갑습니다
mannaseo bangapseumnida
Nice to meet you
저는 미국 사람이에요
jeoneun miguk saram-ieyo
I'm American
한국어를 공부하고 있어요
hangugeoreul gongbuhago isseoyo
I'm studying Korean
한국어 잘 못해요
hangugeo jal mothaeyo
I can't speak Korean well
천천히 말해 주세요
cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo
Please speak slowly
At a Restaurant or Cafe
메뉴 주세요
menyu juseyo
Menu, please
물 주세요
mul juseyo
Water, please
이거 주세요
igeo juseyo
This one, please
계산해 주세요
gyesanhae juseyo
Bill, please / Check, please
맛있어요
masisseoyo
It's delicious
잘 먹겠습니다
jal meokgesseumnida
I will eat well (before eating)
잘 먹었습니다
jal meogeosseumnida
I ate well (after eating)
배불러요
baebulleoyo
I'm full
Getting Around
[장소] 어디에요?
[jangso] eodie-yo?
Where is [place]?
화장실 어디에요?
hwajangsil eodie-yo?
Where is the bathroom?
지하철역이 어디에요?
jihacheol-yeogi eodie-yo?
Where is the subway station?
여기 가 주세요
yeogi ga juseyo
Please go here (to taxi driver)
얼마나 걸려요?
eolmana geollyeoyo?
How long does it take?
여기서 멀어요?
yeogiseo meoreoyo?
Is it far from here?
Shopping
이거 얼마예요?
igeo eolmayeyo?
How much is this?
너무 비싸요
neomu bissayo
It's too expensive
깎아 주세요
kkakka juseyo
Please give me a discount
카드 돼요?
kadeu dwaeyo?
Can I pay by card?
다른 색 있어요?
dareun saek isseoyo?
Do you have another color?
입어 봐도 돼요?
ibeo bwado dwaeyo?
Can I try this on?
Common Questions & Responses
뭐예요?
mwoyeyo?
What is it?
왜요?
waeyo?
Why?
언제요?
eonjeyo?
When?
누구예요?
nuguyeyo?
Who is it?
어떻게요?
eotteokheyo?
How?
잠깐만요
jamkkanmanyo
Just a moment
다시 한 번 말해 주세요
dasi han beon malhae juseyo
Please say that again
모르겠어요
moreugesseoyo
I don't know / understand
Saying Goodbye
안녕히 가세요
annyeonghi gaseyo
Goodbye (to someone leaving)
안녕히 계세요
annyeonghi gyeseyo
Goodbye (when you're leaving)
또 만나요
tto mannayo
See you again
내일 봐요
naeil bwayo
See you tomorrow
좋은 하루 보내세요
joeun haru bonaeseyo
Have a good day
조심히 가세요
josimhi gaseyo
Go safely / Take care
Pro Tips for Using These Phrases
Formality matters
When in doubt, use the formal/polite versions. It's better to be too polite than too casual in Korean culture.
Body language counts
A small bow of the head when greeting or thanking goes a long way. It shows respect.
Koreans appreciate effort
Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, Koreans are generally thrilled when foreigners try to speak Korean.
Essential Numbers (Sino-Korean)
Used for prices, phone numbers, addresses, dates:
Native Korean Numbers
Used for counting things, hours, and ages:
💡 When to use which?
- • Sino-Korean: Phone numbers, prices, dates, minutes, building floors
- • Native Korean: Age, counting items, hours (with 시)
- • Example: 3시 45분 = 세 시 (native: hour) 사십오 분 (sino: minutes)
🚨 Emergency Phrases
We hope you never need these, but just in case:
도와주세요!
dowajuseyo!
Help me!
경찰 불러 주세요
gyeongchal bulleo juseyo
Please call the police
병원이 어디에요?
byeongwon-i eodie-yo?
Where is the hospital?
응급 상황이에요
eunggeup sanghwang-ieyo
It's an emergency
아파요
apayo
I'm sick / It hurts
약국이 어디에요?
yakgug-i eodie-yo?
Where is the pharmacy?
대사관에 연락해 주세요
daesagwan-e yeollakhae juseyo
Please contact the embassy
여권을 잃어버렸어요
yeogwon-eul ilheobeoryeosseoyo
I lost my passport
🇰🇷 Emergency Numbers in Korea:
112
Police
119
Fire/Ambulance
1330
Tourist Helpline
💕 Expressing Feelings
좋아요
joayo
I like it / It's good
싫어요
sireoyo
I don't like it
기뻐요
gippeoyo
I'm happy
슬퍼요
seulpeoyo
I'm sad
피곤해요
pigonhaeyo
I'm tired
배고파요
baegopayo
I'm hungry
목 말라요
mok mallayo
I'm thirsty
무서워요
museowoyo
I'm scared
화났어요
hwanasseoyo
I'm angry
보고 싶어요
bogo sipeoyo
I miss you
🕐 Time Expressions
지금 몇 시예요?
jigeum myeot si-yeyo?
What time is it now?
오늘
oneul
Today
내일
naeil
Tomorrow
어제
eoje
Yesterday
이번 주
ibeon ju
This week
다음 주
da-eum ju
Next week
아침
achim
Morning
저녁
jeonyeok
Evening
🗓️ Days of the Week:
Mon
월요일
Tue
화요일
Wed
수요일
Thu
목요일
Fri
금요일
Sat
토요일
Sun
일요일
🤝 Making Korean Friends
몇 살이에요?
myeot sal-ieyo?
How old are you?
취미가 뭐예요?
chwimiga mwoyeyo?
What are your hobbies?
연락처 알려주세요
yeollakcheo allyeojuseyo
Please give me your contact info
카톡 해요?
katok haeyo?
Do you use KakaoTalk?
같이 밥 먹을래요?
gachi bap meogeullaeyo?
Want to eat together?
재미있었어요
jaemiisseosseoyo
It was fun
💡 Age matters in Korean!
Koreans often ask age early to determine formality levels. It's not rude—it helps them know how to speak to you properly. Your "Korean age" is usually 1-2 years older than your international age!
🗣️ Key Pronunciation Tips
The 'ㅓ' Sound (eo)
Not "ee-oh"! It's a single vowel sound, like the "u" in "sun" but with rounded lips. Think of saying "uh" with your mouth more open.
Example: 서울 (Seoul) = "suh-ool" not "see-oh-ool"
The 'ㅡ' Sound (eu)
Keep your lips relaxed (not rounded). Say "uh" while spreading your lips slightly. It's the hardest Korean vowel for English speakers.
Example: 은행 (bank) = "eun-haeng"
Double Consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ)
These are "tense" sounds. Tighten your throat and release air sharply. Don't add a puff of air like you would for ㅋ or ㅌ.
Example: 빠르다 (fast) vs 바르다 (to apply)
Final Consonants (받침)
Unreleased sounds! When a consonant ends a syllable, don't fully pronounce it— just position your mouth and stop. "감사합니다" ends with a held "da" not "duh."
👑 Understanding Formality Levels
Korean has different speech levels depending on who you're talking to:
합니다체 (Formal)
Most PoliteUsed in: Business meetings, news, presentations, formal situations
감사합니다 = Thank you
해요체 (Polite)
StandardUsed in: Most daily conversations, with strangers, service staff
고마워요 = Thanks
반말 (Casual)
InformalUsed in: Close friends, younger people, intimate relationships
고마워 = Thanks (casual)
⚠️ Important:
As a beginner, stick to 해요체 (polite) for everything. Using 반말 with the wrong person can be very rude. Wait until a Korean friend explicitly says "말 놓아도 돼요" (you can speak casually).
Pro Tips for Using These Phrases
Formality matters
When in doubt, use the formal/polite versions. It's better to be too polite than too casual in Korean culture.
Body language counts
A small bow of the head when greeting or thanking goes a long way. It shows respect.
Koreans appreciate effort
Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, Koreans are generally thrilled when foreigners try to speak Korean.
"잘 먹겠습니다" is essential
Always say this before eating when someone treats you. It shows gratitude and is deeply ingrained in Korean culture.
Get KakaoTalk
It's Korea's #1 messaging app. When making Korean friends, they'll ask for your KakaoTalk ID, not your phone number.
Practice This Topic
Turn the guide into active recall with a focused QuizLingua practice page.
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