Korean Phrases
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Korean Phrases and Common Expressions
This page contains a table including the following: Korean phrases, expressions and words in Korean, conversation and idioms, Korean greetings, and survival phrases. It also helps if you simply want to know what to say when chatting in Korean!
Most of the sentences below are used for everyday life conversations, so they might come handy if you memorize them.
If you don't know how to say a word then check our alphabet in Korean to get some help.
| English Phrases | Korean Phrases |
|---|---|
| English Greetings | Korean Greetings: |
| Hi! | An-yŏng-ha-se-yo. 안녕하세요 |
| Good morning! | An-yŏng-hi ju-mu-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? / An-nyŏng-ha-se-yo? (polite) 안녕히 주무셨어요? 안녕하세요? |
| Good evening! | Shik-sa-ha-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? / An-nyŏng-ha-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? (polite) 식사하셨어요? 안녕하세요? |
| Welcome! (to greet someone) | Hwan-yŏng-ham-ni-da. 환영합니다. |
| How are you? | Chal ji-nae-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? 잘 지내셨어요? |
| I'm fine, thanks! | Ne. Chal ji-nae-ssŏ-yo. 네. 잘 지냈어요. |
| And you? | … ŭ-nyo/nŭ-nyo? *1 Title+ 은/는요? |
| Good/ So-So. | Chal ji-nae-ssŏ-yo. / Kŭ-jŏ kŭ-rae-yo. 잘 지냈어요. / 그저 그래요. |
| Thank you (very much)! | (Nŏ-mu) kam-sa-ham-ni-da! (너무) 감사합니다! |
| You're welcome! (for "thank you") | A-ni-e-yo. 아니에요. |
| Hey! Friend! | Ya! Ch'in-gu! (informal) 야! 친구! |
| I missed you so much! | Nŏ-mu po-go shi-p'ŏ-ssŏ-yo. 너무 보고 싶었어요. |
| What's new? | Pyŏl-li-ri ŏp-ssŭ-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? 별일이 없으셨어요? |
| Nothing much | Ne. ŏp-ssŏ-ssŏ-yo. 네. 없었어요. |
| Good night! | An-yŏng-hi ju-mu-se-yo! 안녕히 주무세요! |
| See you later! | Na-jung-e bwae-yo! 나중에 봬요! |
| Good bye! | An-nyŏng-hi ga-se-yo! / An-nyŏng-hi ge-se-yo! *2 안녕히 가세요! /or/ 안녕히 계세요! |
| Asking for Help and Directions | |
| I'm lost | Ki-rŭl i-rŏ-bŏ-ryŏ-ssŏ-yo. 길을 잃어버렸어요. |
| Can I help you? | Mu-ŏ-sŭl do-wa-dŭ-ril-kka-yo? 무엇을 도와 드릴까요? |
| Can you help me? | Chom to-wa-ju-shil ssu i-ssŭ-shi-na-yo? 좀 도와주실 수 있으시나요? |
| Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? | (Hwa-jang-shil/yak-kuk)-i ŏ-di-ye-yo? (화장실/약국)이 어디예요? |
| Go straight! then turn left/ right! | Tchuk ka-se-yo! Kŭ da-ŭ-me woen/o-rŭn tcho-gŭ-ro jom ga-se-yo. 쭉 가세요! 그 다음에 왼/오른 쪽으로 좀 가세요. |
| I'm looking for john. | Cha-ni-ran sa-ra-mŭl ch'at-ko-i-ssŭm-ni-da. 잔이란 사람을 찾고 있습니다. |
| One moment please! | Cham-kkan-ma-nyo! 잠깐만요! |
| Hold on please! (phone) | Cham-shi-ma-nyo! 잠시만요! |
| How much is this? | I-ge ŏl-ma-ye-yo? 이게 얼마예요? |
| Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) | Shil-le-ji-man… 실례지만… |
| Excuse me! ( to pass by) | Shil-le-ha-ge-ssŭm-ni-da. 실례하겠습니다. |
| Come with me! | Tta-ra o-se-yo! 따라 오세요! |
| How to Introduce Yourself | |
|---|---|
| Do you speak (English/ Korean)? | Yŏng-ŏ/han-gu-gŏ hal jul a-se-yo? 영어/한국어 할 줄 아세요? |
| Just a little. | Cho-gŭ-myo. 조금요. |
| What's your name? | I-rŭ-mi ŏ-ttŏ-k'e dwoe-se-yo? 이름이 어떻게 되세요? |
| My name is ... | Chŏ-nŭn_____i-e-yo. 저는 ____이에요. |
| Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss… | Sŏn-saeng-nim/sa-mo-nim. *3 선생님/ 사모님 (Mrs.) |
| Nice to meet you! | Man-na-sŏ ban-gap-ssŭm-ni-da! 만나서 반갑습니다! |
| You're very kind! | Nŏ-mu ch'in-jŏ-ra-shi-ne-yo! 너무 친절하시네요! |
| Where are you from? | Ŏ-di-sŏ o-shiŏ-ssŏ-yo? 어디서 오셨어요? |
| I'm from (the U.S/ Korea) | Chŏ-nŭn (mi-guk/han-guk)-e-sŏ wa-ssŏ-yo. 저는 (미국/한국) 에서 왔어요. |
| I'm (American) | Chŏ-nŭn (mi-gu-gin)-i-e-yo. 저는 (미국인)이에요. |
| Where do you live? | Ŏ-di sa-se-yo? 어디 사세요? |
| I live in (the U.S/ Korea) | Chŏ-nŭn (mi-guk/han-guk)-e-sŏ sa-ra-yo. 저는 (미국/한국)에서 살아요. |
| Did you like it here? | Yŏ-gi-ga cho-ŭ-se-yo? 여기가 좋으세요? |
| Korea is a wonderful country | Han-gu-gŭn dae-dan-han na-ra-im-ni-da. 한국은 대단한 나라입니다. |
| What do you do for a living? | Chik-tchang-ŭn ŏ-ttŏ-k'e dwoe-se-yo? 직장은 어떻게 되세요? |
| I work as a (translator/ businessman) | Chik-tchang-ŭn (pŏ-nyŏk-tcha/sa-ŏp-kka)-im-ni-da. 직장은 (번역자/사업가)입니다. |
| I like Korean | Chŏ-nŭn han-gu-gŏ-ga cho-a-yo. 저는 한국어가 좋아요. |
| I've been learning Korean for 1 month | Han-gu-gŏ gong-bu shi-ja-k'an ji han da-ri dwoe-ŏ-ssŏ-yo. 한국어 공부 시작한 지 한 달이 되었어요. |
| Oh! That's good! | U-wa! Cho-ŭ-ne-yo! 우와! 좋으네요! |
| How old are you? | Na-i-ga ŏ-ttŏ-k'e dwoe-se-yo? 나이가 어떻게 되세요? |
| I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old. | Chŏ-nŭn (sŭ-mu/sŏ-rŭn)-sa-ri-e-yo. 저는 (스무/서른)살이에요. |
| I have to go | Ka-bwa-ya dwoe-yo. 가봐야 돼요. |
| I will be right back! | Kŭm-bang ga-tta ol-kke-yo. 금방 갔다 올께요. |
| Wish Someone Something | |
| Good luck! | Hang-u-nŭl bim-ni-da! 행운을 빕니다! |
| Happy birthday! | Sang-il ch'u-k'a-ham-ni-da! 생일 축하합니다! |
| Happy new year! | Sae-hae-bok ma-ni pa-dŭ-se-yo! 새해복 많이 받으세요! |
| Merry Christmas! | Me-ri k'ŭ-ri-sŭ-ma-sŭ! 메리 크리스마스! |
| Congratulations! | Ch'u-k'a-dŭ-rim-ni-da! 축하드립니다! |
| Enjoy! (for meals...) | Ma-ni dŭ-se-yo! 많이 드세요! |
| I'd like to visit Korea one day | Ŏn-jen-ga-nŭn han-gu-ge ka-go shi-p'ŏ-yo. 언젠가는 한국에 가고 싶어요. |
| Say hi to John for me | Cha-nan-t'e an-bu-rŭl chŏ-nae-ju-se-yo. 잔한테 안부를 전해주세요. |
| Bless you (when sneezing) | (No reaction, as if nothing happened) - |
| Good night and sweet dreams! | Dwae-ji-kkum kku-se-yo! 돼지꿈 꾸세요! |
| Solving a Misunderstanding | |
| I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something) | Mwŏ-ra-go-yo? 뭐라고요? |
| Sorry (for a mistake) | Choe-song-ham-ni-da. 죄송합니다. |
| No Problem! | A-ni-e-yo. 아니에요. |
| Can You Say It Again? | Ta-shi han-bŏn mal-ssŭ-mae-ju-shi-ge-ssŏ-yo? 다시 한번 말씀해주시겠어요? |
| Can You Speak Slowly? | Ch'ŏn-ch'ŏ-ni mal-ssŭ-mae ju-shi-ge-ssŏ-yo? 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? |
| Write It Down Please! | Chŏ-gŏ ju-se-yo! 적어 주세요! |
| I Don't Understand! | Mo-na-ra-dŭt-kke-ssŏ-yo. 못 알아 듣겠어요. |
| I Don't Know! | Mo-rŭ-ge-ssŏ-yo. 모르겠어요. |
| I Have No Idea. | Chŏ-nyŏ mo-rŭ-ge-ssŏ-yo. 전혀 모르겠어요. |
| What's That Called In Korean? | Kŭ-gŏt han-gung-mal-lo mwŏ-ra-go hae-yo? 그것 한국말로 뭐라고 해요? |
| What Does "gato" Mean In English? | Da-nŭn yŏng-ŏ-ro mu-sŭn ttŭ-shi-e-yo? ”단”은 영어로 무슨 뜻이에요? |
| How Do You Say "Please" In Korean? | “Please”rŭl han-gung-mal-lo ŏ-ttŏ-k'e ma-rae-yo? “Please”를 한국말로 어떻게 말해요? |
| What Is This? | I-ge mwŏ-ye-yo? 이게 뭐예요? |
| My Korean is bad. | Chŏ-nŭn han-gung-mal chal-mo-t'ae-yo. 저는 한국말 잘못 해요. |
| I need to practice my Korean | Han-gung-mal yŏn-sŭ-p'ae-ya dwoe-yo. 한국말 연습해야 돼요. |
| Don't worry! | Kŏk-tchŏng ma-se-yo! 걱정 마세요! |
| Korean Expressions and Words | |
| Good/ Bad/ So-So. | Cho-a-yo./An-jo-a-yo./Kŭ-jŏ kŭ-rae-yo. 좋아요./안 좋아요./ 그저 그래요. |
| Big/ Small | K'ŭn/Cha-gŭn *4 큰/작은 |
| Today/ Now | O-nŭl/Chi-gŭm 오늘/지금 |
| Tomorrow/ Yesterday | Nae-il/Ŏ-je 내일/어제 |
| Yes/ No | Ne/A-ni-yo. 네/아니요. |
| Here you go! (when giving something) | Yŏ-gi-yo! 여기요! |
| Do you like it? | Kwaen-ch'a-na-yo? 괜찮아요? |
| I really like it! | Nŏ-mu cho-a-yo! 너무 좋아요! |
| I'm hungry/ thirsty. | Pae-go-p'a-yo./Mong-mal-la-yo. 배고파요. / 목말라요. |
| In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night. | A-ch'i-me/Chŏ-nyŏ-ge/Pa-me 아침에/저녁에/밤에 |
| This/ That. Here/There | I-gŏt/Kŭ-gŏt. Yŏ-gi/Kŏ-gi. *5 이것/그것. 여기/거기 |
| Me/ You. Him/ Her. | Chŏ/... Kŭ-bun/Kŭ-bun 저/title 그분/ 그분 |
| Really! | Chŏng-mal-lyo? 정말요? |
| Look! | Po-se-yo! 보세요! |
| Hurry up! | Sŏ-du-rŭ-se-yo! 서두르세요! |
| What? Where? | Mwŏ-yo? Ŏ-di-yo? 뭐요? 어디요? |
| What time is it? | Myŏ-sshi-ye-yo? 몇시예요? |
| It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm. | Yŏl-sshi-ye-yo. Il-gop-sshi ba-ni-e-yo. 열시예요. 일곱시 반이에요. |
| Give me this! | I-gŏt ju-se-yo! 이것 주세요! . |
| I love you! | Sa-rang-hae-yo! 사랑해요! |
| I feel sick. | A-p'a-yo. 아파요. |
| I need a doctor | Ŭi-sa-ga p'i-ryo-hae-yo. 의사가 필요해요. |
| One, Two, Three | Il, i, sam / ha-na, tul, set *6 일, 이, 삼 / or / 하나, 둘, 셋 |
| Four, Five, Six | Sa, o, ryuk / net, ta-sŏt, yŏ-sŏt 사, 오, 륙/ or/ 넷, 다섯, 여섯 |
| Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten | Ch'il, p'al, ku, ship / il-gop, yŏ-dŏl, a-hop, yŏl 칠, 팔, 구, 십/ or/ 일곱, 여덜, 아홉, 열 |
*1: And You? (This is somewhat difficult to say. Koreans don’t use “you,” so you have to know which title to use.) Title+ 은/ 는요? (은 if it ends in a consonant, 는 if it ends in a vowel.)
*2: If the other person is leaving: 안녕히 가세요! If you are leaving and the other person is staying: 안녕히 계세요!
*3: Titles (Always follow the name, unlike English) Mr.: 선생님/ Ma’am: 사모님/ Teacher: 선생님/ General name follower: 씨 (ex. 고우진 씨 – Mr. Ko U-jin.)/Miss: 아가씨.
*4: Adjectives are placed before nouns.
*5: That over there/ Over there. 저것/ 저기
*6: Sino-Korean Counting (minutes, seconds, Won): One, Two, Three: 일, 이, 삼/ Four, Five, Six: 사, 오, 륙/ Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten: 칠, 팔, 구, 십
Pure Korean Counting (hours, counting objects, people, etc.): One, Two, Three: 하나, 둘, 셋/ Four, Five, Six: 넷, 다섯, 여섯/ Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten: 일곱, 여덜, 아홉, 열
I hope the content of this page was useful to you, and that you learned some Korean phrases, expressions and words. Try to memorize them to be able to use them in your daily conversation. Make sure to check our Learn Korean page, which contains several lessons that might help you in your learning process.