As a teacher guiding a beginner student, I’ll introduce you to 10 essential Korean phrases that will help you navigate everyday situations—greeting people, ordering food, asking for help, and showing polite manners. Each phrase includes the Hangul spelling, a simple romanization, a pronunciation tip, and an explanation of when to use it. Practice aloud and try using these phrases in real situations—confidence builds quickly with repetition.
Before learning useful Korean phrases, it’s important that you understand how the Korean writing system works. You can read our beginner-friendly guide to Hangul here: A Beginner's Guide to Korean Alphabet (Hangul).
1. Hello — 안녕하세요 (Annyeong-haseyo)
Hangul: 안녕하세요
Romanization: annyeong-haseyo
Pronunciation tip: "ahn-nyawng hah-seh-yo" — say it smoothly; the "ng" at the end of annyeong is soft.
This is the standard polite way to say "hello" or "hi" to someone you do not know well, or to show respect. Use it in shops, on the street, and when meeting new people. For very casual situations with close friends, you may hear annyeong (안녕) alone.
2. Thank you — 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida)
Hangul: 감사합니다
Romanization: gamsahamnida
Pronunciation tip: "gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah" — keep it polite and slightly formal.
A polite and commonly used phrase for expressing gratitude in most situations. If someone does something small for you (hands you change, opens a door), say gamsahamnida. For a slightly less formal tone, you can say gamsahamn-yo (감사합니다 / 감사합니다 variants depend on level; stick to gamsahamnida as a safe default).
3. Excuse me / I'm sorry — 죄송합니다 (Joesong-hamnida)
Hangul: 죄송합니다
Romanization: joesong-hamnida
Pronunciation tip: "chweh-song-hahm-nee-dah" — the initial syllable is like "chweh".
Use this formal phrase to apologize or to get someone's attention (for example, when moving through a crowded place). For minor, casual apologies with friends, people sometimes say mianhae (미안해). When in doubt, use joesong-hamnida to sound polite and respectful.
4. Yes / No — 네 / 아니요 (Ne / Ani-yo)
Hangul: 네 / 아니요
Romanization: ne / ani-yo
Pronunciation tip: "neh" (short) and "ah-nee-yoh".
Two of the most basic and useful words. Ne means "yes" and is used frequently. Aniyo means "no" and is the polite form. You can combine them with other phrases (for example, aniyo, gyeseyo — "no, please stay" in certain contexts), but start by mastering the simple forms.
5. Please — 제발 / 부탁합니다 / 주세요 (Jebal / Butak-hamnida / Juseyo)
Hangul: 제발 / 부탁합니다 / 주세요
Romanization: jebal / butak-hamnida / juseyo
Korean has several ways to express "please" depending on context:
- Juseyo (주세요) — the most common polite request when asking someone to give or do something (e.g., mul juseyo 물 주세요 — "please give me water").
- Butak-hamnida (부탁합니다) — a formal way to ask a favor (used in business or formal requests).
- Jebal (제발) — means "please" in the emotional sense ("please, I beg you") and should be used carefully.
6. Where is the bathroom? — 화장실 어디예요? (Hwajangsil eodieyo?)
Hangul: 화장실 어디예요?
Romanization: hwajangsil eodieyo?
Pronunciation tip: "hwa-jang-shil uh-dee-eh-yo?"
A practical phrase for travelers. Hwajangsil means "restroom" and eodieyo means "where is it?" Politeness matters in public places, so use eodieyo or the slightly more formal eodipnikka? when asking staff.
7. How much is this? — 이거 얼마예요? (Igeo eolmayeyo?)
Hangul: 이거 얼마예요?
Romanization: igeo eolmayeyo?
Pronunciation tip: "ee-guh ol-mah-yeh-yo?"
Use this phrase when shopping or ordering food at markets. You can point at an item and say igeo eolmayeyo? If you want to ask more politely in a formal store, igeo eolmaipnikka? is an alternate form.
8. I don't understand — 이해하지 못해요 / 잘 모르겠어요 (Ihaehaji mothaeyo / Jal moreugesseoyo)
Hangul: 이해하지 못해요 / 잘 모르겠어요
Romanization: ihaehaji mothaeyo / jal moreugesseoyo
Pronunciation tip: "ee-hae-ha-jee mo-tae-yo" / "jal moh-reu-geh-ssuh-yo"
Both phrases indicate you’re having trouble understanding. Jal moreugesseoyo ("I don’t know well / I’m not sure") is a gentle, polite way to say you don’t understand. Native speakers will often respond by speaking more slowly or switching to simpler words, and it signals them to help you.
9. My name is ___ — 제 이름은 ___ 입니다 (Je ireumeun ___ imnida)
Hangul: 제 이름은 ___ 입니다
Romanization: je ireumeun ___ imnida
Pronunciation tip: "jeh ee-roo-mun ___ im-nee-dah"
Introduce yourself politely with this structure. Insert your name in the blank: Je ireumeun David imnida — "My name is David." If you want to be slightly less formal with peers, you can say 나는 ___ 예요/이에요 (naneun ___ yeyo/ieyo) depending on whether your name ends with a vowel or consonant.
10. Goodbye — 안녕히 가세요 / 안녕히 계세요 (Annyeonghi gaseyo / Annyeonghi gyeseyo)
Hangul: 안녕히 가세요 / 안녕히 계세요
Romanization: annyeonghi gaseyo / annyeonghi gyeseyo
Pronunciation tip: "ahn-nyawng-hee gah-seh-yo" / "ahn-nyawng-hee gyeh-seh-yo"
Which one to use depends on who is leaving:
- Annyeonghi gaseyo (안녕히 가세요) — said to someone who is leaving: "go peacefully."
- Annyeonghi gyeseyo (안녕히 계세요) — said to someone staying: "stay peacefully."
Cultural Notes & Politeness
Korean language has multiple speech levels; the phrases listed above are polite and safe for beginners. Showing respect—using polite endings like -yo or formal -mnida—is important with elders, service staff, and in formal settings. Observing body language, small bows, and eye contact complements polite language and helps build positive interactions.
Practice Exercises
- Repeat each phrase aloud 10 times, paying attention to the rhythm and syllable stress.
- Practice mini-dialogues: e.g., greet someone (annyeonghaseyo), introduce yourself, thank them, and say goodbye.
- Record yourself and compare to online native pronunciations.
- Use the phrases in real-life micro-interactions (market, café, subway). Short, frequent practice beats long, infrequent sessions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overusing casual forms — Avoid using very casual phrases with strangers or older people.
- Literal romanization — Romanization helps at first, but it can mislead pronunciation. Spend time with Hangul to read words correctly.
- Ignoring intonation — Korean relies on rhythm and sentence endings to convey politeness; pay attention to the endings -yo and -mnida.
Conclusion
These 10 basic phrases form a practical toolkit for beginning conversations in Korean. They help you show respect, ask for help, and handle everyday situations. Combine regular practice with listening to native speakers and you’ll notice steady improvement within weeks. Keep a small notebook of these phrases and review them daily—consistency is the key. Good luck, and enjoy learning!