Essential Korean Phrases for Beginners

First-time traveling to Korea? Want to impress your Korean friends? Or living in Korea and still struggling with the language barrier? Come on in and I've prepared a list of essential phrases that could help you get by in your next adventure in Korea.

I've put together a list in English and in Hangul (Korean Alphabet). In case you haven't mastered reading in Korean yet, I've also included romanization for convenience. You'll need most of these phrases on a daily basis. 

Since there are different forms of Korean, you might hear a more polite version or a more casual version of these phrases. 

Here they are! 

English 한국어 (Korean) Romanization

Hello 안녕하세요? annyeonghaseyo?

Yes 네 ne

No 아니오 anio

Thank You 감사합니다 kamsahamnida

Sorry 미안합니다 mianhamnida

Excuse me (to get attention) 저기요 jeogiyo

That’s Okay 괜찮아요 gwaenchanayo

Hello (on phone) 여보세요 yeoboseyo

How much is this? 이거 얼마예요? igeo eolmayeyo?

What is this? 이게 뭐예요 ige mwoyeyo

Where is the ______?   ______ 어디에 있어요? ______   eodie isseoyo?

Please speak slowly 천천히 말해 주세요 cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo

I can’t speak Korean 한국말을 못해요 hangungmareul mothaeyo

Please write it down 적어 주세요 jeogeo juseyo

Please repeat that 다시 말해 주세요 dasi malhae juseyo

Goodbye (to person leaving) 안녕히 가세요 annyeonghi gaseyo

Goodbye (to person staying) 안녕히 계세요 annyeonghi gyeseyo

Just a moment! 잠깐만요! jamkkanmanyo!

I don’t know 몰라요 mollayo

I know 알아요 arayo

Can you speak English? 영어를 할 수 있어요? yeongeoreul hal su isseoyo?

I can speak a little Korean 한국말을 조금 할 수 있어요 hangungmareul jogeum hal su isseoyo

How do you say _______ in Korean? _______이 한국말로 뭐예요? _______i hangungmallo mwoyeyo?

Take me to ____ (when riding a taxi) 병원에 가주세요 _____e gajuseyo

I feel sick 저는 아파요 jeoneun apayo

Don’t worry! 걱정 하지 마세요! geokjeong haji maseyo!

No problem 문제 없어요 munje eopseoyo

Now, you already have phrases that can help you in simple interactions and short conversations. Good luck!