Top 50 Korean Phrases

안녕하세요

an-nyeong-ha-se-yo

Hello

Works any time of day, with anyone. Add a small nod.

감사합니다

[감사함니다]gam-sa-ham-ni-da

Thank you

ㅂ before ㄴ turns into ㅁ — so it is -ham-ni-da, not -hap-ni-da.

네 / 아니요

ne / a-ni-yo

Yes / No

Koreans also say 네 constantly while listening — it means “I see, go on.”

죄송합니다

[죄송함니다]joe-song-ham-ni-da

I’m sorry

The most polite apology. Also works for “excuse me” when you bump into someone.

저기요

jeo-gi-yo

Excuse me! (to get attention)

How you call a server in a restaurant — say it out loud, it is not rude.

화장실 어디예요?

hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo

Where is the restroom?

Swap 화장실 for any place and add 어디예요? to ask where it is.

괜찮아요

[괜차나요]gwaen-cha-na-yo

It’s okay / I’m fine / No, thanks

With a little hand wave it politely declines. Said as a question — 괜찮아요? — it asks “Are you OK?”

안녕히 계세요

[안녕히 게세요]an-nyeong-hi ge-se-yo

Goodbye (you leave, they stay)

Literally “stay in peace.” Say it to the shop owner as you walk out.

안녕히 가세요

an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo

Goodbye (they leave)

Literally “go in peace.” You will hear it from staff as you leave.

고맙습니다

[고맙씀니다]go-map-sseum-ni-da

Thank you

The native-Korean twin of 감사합니다 — just as polite.

잠깐만요

[잠깐마뇨]jam-kkan-ma-nyo

Just a moment / Coming through

Say it to squeeze past people on a packed subway.

영어 할 줄 아세요?

[영어 할 쭐 아세요]yeong-eo hal jjul a-se-yo

Do you speak English?

한국어 잘 못해요

[한구거 잘 모태요]han-gu-geo jal mo-tae-yo

I don’t speak Korean well.

천천히 말해 주세요

cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo

Please speak slowly.

다시 한번 말해 주세요

da-si han-beon mal-hae ju-se-yo

Could you say that again?

몰라요

mol-la-yo

I don’t know.

알겠어요

[알게써요]al-ge-sseo-yo

I understand / Got it.

메뉴판 주세요

me-nyu-pan ju-se-yo

The menu, please.

물 주세요

mul ju-se-yo

Water, please.

Water is free in Korean restaurants — often self-service from a dispenser marked 셀프.

이거 맛있어요

[이거 마시써요]i-geo ma-si-sseo-yo

This is delicious!

The fastest way to make a restaurant owner smile.

계산해 주세요

[게산해 주세요]ge-san-hae ju-se-yo

The check, please.

In many places you pay at the counter on the way out — just bring the bill up.

두 명이요

du myeong-i-yo

Two people, please.

Your answer to 몇 분이세요? (How many?). 한 명 = one, 세 명 = three, 네 명 = four.

추천해 주세요

chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo

What do you recommend?

안 맵게 해 주세요

[안 맵께 해 주세요]an maep-kke hae ju-se-yo

Not spicy, please.

“Not spicy” in Korea can still be a little spicy. 덜 맵게 means “less spicy.”

포장해 주세요

po-jang-hae ju-se-yo

To go, please.

여기서 먹을 거예요

[여기서 머글 꺼예요]yeo-gi-seo meo-geul kkeo-ye-yo

For here, please.

이거 하나 더 주세요

i-geo ha-na deo ju-se-yo

One more of this, please.

이거 얼마예요?

i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo

How much is this?

Point at the item: 이거 means “this thing.”

이거 주세요

i-geo ju-se-yo

This one, please.

주세요 = “please give me.” Put any noun in front: 물 주세요, 커피 주세요.

카드 돼요?

ka-deu dwae-yo

Do you take cards?

Cards work almost everywhere in Korea, even for tiny purchases.

너무 비싸요

neo-mu bi-ssa-yo

It’s too expensive.

깎아 주세요

[까까 주세요]kka-kka ju-se-yo

Could you give me a discount?

Fine at traditional markets and street stalls — not in department stores or chains.

영수증 주세요

yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo

Receipt, please.

입어 봐도 돼요?

[이버 봐도 돼요]i-beo bwa-do dwae-yo

Can I try it on?

다른 색 있어요?

[다른 색 이써요]da-reun saek i-sseo-yo

Do you have another color?

그냥 구경하는 거예요

geu-nyang gu-gyeong-ha-neun geo-ye-yo

I’m just looking.

봉투 필요 없어요

[봉투 피료 업써요]bong-tu pi-ryo eop-sseo-yo

I don’t need a bag.

Bags cost extra at most shops, so you will often hear 봉투 필요하세요? (Need a bag?)

지하철역 어디예요?

[지하철력 어디예요]ji-ha-cheol-lyeok eo-di-ye-yo

Where is the subway station?

여기로 가 주세요

yeo-gi-ro ga ju-se-yo

Take me here, please.

Show the taxi driver the address or map pin on your phone as you say it.

얼마나 걸려요?

eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo

How long does it take?

여기서 세워 주세요

yeo-gi-seo se-wo ju-se-yo

Please stop here.

이 버스 명동 가요?

i beo-seu myeong-dong ga-yo

Does this bus go to Myeongdong?

Replace 명동 with your stop. A rising tone at the end makes it a question.

체크인할게요

[체크인할께요]che-keu-in-hal-kke-yo

I’d like to check in.

와이파이 비밀번호 뭐예요?

wa-i-pa-i bi-mil-beon-ho mwo-ye-yo

What’s the Wi-Fi password?

도와주세요!

do-wa-ju-se-yo

Help me, please!

Urgent when shouted — but also a gentle “could you help me?” for small things.

약국 어디예요?

[약꾹 어디예요]yak-kkuk eo-di-ye-yo

Where is a pharmacy?

Look for the big 약 sign. Pharmacists can sell many common medicines without a prescription.

사진 좀 찍어 주시겠어요?

[사진 좀 찌거 주시게써요]sa-jin jom jji-geo ju-si-ge-sseo-yo

Could you take a photo of us?

만나서 반갑습니다

[만나서 반갑씀니다]man-na-seo ban-gap-sseum-ni-da

Nice to meet you.

저는 미국에서 왔어요

[저는 미구게서 와써요]jeo-neun mi-gu-ge-seo wa-sseo-yo

I’m from the U.S.

Swap in your country: 영국 (UK), 캐나다 (Canada), 호주 (Australia), 독일 (Germany).

이름이 뭐예요?

[이르미 뭐예요]i-reu-mi mwo-ye-yo

What’s your name?