Survival Korean: 20 phrases that actually help
Korea is navigable in English in the big cities, but a few Korean phrases open doors, earn smiles, and get you unstuck. Pronunciation below is rough-but-usable — don't worry about being perfect.
The essential 6
- Hello — 안녕하세요 · an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
- Thank you — 감사합니다 · gam-sa-ham-ni-da
- Sorry / excuse me — 죄송합니다 · joe-song-ham-ni-da
- Yes / No — 네 · ne / 아니요 · a-ni-yo
- Excuse me (to get attention) — 저기요 · jeo-gi-yo
- Goodbye (to someone leaving) — 안녕히 가세요 · an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo
Food & restaurants
- This one, please (while pointing) — 이거 주세요 · i-geo ju-se-yo
- Not spicy, please — 안 맵게 해주세요 · an maep-ge hae-ju-se-yo
- The bill, please — 계산해 주세요 · gye-san-hae ju-se-yo
- Delicious! — 맛있어요 · ma-si-sseo-yo
- Water, please — 물 주세요 · mul ju-se-yo
Shopping & getting around
- How much is it? — 얼마예요? · eol-ma-ye-yo?
- Where is the bathroom? — 화장실 어디예요? · hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?
- Card payment, please — 카드요 · ka-deu-yo
- Just looking — 그냥 볼게요 · geu-nyang bol-ge-yo
- Is this the way to ___? — ___ 이쪽이에요? · ___ i-jjo-gi-e-yo?
When you need help
- Do you speak English? — 영어 하세요? · yeong-eo ha-se-yo?
- I don't understand — 잘 모르겠어요 · jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo
- Please help me — 도와주세요 · do-wa-ju-se-yo
- It hurts here (pointing) — 여기 아파요 · yeo-gi a-pa-yo
💡 Two shortcuts: add 주세요 (ju-se-yo, "please give") after almost any noun to ask for it, and end with 요 (yo) to sound polite. And keep Papago (the translation app) ready — point your camera at a menu or sign and it translates instantly.
Numbers you'll actually use
Prices are said in Sino-Korean numbers. The big one: man (만) = 10,000. So "삼만원 (sam-man-won)" is ₩30,000. Get comfortable with man and you can handle most prices. Convert quickly with our exchange-rate tool.
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