🗣️ Useful Korean Phrases to Know
You don’t need to be fluent in Korean to travel around South Korea—but learning a few polite words can go a long way. Locals appreciate the effort, and it can really open doors (sometimes literally—some cafes still don’t have English menus or signs). Here’s your WRUGoing mini phrasebook with key phrases to help you survive—and maybe even thrive—while exploring.
👋 Basic Greetings
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 | annyeong-haseyo |
| Hi (casual) | 안녕 | annyeong |
| Goodbye (you're leaving) | 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo |
| Goodbye (they’re leaving) | 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo |
| Thank you | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida |
| You're welcome | 천만에요 | cheonmaneyo |
| Yes | 네 | ne |
| No | 아니요 | aniyo |
| Excuse me / Sorry | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida |
🍜 At a Restaurant
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| One, please | 하나 주세요 | hana juseyo |
| Is it spicy? | 매워요? | maewoyo? |
| No spice, please | 안 매운 거 주세요 | an maeun geo juseyo |
| Water, please | 물 주세요 | mul juseyo |
| Check, please | 계산서 주세요 | gyesanseo juseyo |
| Delicious! | 맛있어요! | masisseoyo! |
WRU Tip: Saying "masisseoyo!" after a meal will definitely get you a smile from the staff.
🛒 Shopping & Markets
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| How much is it? | 얼마예요? | eolmayeyo? |
| It’s expensive | 비싸요 | bissayo |
| Can you lower the price? | 깎아 주세요 | kkakka juseyo |
| I’ll take it | 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo |
🚇 Getting Around
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Where is the subway? | 지하철 어디예요? | jihacheol eodiyeyo? |
| I want to go to ___ | ___ 가고 싶어요 | ___ gago sipeoyo |
| Left / Right / Straight | 왼쪽 / 오른쪽 / 직진 | oenjjok / oreunjjok / jikjin |
🆘 Emergency Phrases
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Help! | 도와주세요! | dowajuseyo! |
| I’m lost | 길을 잃었어요 | gireul ilheosseoyo |
| Call the police | 경찰 불러 주세요 | gyeongchal bulleo juseyo |
| I need a doctor | 의사가 필요해요 | uisaga piryohaeyo |
🧠 WRUGoing Tips for Speaking Korean
- Be polite: Add “요” (yo) at the end of phrases—it softens your tone and makes everything more polite.
- Gesture if needed: Pointing, smiling, and Google Translate can fill in the blanks.
- Konglish is a thing: Words like “taxi (택시),” “coffee (커피),” and “hotel (호텔)” are just Koreanized English.
Even if you stumble a bit, Koreans truly appreciate any effort to speak their language. Learn just a few of these phrases, and you’ll find locals opening up with friendliness, patience, and sometimes even a mini-Korean lesson.
