Useful phrases
Use the button to copy the Korean and show it when you need it.
안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyoHello
When to use it: Works at any time of day and with anyone. Add a slight bow of the head.
감사합니다
gamsahamnidaThank you
When to use it: The most polite form. Use it in shops, restaurants and with anyone who helps you.
죄송합니다
joesonghamnidaI am sorry
When to use it: To apologize, for example if you bump into someone or arrive late.
저기요
jeogiyoExcuse me (to get attention)
When to use it: To call staff in a restaurant or ask someone on the street for help. If the table has a call button, use that.
네
neYes
When to use it: Also used to mean “I am listening” or “okay”.
아니요
aniyoNo
When to use it: To say no politely. To turn down an offer, add 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo), meaning “I am fine, thanks”.
만나서 반가워요
mannaseo bangawoyoNice to meet you
When to use it: When meeting someone new, right after 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo).
안녕히 계세요
annyeonghi gyeseyoGoodbye (when you are the one leaving)
When to use it: Literally “stay in peace”. Say it as you leave a shop, a restaurant or a home.
안녕히 가세요
annyeonghi gaseyoGoodbye (when the other person is leaving)
When to use it: Literally “go in peace”. If you are both leaving at the same time, use this one.
저는 멕시코에서 왔어요
jeoneun meksikoeseo wasseoyoI am from Mexico
When to use it: Swap the country if needed: 칠레 (chille) Chile, 콜롬비아 (kollombia) Colombia, 페루 (peru) Peru, 아르헨티나 (areuhentina) Argentina.
저는 브라질에서 왔어요
jeoneun beurajireseo wasseoyoI am from Brazil
When to use it: Handy for chatting with taxi drivers and vendors: many people like to ask where you are from.
한국어 잘 못해요
hangugeo jal motaeyoI do not speak Korean well
When to use it: Say it with a smile when someone talks fast. People often help with gestures, a phone translator or some English.
영어 할 수 있어요?
yeongeo hal su isseoyo?Can you speak English?
When to use it: Before explaining something in English at shops, hotels or stations.
천천히 말해 주세요
cheoncheonhi malhae juseyoPlease speak slowly
When to use it: When you want to try in Korean but cannot keep up.
얼마예요?
eolmayeyo?How much is it?
When to use it: At markets and stalls: point at the item and ask. If you miss the number, ask them to show it on a calculator or phone.
이거 주세요
igeo juseyoThis one, please
When to use it: To order by pointing: at a menu, a display case or a food stall.
카드 돼요?
kadeu dwaeyo?Do you take cards?
When to use it: Before ordering at markets and small stalls, which sometimes take cash only.
화장실 어디예요?
hwajangsil eodiyeyo?Where is the restroom?
When to use it: Works for any place: swap 화장실 (hwajangsil) for whatever you are looking for.
지하철역 어디예요?
jihacheollyeok eodiyeyo?Where is the subway station?
When to use it: For a specific station, say its name followed by 역 (yeok), which means station.
여기로 가 주세요
yeogiro ga juseyoPlease take me here
When to use it: In a taxi, while showing the driver the address in Korean on your phone.
약국 어디예요?
yakguk eodiyeyo?Where is a pharmacy?
When to use it: Pharmacies have a sign with the syllable 약 (yak), meaning medicine. For anything serious, call 119.
안 맵게 해 주세요
an maepge hae juseyoNot spicy, please
When to use it: When ordering food. In some dishes the heat is already in the base sauce and cannot be removed, so first ask 이거 매워요? (igeo maewoyo?), is this spicy?
물 좀 주세요
mul jom juseyoSome water, please
When to use it: Water is free in restaurants. Often there is a dispenser so you can help yourself.
맛있어요
masisseoyoIt is delicious!
When to use it: Say it when you taste the food or as you leave the restaurant. It always goes down well.
계산해 주세요
gyesanhae juseyoThe bill, please
When to use it: In many restaurants you pay at the counter on the way out, not at the table.
땅콩 알레르기가 있어요
ttangkong allereugiga isseoyoI am allergic to peanuts
When to use it: Swap 땅콩 (ttangkong) for your allergen: 새우 (saeu) shrimp, 우유 (uyu) milk, 계란 (gyeran) egg, 밀 (mil) wheat. If your allergy is serious, carry it written in Korean too.
사진 찍어도 돼요?
sajin jjigeodo dwaeyo?May I take a photo?
When to use it: Before photographing people, market stalls or the inside of shops and temples.
도와주세요!
dowajuseyo!Help! / Can you help me?
When to use it: In an emergency, shout it so people come over, then call 112 (police) or 119 (ambulance and fire). Said calmly, it also works to ask for a hand.
경찰 불러 주세요
gyeongchal bulleo juseyoPlease call the police
When to use it: If you are robbed, have an accident or feel unsafe. Ask someone nearby or the staff in a shop.
병원에 가야 해요
byeongwone gaya haeyoI need to go to a hospital
When to use it: To tell a taxi driver, your lodging staff or whoever is with you. In an emergency, call 119.