Korean Phrases for Beginners and Travellers: A Practical Guide

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A small set of Korean phrases can make a trip easier: you can greet someone, ask a clear question and recognise the answer you expect. The aim is not to sound local after memorising a list. It is to communicate respectfully and recover when you do not understand.

Korean changes with social relationship and speech level. The main travel phrases below use polite forms suitable for adults you do not know. The slang section is different: use those expressions with friends who already speak to you casually.

Hangul is the reliable guide to the words. Romanisation can help you recognise a phrase, but it cannot capture every Korean sound or pronunciation change. If you plan to study beyond a short trip, learn how to read Hangul and copy each phrase from audio by a proficient speaker.

Start with five phrases you are likely to need, then practise them in a short role-play. That turns a list into something you can retrieve under pressure.

A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Korean for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.

Korean Phrases: Quick Guide

• Hello: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)
• How have you been?: 잘 지내셨어요? (jal jinaesyeosseoyo?)
• Nice to meet you: 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida)
• My name is ___: 제 이름은 ___입니다 (je ireumeun ___imnida)
• Yes / no: 네 or 예 / 아니요 (ne or ye / aniyo)
• Goodbye: 안녕히 가세요 / 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo / annyeonghi gyeseyo)
• Good morning: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)
• Good night: 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo)
• Please give me ___: ___ 주세요 (___ juseyo)
• Thank you: 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)
• Not at all: 아니에요 (anieyo)
• Excuse me: 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida)
• I’m sorry: 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida)
• It’s okay / Are you okay?: 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo)
• Left / right / straight: 왼쪽 / 오른쪽 / 직진 (oenjjok / oreunjjok / jikjin)
• Please go to ___: ___(으)로 가 주세요 (___(eu)ro ga juseyo)
• Where is ___?: ___이/가 어디예요? (___i/ga eodiyeyo?)
• I’m not sure: 잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo)
• I want to speak in Korean: 한국어로 말하고 싶어요 (hangugeoro malhago sipeoyo)
• Please speak slowly: 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo)
• The menu, please: 메뉴판 주세요 (menyupan juseyo)
• I’d like to pay, please: 계산해 주세요 (gyesanhae juseyo)
• I have a ___ allergy: 저는 ___ 알레르기가 있습니다 (jeoneun ___ allereugiga itseumnida)
• How much is it?: 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?)
• Do you have ___?: ___ 있어요? (___ isseoyo?)
• How have things been?: 요즘 어때? (yojeum eottae?)
• You’ve got this!: 화이팅! (hwaiting!)
• So fun: 꿀잼 (kkuljaem)
• Wow / amazing: 대박 (daebak)
• They have presence: 포스 있다 (poseu itda)

Essential Korean Greetings and Polite Phrases

The 해요체 (haeyoche) polite style and the more formal 합니다체 (hamnida-che) style are useful starting points with strangers. For a fuller explanation of who gets which form, see our guide to Korean honorifics and speech levels.

“Hi” in Korean: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)

안녕하세요 is a versatile polite greeting. 안녕 (annyeong) is casual, so reserve it for friends, children or people who have agreed to use informal speech. Our guide to Korean greetings gives more context.

“How Have You Been?” in Korean: 잘 지내셨어요? (jal jinaesyeosseoyo?)

Korean does not require an English-style “How are you?” after every hello. When you meet someone again, 잘 지내셨어요? asks whether they have been well. 어떻게 지내세요? (eotteoke jinaeseyo?) is possible, but it sounds more like a genuine question about how someone is doing than a routine greeting.

“Nice to Meet You” in Korean: 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida)

만나서 반갑습니다 is a formal-polite first-meeting phrase. 반갑습니다 on its own also works. The spelling and the spoken sound are not identical letter by letter, which is one reason to learn it from audio instead of reading the romanisation as English.

잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida) is different. It is used when beginning a relationship, project or request and can mean something like “I look forward to working with you” or “I appreciate your help.” Its natural English translation depends on the situation.

“My Name is…” in Korean: 제 이름은 ___입니다 (je ireumeun ___imnida)

제 이름은 케이틀린입니다 means “My name is Caitlin.” A shorter polite introduction is 저는 케이틀린이에요 (jeoneun Keiteullinieyo), “I’m Caitlin.” Avoid pairing the casual pronoun 나는 with a polite ending when you are introducing yourself to a stranger.

Yes and No in Korean

네 (ne) and 예 (ye) are polite ways to say yes. 아니요 (aniyo) is polite “no”; 아니 (ani) is informal. Korean answers often confirm or reject the other person’s statement, so responses to negative questions do not always map neatly onto English yes and no.

“Goodbye” in Korean: 안녕히 가세요 / 안녕히 계세요

Say 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) to someone who is leaving. Say 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) when you are leaving and the other person is staying. 안녕 is a casual “bye” among people using informal speech.

“Good Morning” in Korean: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)

안녕하세요 is the natural general greeting in the morning. 좋은 아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo) is understandable as “Good morning,” but it is less routine than the English phrase and can sound translated or deliberately cheerful.

“Good Night” in Korean: 안녕히 주무세요 (annyeonghi jumuseyo)

안녕히 주무세요 respectfully wishes someone a good night. 잘 자요 (jal jayo) is a less formal polite form; 잘 자 (jal ja) is casual.

“Please Give Me…” in Korean: 주세요 (juseyo)

Korean does not have one free-standing word that works like English “please” in every sentence. Put 주세요 after a noun when asking for it: 물 주세요 (mul juseyo), “Water, please.” With a verb, use the appropriate connective form, as in 천천히 말해 주세요, “Please speak slowly.”

“Thank You” in Korean: 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)

감사합니다 is a safe formal-polite thank-you. 고마워요 (gomawoyo) is polite and warmer; 고마워 (gomawo) is casual.

“You’re Welcome” in Korean: 아니에요 (anieyo)

아니에요, literally “It isn’t” or “No,” is a natural modest response to thanks. 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) appears in textbooks as “You’re welcome,” but it is uncommon in everyday conversation.

“Excuse Me” in Korean: 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida)

실례합니다 works when interrupting or beginning a potentially intrusive question. 저기요 (jeogiyo) can get someone’s attention in a restaurant, while 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) means “One moment” and can help when passing through.

“I’m Sorry” in Korean: 미안해요 / 죄송합니다

미안해요 (mianhaeyo) is polite but personal. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is more formal and is a safer choice with a stranger, customer or staff member. With a close friend using casual speech, 미안해 (mianhae) may fit.

“Okay” in Korean: 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo)

괜찮아요 can mean “It’s okay,” “I’m fine” or a polite “No, thank you,” depending on context and intonation. 괜찮아요? asks “Are you okay?” For simple agreement, 네 may be clearer.

Korean Phrases for Getting Around

Direction Words in Korean

Left is 왼쪽 (oenjjok), right is 오른쪽 (oreunjjok) and straight ahead is 직진 (jikjin). 왼쪽으로 가 주세요 (oenjjogeuro ga juseyo) means “Please go to the left.”

“Please Go to…” in Korean: ___(으)로 가 주세요

Put a destination before (으)로 가 주세요: 서울역으로 가 주세요 (Seoul-yeogeuro ga juseyo), “Please go to Seoul Station.” After a consonant use 으로; after a vowel or ㄹ use 로. Showing the written destination or map pin helps prevent a pronunciation error from becoming a wrong journey.

“Where is…” in Korean: ___이/가 어디예요?

화장실이 어디예요? (hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?) asks “Where is the toilet?” Use 이 after a consonant and 가 after a vowel. Listen for a direction word, gesture or landmark in the answer.

“I’m Not Sure” in Korean: 잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo)

잘 모르겠어요 is a softer polite way to say you do not know or are not sure. 몰라요 (mollayo) also means “I don’t know,” but it can sound more direct.

“I Want to Speak in Korean”: 한국어로 말하고 싶어요

한국어로 말하고 싶어요 (hangugeoro malhago sipeoyo) says “I want to speak in Korean.” A more collaborative request is 한국어로 연습해도 돼요? (hangugeoro yeonseuphaedo dwaeyo?), “May I practise in Korean?” Respect the other person’s time if they need to switch languages.

“Please Speak Slowly” in Korean: 천천히 말해 주세요

천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) asks someone to slow down. 한 번 더 말해 주세요 (han beon deo malhae juseyo) means “Please say it one more time.” 말씀해 주세요 is a more honorific alternative.

“The Menu, Please” in Korean: 메뉴판 주세요

메뉴판 주세요 (menyupan juseyo) asks for the physical menu. 메뉴 주세요 is often understood, but 메뉴 can also refer to the dishes themselves.

“I’d Like to Pay, Please” in Korean: 계산해 주세요

계산해 주세요 (gyesanhae juseyo) asks to pay. Many casual restaurants take payment at a counter, so look for 계산대 (gyesandae, “checkout counter”) or follow the venue’s lead. 계산서 주세요 asks for a bill or statement but is not the only natural restaurant phrase.

“I Have a ___ Allergy” in Korean: 저는 ___ 알레르기가 있습니다

저는 ___ 알레르기가 있습니다 (jeoneun ___ allereugiga itseumnida) states an allergy. Replace the blank with the Korean ingredient name. This sentence alone is not a safety plan: carry a professionally translated allergy card, show it before ordering, ask about sauces, broths and shared equipment, and contact the restaurant ahead when possible.

For a medical emergency in South Korea, call 119. The Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 service offers travel information and interpretation for non-emergency help; check its current language and access details before your trip.

“How Much is it?” in Korean: 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?)

얼마예요? asks the price. If spoken numbers are difficult, 가격을 적어 주세요 (gagyeogeul jeogeo juseyo) asks someone to write the price down. The correct spelling is 예요 here, not 에요.

“Do You Have…” in Korean: ___ 있어요?

Put the item before 있어요: 와이파이 있어요? (waipai isseoyo?), “Do you have Wi-Fi?” Add a photo or written noun when the item name is unfamiliar.

Informal Korean Phrases and Slang

The next expressions use casual speech or slang. They are useful for recognition, but do not try them on a stranger just to sound impressive. Slang also changes faster than travel basics, so notice how people around you use it.

“How Have Things Been?” in Korean: 요즘 어때?

요즘 어때? (yojeum eottae?) is a casual question for a friend: “How have things been lately?” 밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?), literally “Did you eat?”, can be a caring check-in, but context determines whether it is a greeting, an invitation or a literal question.

“You’ve Got This!” in Korean: 화이팅!

화이팅! (hwaiting!) or 파이팅! (paiting!) encourages someone before a challenge. Depending on context, “You’ve got this,” “Good luck” or “Keep going” may be a natural translation.

“So Fun” in Korean Slang: 꿀잼

꿀잼 (kkuljaem) combines 꿀, “honey,” with a shortened form of 재미, “fun.” It means something is very fun or entertaining. It is playful slang, not a literal phrase about jam.

“Wow” or “Amazing” in Korean: 대박

대박 (daebak) can react to surprising or impressive news. Tone matters: it can express excitement, disbelief or shock rather than a fixed dictionary translation of “awesome.”

“They Have Presence” in Korean: 포스 있다

포스 있다 (poseu itda) describes someone as having presence, force or charisma. 포스 is an English loanword, but the expression should not be presented as a fixed Star Wars quotation. It is casual and evaluative, so listen for the context before copying it.

Practise These Korean Phrases Before You Travel

Choose one situation, such as meeting someone, taking a taxi, ordering food or shopping, and practise both sides of a 30-second exchange. Listen, cover the text, retrieve the Korean, then compare your pronunciation with the recording. A teacher or exchange partner can correct the one or two errors that most affect understanding.

For a structured course with listening practice, KoreanClass101 offers free material alongside paid plans. To organise the phrases you personally need, try Vocab Vault.

The King Sejong Institute Foundation publishes beginner and travel Korean materials, and the Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 Travel Helpline page has current information about tourist interpretation support.