Useful Korean phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Korean with audio recordings for most of them.

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal

English 한국어 (Korean)
Welcome 환영합니다 (hwangyong-hamnida)
Hello (General greeting) 안녕하십니까 (annyeong-hasimnikka) - frm
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) - inf
안녕 (annyeong) - inf
Hello (on phone) 여보세요 (yeoboseyo)
How are you? 어떻게 지내세요?
(eotteohke jinaeseyo?)
안녕하셨습니까?
(an nyeong ha siut seum ni ka?)
Reply to 'How are you?' 잘지내요 (jaljinaeyo)
Long time no see 오랜만이다 (orenmanida)
What's your name? 이름은 무엇입니까?
(ireumeun mueosip nikka?) - inf
성함이 어떻게 되십니까?
(sungham ee uttoke daesipnika?) - frm
My name is ... 제 이름은 ... 입니다 (je ireum-eun ... imnida)
Where are you from? 어디서 오셨어요?
(eodiseo osyeosseoyo)
I'm from ... 저는 ... 에서 왔어요
(jeoneun ... eseo wasseuyo)
Pleased to meet you 만나서 반갑습니다
(mannaseo bangapseumnida) - frm
만나서 반가워요
(mannaseo bangawoyo) - inf
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)
좋은 아침 (joheun achim)
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)
좋은 저녁 (joheun jeonyeok)
Good night 안녕히 주무십시요 (annyeong-hi jumusipsio) - frm
잘자 (jal jja) - inf
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
안녕 (annyeong)
안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) - you are leaving
안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) - you are staying
Good luck! 행운을 빌어요 (haeng un eul bil eo yo) - frm
행운을 빈다 (haeng un eul bin da) - inf
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
건배 [乾杯] (geonbae) - lit. "dry glass"
위하여 (wihayeo)
Have a nice day 좋은 하루 되세요 (joeun haru dweseyo)
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokkesseumnida) - before a meal
잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) - after a meal
맛있게 드세요 (masitkke deuseyo)
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
잘 다녀오십시오! (jal jal danyeoosibsio!)
Yes 네 (ne)
예 (ye)
No 아니요 (aniyo)
Maybe 아마도 (amado)
I don't know 나도 몰라 (nado molla)
I understand 알았어 (alasseo)
아랐어요 (alasseoyo)
I don't understand 모르겠습니다 (moreugesseumnida)
Please speak more slowly 천천히 말씀해 주세요
(cheoncheonhi malssuemhae juseyo)
Please say that again 다시 한번 말씀해주시겠어요?
(tashi hanbŏn malssŭmaejushigessŏyo?)
Please write it down 적어 주세요! (cheogeo juseyo!)
Do you speak English? 영국말 하실 줄 아세요?
(yeongukmal hasil jul aseyo?) - frm
영국말 할 줄 아니?
(yeongukmal hal jul ani?) - inf
Do you speak Korean? 한국말 하실 줄 아세요?
(hangukmal hasil jul aseyo?) - frm
한국말 할 줄 아니?
(hangukmal hal jul ani?) - inf
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
예, 조금요 (ye, jogeumyo) - frm
응, 조금 (eung, jogeum) - inf
How do you say ... in Korean? ... 를 한국말로 어떻게 말해요?
(... reul hangukmal-lo eotteoh-ge maraeyo?)
Excuse me 실례하겠습니다 (sillyehagessseubnida)
실례합니다 (sillyehabnida)
How much is this? 이게 얼마예요? (ige eolmayeyo?)
Sorry 미안합니다! (mianhamnida) - frm
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) - vfrm
미안(해) (mian(hae)) - inf
Please 부탁합니다 (butakamnida)
Thank you 감사합니다 (kamsahamnida) - frm
고맙습니다 (komapsumnida) - frm
고마워 (komawo) - inf
Reply to thank you 아니에요 (anieyo)
Where's the toilet / bathroom? 화장실이 어디예요? (hwajangsiri eodiyeyo)
Do you come here often? 자주 이리하십니까? (jaju ilihasibnikka?)
I miss you 보고싶다 (bogoshipda)
I love you 사랑해 (sarang hae)
Go away! 저리 가세요! (juri gaseyo)
Leave me alone! 혼자 내버려 두십시오! (honja naebeoryeo dushipshio)
Christmas greetings 즐거운 성탄절 보내시고 새해 복 많이 받으세요
(jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaesigo saehae bong manh-i bad-euseyo)
메리 크리스마스 (meri keuriseumaseu)
New Year greetings 행복한 새해 되세요 (haengboghan saehae doeseyo)
새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bong manh-i bad-euseyo)
새해 복 많이 받으시고,가정에 항상 웃음꽃 피시길 기원합니다
(saehae bong manh-i bad-eusigo, gajeong-e hangsang us-eumkkoch pisigil giwonhabnida)
Easter greetings 행복한 부활절이 되시길
(haengpoghan puhwarcheori toesikir)
Birthday greetings 생일 축하합니다
(saeng-il chukha hamnida) - frm
생일 축하드립니다
(saeng-il chukha deurimnida) - frm
생신 축하드립니다
(saengsin chukha deurimnida) - frm
생일 축하해
(saeng-il chukha hae) - inf
Congratulations! 치하! (chiha!)
축하해요! (chughahaeyo!)
One language is never enough 한 가지 언어는 충분하지 못 해
(han gaji eon-eoneun chungbunhaji mos hae)
언어 하나론 부족해
(eoneo hanaron bujokhae)
My hovercraft is full of eels 제 호버크래프트가 장어로 가득해요
(je hobeokeulaepeuteuga jang-eolo gadeughaeyo)
내 호버크래프트는 장어로 가득해
(nae hobeokeulaepeuteuneun jang-eolo gadeughae)
내 호버크래프트가 장어로 꽉 찼어
(nae hobeokeulaepeuteuga jang-eolo kkwag chass-eo)

Hear some Korean phrases:

Omniglot

Recordings and corrections provided by Yoonseop Kang and Göjdes Aldask

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 1.1MB)

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Korean | Phrases | Numbers | Colours | Time | Dates | Family words | Tongue twisters | Tower of Babel | Articles | Learning materials | Links

Links

Other collections of Korean phrases (some with audio)
http://linguanaut.com/english_korean
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Language/korean.cfm?Subject=basic
http://www.learn-korean.net/learn-korean-classes-listarticles-4.html
http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/Korean/FsKorean.htm
http://learnkorean.elanguageschool.net/

Phrases in other languages

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