Annyeong Chingu Artinya

Planning for a trip to South korea, only worried about the language barrier? The alphabets of the Korean language, also known as Hangul, may look like alien characters to y’all. But fret non, you do non have to understand or speak fluent Korean to get by in the country.

Take some fourth dimension to learn simple Korean phrases which might only be the lilliputian assist you lot need. In bodily fact, English language is used in South Korea as a 2nd language. It might not exist common to hear locals speaking English on the streets, but in that location is an increasing number of young Koreans who do speak and sympathise English.

That said, locals exercise appreciate when travellers speak basic Korean and they volition be even more than welcoming when you lot do. Use our handy list of daily Korean phrases and yous’ll be all set!

© Photograph past Pauline Mae De Leon on Unsplash

Heed and practise:
an-nyeong-ha-se-yo

1 annyeonghaseyo

The most mutual greeting when you see someone and everyone volition welcome you warmly. It is used past about all Koreans when they encounter each other, and you’ll sound like one of them. Drop the formalities and use “안녕” (annyeong) when you say how-do-you-do to your friends!

When should you employ it: Coming together anyone on the streets or stepping into a shop or restaurant.

Traveller’s Tip: Politeness and etiquette are valued highly in the Korean society. Koreans nod or bow their heads when greeting someone. You may not be expected to do the same, simply don’t be startled when they practise!

Listen and practise:
kam-sa-ham-ni-da

2a kamsahamnida

Listen and exercise:
get-map-seum-ni-da

2b gomapseumnida

“감사합니다” (kamsahamnida) has almost the same level of recognition as “안녕하세요” (annyeonghaseyo). Use it like you would in English, and you lot’re good to go. The latter is less formal and usually used between friends in the informal way of “고마워요” (gomawoyo).

When should you use information technology: When someone does you a favour or compliments you, grin and say “감사합니다” (kamsahamnida).

Listen and practise:
ban-gap-seum-ni-da

3 bangapseumnida

You’re pleased to see someone, even if it’s for the get-go time. This will score you lot some brownie points. Works best if information technology comes with a handshake.

When should you lot use it: Especially when y’all meet someone for the first time.

Listen and practise:
jorh-nen
|
im-ni-da

4 jorhnen imnida

This is required during a self-introduction when you lot need someone to remember your proper name. Best paired with the phrase “반갑습니다” (bangapsumnida).

When should you use it: Meeting new people who should know your name.

Listen and practise:
an-nyeong-hee-gye-se-yo

5a annyeonghee gyeseyo

Listen and practise:
an-nyeong-hee-ka-se-yo

5b annyeonghee kaseyo

There are ii ways of saying goodbye, depending on who’due south the person staying behind or leaving. The showtime phrase literally ways “Please stay well.” If you are the one leaving, and the other person is staying behind, this is the one for you lot. The second phrase literally means “Please go well.” If you are the one staying behind, and the other person is leaving, use the latter. If both of y’all are leaving in different directions, yous may both say “안녕히 가세요” (annyeonghee kaseyo) and wishing each other a rubber travel.

When should y’all use information technology: When it’s time to bid goodbye, afterward a repast or at the airport.

Listen and do:
mi-an-ham-ni-da

6a mianhamnida

Listen and exercise:
joe-song-ham-ni-da

6b joesonghamnida

At that place are also two ways to say pitiful in Korean. Use the onetime for a more formal apology and the latter when it’s a “Oops I’1000 sad” kind of situation. In desperate situations when you have to ask for forgiveness, rub your hands together while proverb lamentable, similar how yous see it in the dramas!

When should you lot use it: When you lot spill water onto someone, utilise the first i. When you accidentally bump into someone on the streets, use the latter.

Listen and practise:
sil-re-ham-ni-da

vii silrehamnida

You need to go someone’s attention just you lot don’t know how to approach them. Go upwards to someone and say “실례합니다” (silrehamnida). They might be startled but don’t worry nearly using this as this is a formal way of maxim “Excuse me”.

When should yous use it: You’re lost on the streets of a strange land, approach the nearest person you see and start the conversation.

Listen and practise:
jam-si-man-yo

8 jamsimanyo

Apply this phrase when you need to pass people, causing a hindrance to them, or when you want them to wait, in a polite way.

When should you utilise information technology: You’re on a crowded train and you have to get off at this station but everyone’s in your way. Or, you’re waiting for your plow to alight but someone behind is pushing you lot, tell them to wait. Applicable to buses as well.

Phrases Yous Will Utilise and Hear All The Time

Mind and exercise:
neh

9a neh

Mind and do:
a-ni-yo

9b aniyo

Traveller’s Tip: Koreans typically respond negative questions not quite the same as how we do. They reply “Yes” when they agree to a negative question. For case, “You don’t know how to speak Japanese?”, and the Korean way of answering is “Yes, I don’t speak Japanese.” Interesting indeed!

Listen and exercise:
ju-se-yo

10 juseyo

Add together an object and this is a polite style of request for something. This also works if you add “주세요” (juseyo) backside whatsoever verb, information technology becomes “Please (exercise this action)”.

When should yous apply information technology: Point to something you want and say “주세요” (juseyo), and it’south yours! Not for free, of course.

Heed and practise:
practice-wa-ju-se-yo

11 dowajuseyo

“도와” ways help. Add “주세요” (juseyo) after it and this phrase literally means “Please give help”. Utilise this phrase when you require aid or aid to catch the attention of passers-past or the police.

When should you use it: In times of need.

Traveller’s Tip: The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline is a 24-60 minutes hotline created specially for foreigners in Republic of korea. There are English speaking operators ready to help you with any questions including tourists attractions, transportation, nutrient and many more. Include the area lawmaking, followed by 1330 when calling from a cell phone.

Listen and practise:
gwaen-cha-na-yo

12 gwaenchanayo

Commonly translated to “It’s okay” or “Information technology’s fine” in English. Information technology is widely used in everyday life, such as reassuring someone yous are alright, describing something to exist acceptable, or even refusing your friend’s offer of anything.

When should you lot utilize it: Y’all accidentally tripped over a rock on the streets, and your friend is checking on you. You are discussing a movie with your friends and you feel that the moving picture was not bad. Your friend offers to buy you lot a meal and you want to reject the offer.

Heed and practise:
mwo-ye-yo

13 mwoyeyo

Detect something interesting yet unfamiliar in a shop or on the carte du jour? This phrase is especially useful during shopping or ordering food in restaurants. Use it with the following words: “이거” (eegor) refers to something nigh you – “this”, “저거” (jorhgor) refers to something well-nigh the listener – “that” and “그거” (kegor) refers to something far abroad from yous and the listener – “that”.

When should you use it: Indicate to something you are unfamiliar with and bank check with the staff what it is.

Finding Your Way and Asking for Directions

© Photo from Wikipedia

Listen and practise:
yong-orh-hal-su-yi-seo-yo

14 yongorh halsu yiseoyo

Don’t be shy to inquire Koreans for help. You may notice someone who’s able to help you out in English!

Traveller’s Tip: Subway systems in major cities of South korea include English translations in the station signs and route maps. You volition be able to navigate yourself easily between stations.

Listen and practise:
ka-ju-se-yo

15 kajuseyo

Include your destination to inform the taxi driver where you would like to become. Save a photo of your destination or the accost in Korean. This volition help the driver profoundly.

Heed and practise:
orh-di-ye-yo

16 orhdiyeyo

Listen and exercise:
orh-dor-keh-ka-ya-dwae-yo

17 orhdorkeh kaya dwaeyo

Lost your way? These are the 2 ways to enquire for directions if y’all lose your fashion in the foreign land. Remember to pair it with “실례합니다” (silrehamnida).

When should you use it: When you need someone to point y’all the general management of your destination, use the former. If you need a detailed route to your destination, use the latter.

Heed and practice:
hwa-jang-shil-ee-orh-di-ye-yo

18 hwajangshilee orhdiyeyo

Listen and exercise:
ji-ha-cheol-york-ee-orh-di-ye-yo

19 jihacheol yorkee orhdiyeyo

Featuring the ii very crucial phrases. Now you don’t have to worry when nature calls! Discover the nearest toilet “화장실” (hwajangshil) and subway station “지하철 역” (jihacheol york) in times of demand and you will exist worry gratis! The character “이” (ee) you lot run across behind them but acts equally a particle to follow backside the nouns.

Traveller’s Tip: Anything tin can wait except for nature’south call. Reiterating the most important phrase of the list “화장실이 어디예요?” (hwajangshilee orhdiyeyo). Brand sure you know this phrase by center.

Shopping and Bargaining

© Photograph by Shawn Ang on Unsplash

Listen and practise:
ee-gor-eol-ma-ye-yo

xx eegor eolmayeyo

The numeral system used in Korea may not be the easiest to understand. However, some shopkeepers volition be able to tell you the price in English language or they will just achieve for their calculators to show you the amount, no worries!

When should y’all use it: At the markets and shopping streets.

Traveller’s Tip: Cards are more often than not well accepted at most shops, restaurants and hotels in South Korea. However, non all ATMs accept foreign credit cards. Do look out for the discussion “Global” on the ATM before trying.

Listen and practise:
ee-gor-yi-seo-yo

21 eegor yiseoyo

“있어요” is a very functional word in the Korean language. It has diverse meaning to it, only in this instance, information technology is used in the context of being. The special thing nearly the phrase “이거 있어요” (eegor yiseoyo) is it can be both a question and a statement, which means “I take this”.

When should yous use it: You know what you want, simply y’all can’t seem to observe it in the shop. Show the shopkeeper the photo y’all accept in your telephone.

Listen and exercise:
neo-mu-bi-ssa-yo

22 neomu bissayo

Find that the price is likewise loftier? Apply this phrase in the nearly animated way, together with the next phrase, and you may earn yourself a discount! Do annotation that not all shops in South Korea accept bargaining.

Take note of the double “s”. When there is a double consonant in the English language romanization, it indicates a stronger accent on the “south” pronunciation.

Heed and practise:
kka-kka-ju-se-yo

23 kkakkajuseyo

It is more probable to receive a discount when you purchase more than ane item in a shop, especially in areas such as traditional markets or tourist areas similar Myeongdong and Dongdaemun. Nevertheless, there’s no damage in trying, right?

Traveller’southward Tip: Koreans beloved foreigners who love their country. They are more likely to offer a disbelieve when you can speak their linguistic communication. Don’t exist shy and flaunt all your Korean skills you’ve been practising.

Dining in Restaurants

© Photo past Jakub Kapusnak on Unsplash

Listen and do:
yo-gi-yo

24 yogiyo

Utilize this phrase to concenter the attention of the waiters. Either yous are asking for the card, ordering your nutrient or paying the bill.

Traveller’s Tip: Press the bell on the table if it’south available. If not, practice as the locals do. Raise your hand and allow out a confident “여기요” (yogiyo).

Listen and practise:
ju-mun-hal-kkei-yo

25 jumunhalkkeiyo

Use it with 여기요 (yogiyo) to inform the waiters you are gear up to order.

Listen and practise:
ee-gor-ha-na-ju-se-yo

26 eegor hana juseyo

“하나” ways “one”. Simply point to the menu and society your nutrient.

Heed and do:
jal-mok-become-sum-ni-da

27 jal mokgetsumnida

This phrase literally means “Consume well” in a formal style. This phrase is used when you have company for a repast and correct before yous dig in. Utilise the aforementioned phrase to answer when someone says it to you.

Mind and practise:
kye-san-hal-kkei-yo

28 kyesanhalkkeiyo

You may employ information technology with “여기요” (yogiyo) to inform the waiters you are prepare to pay the bills. They will either signal you to the cashier or bring the bill to you.

Traveller’s Tip: Information technology is common to accept the nib already on your dining table. If so, merely bring the bill to the cashier. Otherwise, inform the cashier of your table number.

Listen and practise:
ma-si-sseo-yo

29 masisseoyo

Let them know you had a good meal and you find that the food was delicious. This will definitely brighten up their day!

Traveller’s Tip: A Korean meal is typically a combination of rice, soup and various side dishes, and kimchi is definitely the one essential side dish you will always find. There are various types of kimchi available, depending on the region and flavor of the country. The virtually commonly seen is the spicy version, spiced with chilli pepper.

Bonus words to know!

© Photo taken from Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

Soju // 소주 (soju)
Beer // 맥주 (maekju)

Listen and practise:
so-ju

30a soju

Listen and practise:
maek-ju

30b maekju

Every bit the national beverage of S Korea, y’all definitely won’t miss the bright green soju bottles. It is a clear, depression-booze drink traditionally made of rice. It tastes like a milder version of vodka. Whereas maekju is more often than not paired with chicken, popularly known as chi-maek. Another popular beverage is the combination of 소주 (soju) and 맥주 (maekju), known as then-maek, or soju bomb. It is made using 1 shot of soju dropped into a cup of maekju. Beware! Soju bomb tin hit you hard afterwards!

When should yous use information technology: Usually Friday and Saturday nights. But seriously, someday when you lot feel like information technology. Just be responsible.

Traveller’s Tip: At that place is a strong drinking culture in Republic of korea, and they accept their own set of customs. Remember, always refill others’ glasses earlier your own, especially those who are more senior than you. When y’all are offered alcohol, information technology is rude to refuse it. Hold the cup with both hands to receive it.

Tourist Secrets

Kamsahamnida~

Here’s a copy of 15 basic Korean phrases for y’all!