5 Most Important Korean Phrases to Learn First (2024)

Talk To Me In Korean

Whether you are going on a short trip to Korea, or you simply want to learn the Korean language, you will have to start somewhere. It can be daunting to figure out where to start but this list will jumpstart your Korean learning with the 5 most important phrases you need to know as a beginner.

1. Hello - 안녕하세요 [annyeong-haseyo]

When you are greeted by someone, whether it be in the shops or on the street, you will hear this word. 안녕하세요 [a-nyeong-ha-se-yo] is the formal, polite way to say hello in Korean and is the most important for you to know when you are just beginning learning Korean or if you are in need of some simple travel Korean. A fun fact about this word: it has the literal meaning of ‘be in peace’.


2. Goodbye - 안녕히 가세요 [annyeonghi gaseyo] / 안녕히 계세요 [annyeonghi gyeseyo]

There are actually two phrases for the formal polite way to say goodbye in Korean, and which one you use depends on the situation. You may have noticed they sound very similar to each other, and they also sound similar to the phrase for “hello”. This is because the two phrases for goodbye also have the literal meaning of ‘go in peace’ and ‘stay in peace’. By looking at their literal meanings you may have a better understanding of what situations they are each used in. 안녕히 가세요 [annyeong-hi gaseyo] is used when the person(s) you are speaking to are the ones leaving, or when you are going separate ways. 안녕히 계세요 [annyeong-hi gyeseyo] is used when you are leaving, but the person(s) you are speaking to are staying.

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3. Yes - 네 [ne]
One of the most important Korean phrases to learn is also the simplest. The word for yes in Korean is 네 [ne].

4. No - 아니요 [aniyo]
Whether it’s to show disagreement or to answer a question, another extremely important expression to know is ‘no’ which in Korean is 아니요 [aniyo].

5. Thank you - 감사합니다 [gamsahamnida]
Once you’ve had a conversation or exchange with a Korean person, of course you will want to thank them for their time, and the phrase for thank you in Korean is 감사합니다 [gamsahamnida]


Once you’ve learned these expressions, you’ll be able to have some simple conversations with Koreans. They will surely appreciate the effort and initiative you have put into the beginning of your Korean learning journey and you may even make some friends along the way!

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5 Most Important Korean Phrases to Learn First (2024)

FAQs

5 Most Important Korean Phrases to Learn First? ›

Hangul: Learning Korean Alphabet

The basic step to learning any new language is to learn the alphabet first. Firstly learn the letters, vowels and consonants. The Hangul consists of 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.

What should you learn first when learning Korean? ›

Hangul: Learning Korean Alphabet

The basic step to learning any new language is to learn the alphabet first. Firstly learn the letters, vowels and consonants. The Hangul consists of 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.

What is the most common phrase in Korean? ›

15 South Korean phrases for tourists
  1. Hello - 안녕하세요 Pronunciation: An-nyeong-ha-se-yo.
  2. Thank you - 감사합니다 Pronunciation: Kam-sa-ham-ni-da.
  3. Nice to meet you - 반갑습니다 ...
  4. How are you? - 밥 먹었어요? ...
  5. Excuse me/just a moment - 잠시만요 ...
  6. I'm sorry - 최성합니다 / 미안합니다 ...
  7. Please (please give me...) - ...
  8. Where is the...? - 어디예요

How to reply annyeonghaseyo? ›

#1 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo) - “Hello” in Korean (formal) “Hello” in Korean literally means “to do peace/well-being”. It's used as both a question and an answer almost as though asking “Are you doing well?” and replying 네, 안녕하세요 (ne, annyeong haseyo, “yes, I'm doing well”).

What is the easiest word to say in Korean? ›

Here are some basic phrases in Korean for beginners:
  • Greetings: - 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) – Hello. - 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) – Goodbye.
  • Everyday Expressions: - 네 (ne) - Yes. - 아니요 (aniyo) - No. - 주세요 (juseyo) - Please. - 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) - Thank you. - 천만에요 (cheonmaneyo) - You're welcome.
  • Common Questions:
Dec 26, 2021

How to learn Korean quickly? ›

10 Useful Tips For Learning Korean
  1. Learn Hangul. ...
  2. Build your vocabulary. ...
  3. Loanwords and Konglish-words are your friend. ...
  4. Surround yourself with Korean. ...
  5. Define your type of learning. ...
  6. Work with Korean teachers. ...
  7. Find companions / Korean friends. ...
  8. Engage in groups.
Jan 16, 2020

Can I learn basic Korean in 1 month? ›

It takes about three months or 90 days to learn enough Korean to have at least 3-minute conversations in Korean if you study for 7 to 10 hours per week. Moreover, after one year of looking at this pace, you will become fluent and comfortable with Korean conversation.

Can I learn basic Korean in 3 months? ›

Having short, simple conversations. If you spend 30 minutes to 1 hour a day studying Korean, you should be able to hold short conversations in the language 90 days after you start. To achieve this, you should focus on the most frequently used words in the language.

How do Koreans flirt phrases? ›

Cute Korean Phrases to Show Your Love
EnglishKorean (한국어)Romanization
I want to kiss you뽀뽀하고 싶어ppoppohago sipeo
Kiss me please뽀뽀해 줘ppoppohae jwo
I want to be with you같이 있고 싶어gachi itgo sipeo
I miss your smile미소가 정말 그리워misoga jeongmal geuriwo
11 more rows

What does imnida mean? ›

입니다 (Imnida) is the word meaning “to be” so unlike English, you have to put your name in the middle of the sentence. So for example, my name is Jaehwi, so I can say - 제 이름은 Jae 입니다. (Je ireumeun Jaehwi imnida.) "My name is Jaehwi."

Why do Koreans say Yeoboseyo? ›

여보세요 (yeoboseyo), meaning “hello” in English, is the standard Korean phone greeting and is only used over the phone. Keep in mind that there are no “polite” or “casual” ways to answer the phone in Korean; we use this set phrase by default, unless we're answering the phone in a business context (more on this later).

What does hamnida mean in Korean? ›

합니다 romanised as hab-ni-da. It is pronounced as hamnida. It means ' i do' Example- 감사합니다 = 감사 + 함니다

What are the 100 most common Korean words? ›

100 Most Common Korean Phrases and Words to Learn
  • Good morning. Formal: 좋은 아침입니다. ...
  • Good evening. Formal: 좋은 저녁입니다. ...
  • Goodbye. Formal: 안녕히 계세요. ...
  • Nice to meet you. Formal: 만나서 반갑습니다. ...
  • Have a nice day! Formal: 좋은 하루 되세요. ...
  • My name is ___. Formal: 제 이름은 ___ 입니다. ...
  • I'm sorry. Formal: 죄송합니다. ...
  • What did you say?
Dec 22, 2023

How to memorize Korean phrases? ›

Repetition is the name of the game when it comes to memorization. Dedicate regular study sessions solely to repeating Korean words. By doing so, you'll engrave the vocabulary into your long-term memory. Use the words in conversations, writing exercises, or even as part of your inner monologue.

What are the simple phrases in Korean language? ›

Hello – 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) Thank you – 고맙습니다 (go-map-seum-ni-da) You're welcome – 천만에요 (cheon-man-e-yo) Excuse me – 실례합니다 (sill-ye-ham-ni-da)

What does si mi da mean? ›

Polite Form: "Simida" is used to show politeness and respect in Korean speech. It is often used in formal settings, such as in business interactions, official announcements, or when speaking to someone of higher social status.

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