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Practical Korean Expressions
for Foreigners

a
eo
o
u
eu
i
ae
e
oe
wi
ya
yeo
yo
yu
yae
ye
wa
wae
wo
we
ui
father
sun
horse
pool
(like u but without
lip rounding)
fill
apple
pen
west
window
yard
young
York
you
yank
yes
Wanda
wagon
wonder
west
(like eu+i in one
syllable)
Ansan
Jeonju
Jonggak
Ulsan
Euljiro
Incheon
Daegu
Jeju
Goesan
Seogwipo
Yangyang
Buyeo
Yongsan
Yugyo
yaegi
Yesan
Gwangju
Waegwan
Suwon
gwedo
Yeouido

g
kk
k
d
tt
t
b
pp
p
j
jj
ch
s
ss
h
n
m
ng
r
l
gift
sky
king
do
star
top
boat
speak
party
jacket
waltz
child
smile
sea
hand
name
moon
song
very
lake
Gangnam

kkachi
keugi
Daejeon
tteok
Itaewon
Busan
appa
Pohang
Jirisan
jjigae
Chuncheon

Seoul
ssuk
Hangang
Namwon
Masan
Gangwon
Marado
Jamsil
Silla
1
Approximate
Pronunciation
Example
Roma-
niza-
tion
V
o
w
e
l
C
o
n
s
o
n
a
n
t
Approxi-
mate
Pronun-
ciation
Example
Roma-
niza-
tion
Korean Romanization and
Examples
Hello.
?
Annyeonghaseyo?
My name is Peter.
.
Jeoneun Peter-imnida.
Its nice to meet you.
.
Ban-gapseumnida.
Goodbye (when the other person is leaving).
.
Annyeonghi gaseyo.
Goodbye (when the other person is staying).
.
Annyeonghi gyeseyo.
Thank you.
.
Gamsahamnida.
Sorry.
.
Mianhamnida.
Excuse me.
.
Sillyehamnida.
2
Greetings and Basic
Expressions
Transportation
3
There are two kinds of taxis in Korea:
a standard taxi and a deluxe taxi. A
deluxe taxi is slightly more expensive
than a standard taxi. Taxi fares are usu-
ally paid in cash, but many taxis now
accept payment by credit card or pub-
lic transit card. Tipping is not necessary.
A: Where would you like to go?
?
Eodikkaji gaseyo?
B : Please take me to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
.
Gyeongbokgung-e ga juseyo.
A: Please stop here. How much is it (the fare)?
. ?
Yeogieseo sewo juseyo. Eolmayeyo?
B : Its 5,000 won.
5,000.
Ocheon wonimnida.
A: Thank you.
.
Gomapseumnida.
Please take me to this address.
.
I jusoro ga juseyo.
Can you go quickly?
.
Jom ppalli ga juseyo.
Please make a right turn.
.
Uhoejeon hae juseyo.
Where is the nearest subway station?
?
I geuncheo-e jihacheollyeogi eodie isseoyo?
Which subway line should I take to go to COEX?
?
COEX-e garyeomyeon jihacheol myeot hoseoneul taya
dwaeyo?
Which station should I get off at to go to COEX?
?
COEX-e garyeomyeon museun yeogeseo naeryeoyo?
Where should I go to transfer to subway line No. 3?
3 ?
Sam-hoseoneuro garataryeomyeon eodiro gaya dwaeyo?
Does this bus go to Myeong-dong?
?
I Bus-ga Myeong-dong-e gayo?
Which bus (number) should I take to go to
Apgujeong-dong?
?
Apgujeong-dong-e garyeomyeon myeot beon Bus-reul
taya haeyo?
Please open the door.
.
Mun jom yeoreo juseyo.
Where should I get off to go to Insa-dong?
?
Insa-dong-e garyeomyeon eodieseo naeryeoyo?
Where can I reload my transit card?
?
Gyotong-Card eodieseo chungjeonhaeyo?

Left turn : (jwahoejeon)

Go straight : (jikjin)

Ticket counter : (pyo paneun got)

Platform : (taneun got)

To transfer : (garataneun got)

Exit : (naganeun got)

Shopping
4
Dongdaemun
This is a huge clothes market. You
can even shop here late at night.
(Exit 13 or 14 of Dongdaemun His-
tory & Culture Park station on sub-
way line No.s 2, 4, and 5)
Myeong-dong
This area of Seoul is a popular
shopping district for tourists.
(Exit 6 of Myeong-dong station on
subway line No. 4)
A: How much do these come out to?
?
Igeo jeonbu eolmayeyo?
B: Theyre 20,000 won.
20,000.
Iman wonieyo.
A: Thats a bit expensive.
Please give me a discount.
. .
Jogeum bissayo. Kkakka juseyo.
B: Then give me just 18,000 won.
, 18,000 .
Geureom, manpalcheon wonman naeseyo.

Clothes : (ot)

Hat : (moja)

Watch : (sigye)

Bag : (gabang)

Accessories : (Accessories)

Electronic goods : (jeonjajepum)

Food : (eumsik)

Pattern : (muni)

Shape : (moyang)

Design : (Design)
Where can I find souvenirs?
?
Ginyeompumeun eodieseo parayo?
What time do you close?
?
Myeot sie muneul dadayo?
I would like to take a look at that.
.
Jeogeot jom boyeo juseyo.
I dont know my (their) Korean size(s).
.
Han-guk chisureul jal mollayo.
Do you have anything cheaper?
?
Deo ssan geo isseoyo?
Do you have another color?
?
Dareun saek isseoyo?
Please recommend a nice gift.
.
Jo-eun seonmureul chucheonhae juseyo.
Ill take this one.
.
Igeollo juseyo.
Please gift-wrap it.
.
Pojanghae juseyo.
This size doesnt fit me.
.
Chisuga an majayo.

Pay : (gyesan)

Exchange : (gyohwan)

Refund : (hwanbul)
Tourism
5
Namsangol Hanok Village

Get a glimpse of how Seoul looked in
days of yore.
(Exit 3 of Chungmuro station on subway
line No.s 3 and 4)
N Seoul Tower
N

Gaze down upon Seoul. The night-

scape is especially awe-inspiring.
(Bus No. 2 after taking Exit 6 of Dongguk
University station on subway line No. 3)
A: Excuse me. Do you mind taking a picture
(of me/us)?
. ?
Sillyehamnida. Sajin jom jjigeo jusigesseoyo?
B: Sure.
.
Ne.
A: Please take one more picture.
.
Han jang deo jjigeo juseyo.
B: Are you ready? One, two, three, cheese~
, . , , , ~
Ne, jjikseumnida. Hana, dul, set, gimchi~
Where is the museum?
?
Bangmulgwani eodie isseoyo?
Is there a park nearby?
?
I geuncheo-e gong-won isseoyo?
Can I get there on foot?
?
Georeoseo gal su isseoyo?
I would like an information booklet.
.
Annae chaekja jom juseyo.
Is there an English-speaking guide?
?
Yeong-eo hal su inneun annaejaga isseoyo?
Can I take pictures here?
?
Yeogiseo sajin jjigeodo dwaeyo?

Art museum : (misulgwan)

Zoo : (dongmurwon)

Bathroom : (hwajangsil)

Map : (jido)

Ticket : (ipjanggwon)

Admission fee : (ipjangnyo)

Free : (muryo)
Restaurant
6
A Korean meal usually consists of
rice, soup, main dishes, and side
dishes. The rice and soup are served
separately to each individual, but
the main dishes and side dishes
are placed in the center of the
table to be shared with others.
There is no need to leave a tip.
A: Excuse me! (calling a waiter)
.
Yeogiyo.
B: Would you like to order?
?
Jumunhasigesseumnikka?
A: Two orders of Bulgogi, please.
2 .
Bulgogi i-inbun juseyo.
B: Yes sir / maam.
, .
Ne, algesseumnida.

Side dish : (banchan)

Water : (mul)

Salt : (sogeum)

Pepper : (huchu)

Pork : (dwaejigogi)

Fork : (Fork)

Chopsticks : (jeotgarak)

Spoon : (sutgarak)

Check : (gyesanseo)

Pay : (gyesan)

Its delicious. : (masisseoyo)

Its spicy. : (maewoyo)

Is there a good Korean restaurant nearby?
?
I geuncheo-e masinneun han-guk sikdang isseoyo?
May I please have a menu?
.
Charimpyo jom juseyo.
What is the most popular dish here?
?
Yeogiseo jeil in-gi inneun eumsigi mwoyeyo?
Id like to order.
.
Jumunhalgeyo.
Well have (one) Samgyetang and (one)
Bibimbap please.
.
Samgyetang-hago Bibimbap juseyo.
Please leave out the Gochujang.
.
Gochujang ppae juseyo.
Telephone
7
It is not easy to find a pay
phone on the streets these
days due to the widespread
use of cell phones. Most
pay phones require a phone
card, but some only accept
coins. Card-operated pay
phones are convenient be-
cause they can be used to
make local and long-distance calls, as well as overseas calls.
You can purchase a phone card at most convenience stores
as well as at special shops that sell phone cards.
A: Hello? Can I speak with Minsu?
? ?
Yeoboseyo? Minsu-ssi gyeseyo?
B: Hes not here right now.
.
Jigeum an gyesindeyo.
A: Okay, Ill call back later.
, .
Geureom, dasi jeonhwa deurigesseumnida.
B: Okay.
, .
Ne, algesseumnida.

Long-distance call : (sioejeonhwa)

Local call : (sinaejeonhwa)

Text message : (munja Message)

Where is the nearest pay phone?
?
I geuncheo-e gongjungjeonhwaga eodi isseoyo?
Where can I buy a phone card?
?
Eodieseo jeonhwa-Card-reul sal su isseoyo?
How do I make an international call?
?
Gukje jeonhwaneun eotteoke haeyo?
Can I speak with Minsu?
.
Minsu-ssi jom butakamnida.
Can you put someone who speaks English
on the phone?
.
Yeong-eo hal su inneun saram jom bakkwo juseyo.
Excuse me? [Can you repeat that?]
.
Dasi malsseumhae juseyo.
HospitalPharmacy
8
If you get sick, go to a hospital
to receive medical treatment and
a prescription, if necessary. Pick
up your medicine by bringing the
prescription to a pharmacy. You
can purchase household medi-
cine at a pharmacy without a
prescription.

Head : (meori)

Leg : (dari)

Back : (heori)

Tooth : (i)

Cold sweat : (sigeunttam)

A: My stomach hurts.
.
Baega apayo.
B: When did you first feel sick?
?
Eonjebuteo apasseoyo?
A: Yesterday.
.
Eojebuteoyo.

Cold medicine : (gamgiyak)

Headache medicine : (dutongnyak)

Eye drops : (anyak)

Anti-diarrheal medicine : (jisaje)

Painkiller : (jintongje)

Bandage : (banchanggo)

Aspirin : (Aspirin)

Diabetes medication : (dangnyoyak)

Heart-disease medication : (simjangnyak)

I have fever.
.
Yeori nayo.
I have a cold.
.
Gamgie geollyeosseoyo.
I would like indigestion medicine.
.
Sohwaje jom juseyo.
Should I take it before a meal?
?
Siksa jeone meogeoyo?
How many times a day should I take it?
?
Harue myeot beon meogeoyo?
I take medicine for blood pressure.
.
Pyeongso-e hyeoramnyageul meokgo isseoyo.
I have travelers insurance.
.
Yeohaengja boheomi isseoyo.
Request for Help
9
Police - 112
Fire/Ambulance / - 119
Dasan Call Center
(for questions about Seoul) - 120
Tourism Information for
Foreigners - 1330

Cell phone : (hyudaejeonhwa)

Passport (yeogwon)

Wallet : (jigap)

Plane ticket : (hanggonggwon)

Please help me.
.
Dowajuseyo.
Please call the police.
.
Gyeongchal jom bulleo juseyo.
I need to go to the hospital.
.
Byeongwone gago sipeoyo.
I lost my bag.
.
Gabang-eul ireo beoryeosseoyo.
Emotions
10
Koreans tend not to express
their emotions to others and
place importance on modesty.
For exampl e, they wi l l fre-
quently answer No when
recei vi ng a compl i ment or
bei ng thanked. Thi s i s not
meant to deny the other persons compliment or gratitude,
but is the result of a culture that places enormous value on
having a modest attitude.
Its good. / I like it.
.
Joayo.
Its bad. / I dont like it.
.
Sireoyo.
Its fun.
.
Jaemiisseoyo.
Its okay.
.
Gwaenchanayo.
So so.
.
Geujeo geuraeyo.
Im tired.
.
Pigonhaeyo.
Im angry.
.
Hwaga nayo.
Cheer up.
.
Himnaeseyo.
Practical Korean Expressions
for Foreigners
1. Korean Romanization and Examples

2. Greetings and Basic Expressions

3. Transportation
4. Shopping
5. Tourism
6. Restaurant
7. Telephone
8. HospitalPharmacy
9. Request for Help
10. Emotions
148 02)2669-
9745 02)2669-9747 201010 201010
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