In the modern world, the Korean language is gaining more and more popularity both among people who are passionate about linguistics and among ordinary travelers. And for good reason: the rapid development of South Korea has confirmed its position in the technological and entertainment fields. In addition, there is a visa-free regime between Russia and the "country of morning freshness", which significantly expands the tourist borders.
You should visit South Korea at least once in your life. And in order to make you feel as comfortable as possible in an unknown environment, we have collected in this article the most popular phrases in Korean with translation. You will learn how to say hello, have a small conversation on everyday topics, and learn how to shop properly.
Korean greetings
Koreans always pay great attention to the first impression a new acquaintance makes. In Korean culture, politeness and age hierarchy play a huge role. As a foreigner, you should not pay attention to the peculiarities of the age hierarchy (at least at first). Being polite is the main task! Korean words and phrases can be divided into formal and colloquial, depending on the status of the interlocutor and your relationship. Colloquial expressions are recommended for use with close friends, but official ones are suitable for any occasion.
Hello! - 안녕하세요! - annen'haseyo!
Good afternoon! - 안녕하십니까! - annen'hashimnikka!
Good night. - 잘자요. - chal jayo
Hello! - 안녕! - annyeon'!
How are you? - 잘지냈어요? - chal jinessoyo?
How are you? - 어떻게 지내십니까? - outflow jinaschimnikka?
My name is _. - 저는 _ 이에요/에요. - jeeun _ her/her
Nice to meet you. - 만나서 반가워요. - mannaso pangauoyo
Goodbye. - 안녕히 계세요. - annegi keseyo (if you leave and the other person stays)
Bye! - 안녕! - annyeon'!
Remember: in addition to translation, Korean phrases with transcription are given. During pronunciation, try to forget about the harshness inherent in the Russian language, and pronounce all letters softer than usual.
Useful Korean phrases and words for communication
I don't understand. - 나몰에개습니다. - on muregesymnida.
Do you speak Russian? - 러시어 말아요? - roschio marae?
I don't speak _name of language_. - 저는 _ 말 못해요. - jeongeun _ mal moteyo
Please (please). - 제발. - chebal
Please (in response to gratitude). - 괸자나요 - kuenchanae
Thank you. - 감사합니다. - kamsahamnida
Thank you. - 고맙습니다. - Kumapsymnida
Yes. - 네. - ne
Yeah. - 에. - e
No. - 아니요. - aniyo
Sorry. - 죄송합니다. - chueson'hamnida
Where can I find a toilet? - 화장실이 어디에는데? - hwajan'shiri odiennde?
What time is it now? - 지금 몇시입니까? -chigem muffyimnikka?
I'm sick/something hurts. - 아파요. - on apayo
Now. - 지금. - jigeum
Before. - 후에. - hue
Morning. - 아침. - ajim
Night. - 밤. - bam
Staying at a hotel
Looking for a way to book a room in South Korea? Are you choosing between a famous tourist spot in the city center and an establishment in a traditional national style? Korean phrases for communicating with hotel staff will help you with this.
I need to book a room. - 내가 보유해야. - nega puyuheya
I would like to book a hotel room. - 예약하고 싶은데요. - nega yeyakhago shipyndeyo.
Do you have rooms available? - 있습니까? - ban' issymnikka?
How much is a single/double room? - 한 사람/두 사람당 방이 얼마입니까? - khan saram/tu saramdan' ban'gi olmaimnikka?
Is there _ in the room? - 그 방에는 _이 있습니까? - gee ban'genyn _and issymnikka?
…sheets? - … 침대보/침대 시트? - chimdebo/chimde shichi?
… bathroom? - … 화장실? - huajan'gschil?
… phone? - … 전화기? - jonghwagi?
… TV? - … 티비? - Thibi?
I want a room with a bathtub. - 목욕과 방. - mog'yogwa ban'
I ordered a number from you. - 네방에 지시. - ne ban'ge jishi
Can I see the number first? - 방을 먼저 봐도 되겠습니까? - ban'geul monjo buado due gessymnikka?
Do you have a number… - … 방있습니까? - ban'g issymnikka?
… be quiet? - 더 조용한 … - do choyong'ghan
… more? - 더 큰 … - to khun
… cleaner? - 더 깨끗한 … - do kkekkeettan
…cheaper? - 더 싼 … - before piss
Okay, I'll take this number. - 좋습니다, 그것으로하겠습니다. - chosymnida, kygosyro hagessymnida.
I will stay for _ nights. - _ 밤 묵겠습니다. - _ bam mukgessymnida.
Take your order. - 주문을 받아. - plague gang
Tipping. - 도움말. - doummal
I would like to pay the bill. - 그 법안에 지불하고자하는. - gee pobane jipulhagojahaneung
Passport. - 여권. - yoguon
Room/number. - 방. - ban'
Please clean my room. - 방을 청소해 주십시오. - ban'geul cheon'soha jushchio.
Let's go shopping
South Korea is famous all over the world for its shopping and good prices. For a pleasant walk through local shops, not marred by the language barrier, we have prepared the following Korean phrases:
How much is it? - 얼마나요? - olmanae?
Do you have this item in my size? - 이것으로 제 사이즈와 맞는 것 있습니까? - igosyro che saidzhyua ma'nyn goth issymnikka?
It's too expensive. - 너무 비쌉니다. - nomu pissamnida
Expensive. - 비싼. - pissant
Cheap. - 싼. - piss
I can't afford it. - 그것을 살 여유가 없습니다. - kygoseul sal yoyuga opssymnida
You seem to be fooling me. - 속이지 마세요. - sogiji maseeo
Okay, I'll take this. - 좋습니다, 사겠습니다. - chosymnida, sagessymnida
Can I have a package? - 가방을살수있습니까? - boar'geul sal suissymnikka?
Do you have delivery service? - 발송합니까? - palson'hamnikka?
I need… - 저는 …이 필요합니다 - jeongeun …and phiryohamnida
… toothpaste. - … 치약. - chiyak
… toothbrush. - … 칫솔. - chissol
… tampons. - … 탐폰. - thaphon
… soap. - … 비누. - Binu
… shampoo. - … 샴푸. - shamphu
… painkiller. - … 진통제. - chinthon'jae
… razor. - … 면도기. - myeondogi
…umbrella. - … 우산 - wusang.
… batteries. - … 건전지 - gonchonji
When do you close? - 언제 닫습니까? - onje tadsymnikka?
Do you accept credit cards? - 신용 카드 받으십니까? - shinyeon' khady padishimnikka?
Dinning at a restaurant and cafe
South Korea has a rich traditional cuisine based on spicy food and a wide variety of meats. Koreans love to not only eat a lot, but also talk a lot about food. Using the following Korean words and phrases, you can easily order your lunch at any local restaurant or cafe:
Table for one/two, please. - 한 사람/두 사람 테이블 부탁합니다. - khan saram/tu saram teibyl puthakamnida.
Can I have a look at the menu please? - 메뉴를 봐도 되겠습니까? - manyuryl buado duekessymnikka?
I am a vegetarian. - 저는 채식주의자입니다. - jeeun cheesikjuuychaimnida
I don't eat pork. - 저는 돼지고기를 먹지 않습니다. - jeongeun duejigogyreul mokji ansemnida
I don't eat beef. - 저는 소고기를 먹지 않습니다. - jeongeun sogogyreul mokji anseumnida
Dish at a fixed price. - 정가 음식. - chon'ga ymshchik
Breakfast. - 아침 식사. - achhimshchisa
Lunch. - 점심 식사. - chomschim shchisa
Tea. - 차. - cha
Dinner. - 저녁 식사. - jongyok shchisa
I want _. - 저는 _을 원합니다. - jeongeun _l wonhamnida
Meat. - 고기. - gogi
Beef. - 소고기. - sogogi
Pork. - 돼지고기. - duejigogi
Ham. - 햄. - ham
Bacon. - 베이컨/삼겹살. - Baeikhon/Samgyeopsal
Sausage. - 소세지. - neighbors
Chicken. - 닭고기/치킨. - talgogi/chikhin
Eggs. - 달걀/계란. - talgyal/ kyeran
Seafood. - 해물. - hemul
Fish. - 생선. -sen'son
Shrimp. - 새우. -seu
Crab meat. - 게살. - quesal
Dairy products. - 유제품. - yujaephum
Milk. - 우유. - wow
Cream. - 크림. - khyrim
Cheese. - 치즈. - chiji
Oil. - 버터. - botho
Yogurt. - 요구르트. - yogurythy
Bouillon. - 국물. -kugmul
(Fresh) vegetables. - (신선한) 야채. - (shinseonghan) yache
(Fresh) fruits. - (신선한) 과일. - (shinseonghan) guanil
Salad. - 샐러드. - sellods
Bread. - 빵. - ppan'
Noodles. - 국수. - kugsu
Fig. - 밥. - bap
Can I have a glass of _? - _한잔주시겠습니까? - Khan jan juschigessymnikka?
Can I have a cup of _? - _한컵주시겠습니까? - Khan khop juschigessymnikka?
Can I have a bottle of _? - _한병주시겠습니까? - han byung' jushigessymnikka?
Coffee. - 커피 - hopi
Juice. - 주스. - juices
Water. - 물. - mul
Beer. - 맥주. - maekju
Red/white wine. - 레드/화이트 와인. - reds/whiiths uine
Can I _? - _을/를좀 주시겠습니까? - _l / snout chomjuschigessymnikka?
S alt. - 소금. - sogym
Black pepper. - 후추. - hoochoo
Sauce. - 양념/소스. - yang'yum/sucks
Excuse me, waiter? - 여기요? - Yogiyo?
I'm done. - 다먹었습니다. - yes mocossymnida
It was very tasty. - 맛있었습니다. - machissossymnida
Please take the plates. - 접시를치워주십시오. - jeomshireul chiuojuschio
Bill please! - 계산서 부탁합니다. -kyesanso puthakamnida
Drinking at the bar
Remember we talked about what Koreans like to eat? They love to drink even more! Surely you have heard of soju at least once - a Korean traditional alcoholic drink that resembles Russian vodka, but with a lower percentage of ethyl alcohol. In addition to soju, in bars and shops you can always find the widest variety of drinks and, most importantly, cheap prices.
Do you serve alcohol? - 술팝니까? - sul phabnikka?
Beer/two beers, please. - 맥주한/두병 부탁합니다. - maekju khan/tu byon' puthakamnida
A glass of red/white wine, please. - 적/백 포도주 한 잔 부탁합니다. - chok/back phodoju han jan puthakamnida
One bottle, please. - 한병 부탁합니다. - han byung' puthakamnida
Soju. - 소주. - soju
Whiskey. - 위스키 - whistle
Vodka. - 보드카. - bodykha
Rum. - 럼. - rum
Cola. - 콜라. - kholla
Do you have any snacks? - 안주 있습니까? - aju issymnikka?
One more please. - 한개더 부탁합니다. - han ge to puthakamnida
Romantic words and phrases about love
Bonus to the already mentionedexpressions, we have prepared beautiful phrases in Korean that will help you express your feelings in the most romantic moments of your trip.
Beautiful. - 예쁘다. - eppyda
Couple. - 연인. - youngin
Darling/darling. - 여보. - yobo
Girl (as a couple). - 여자친구. - yojachingu
Guy (as a couple). - 남자친구. - namjachingu
Date. - 데이트. - deithy
Blind date. - 미팅. - mithin'
Engagement. - 약혼. - yakgon
Wedding. - 결혼. - keron
It's love at first sight. - 우린 서로 첫눈에 반했어요. - urin soro cheonune banessoyo
Will you be my girlfriend? - 내여자친구가 되어줄래? - ne yojachingguga dueojulle?
Will you be my boyfriend? - 내 남자친구가 되어줄래? - ne namjachingguga dueojulle?
Will you go on a date with me? - 나랑사귈래요? - naran' saguillayo?
I love you. - 사랑합니다 - saran'hamnida
I'm crazy about you. - 당신에게 반했습니다. - tan'shinege banessymnida
Will you marry me? - 저랑 결혼해 주세요? - choran' kyorone juseyo?
Don't be afraid to use a foreign language. Koreans will definitely appreciate your efforts
Tourists are always welcome in South Korea, especially those who are trying to learn as much as possible about Korean culture. If you try to talk to the locals using the above Korean phrases, it will certainly lift you up in the eyes of others.
By the way, a little tip: try to use as few gestures as possible, as in Asian countries they often have a completely different meaning.
