Survival Phrases

Don't waste your time! Get the most language in the shortest time with these survival phrases.

Absolute Beginner

Curriculum

Survival Phrases

In this 60-lesson series, you'll learn vital Korean phrases in each lesson that will help prepare you for an upcoming trip to Korea. Topics covered include ordering at a restaurant, taking public transportation, asking directions, checking into a hotel, and much more. If you have not studied Korean and simply want to master basic phrases without getting into the details of grammar, this is the series for you.

Lesson	Title	Topic	Function	Target Phrases	Key Vocab	Cultural Insight
1	Thank You!	Gratitude	Thanking people	대단히 감사합니다. 고마워. 감사합니다. or 고맙습니다.	고맙다 \| to be thankful 대단히 \| very, much 감사하다 \| thank	Helpful hints about formality
2	You're Welcome	Gratitude	Saying "You're welcome"	천만에요. 아니에요.	"천만에요. \| You're welcome. It's nothing. 아니다 \| to be not "	Don't be a braggart in Korea!
3	This, Please	Asking questions	Asking for something	이거 주세요. 그거 주세요. 김치 주세요.	"주세요 \| Please give me. 이거 \| this 그거 \| that [spoken - (close to the listener) ] 김치 \| Kimchi "	Getting others to do your bidding (politely) in Korea
4	Basic Greetings	Greetings	Exchanging basic greetings	안녕하세요. 좋은 아침입니다. 여보세요.	"좋은 \| good 아침 \| morning 이다 \| to be 여보세요 \| Hello? (used on the phone)"	Knowing When and How to Bow in Korea
5	Goodbye	Greetings	Saying goodbye	안녕히 가세요. 안녕히 계세요. 잘 있어. 잘 가. 안녕.	"있다 \| to be, to exist 가 \| I go/you go/they go/we go (intimate) 잘 \| well 계시다 \| to be (honorific) 가시다 \| to go (honorific) 안녕히 \| peacefully"	Is it a two-way street in Korea?
6	Where is the Bathroom?	Directions	Asking where something is	화장실 어디에요?	"화장실 \| toilet, bathroom 어디 \| where 이다 \| to be 남자 \| man, male, boy 여자 \| woman, female, girl"	What is that thing on the floor in the bathroom?
7	Apologies in Korean	Apologies	Asking if someone can speak a certain language	죄송합니다. 괜찮아요.	"괜찮다 \| to be okay, to be all right 죄송하다 \| to be sorry"	Adjusting to Korean time
8	Can You Speak English?	Basic conversation	Saying that you can't speak a language	영어 하세요? 한국어 하세요?	"영어 \| English 일본어 \| Japanese 한국어 \| Korean (language) 하다 \| to do"	The importance of learning sounds in Korean
9	Can You Say it Again?	Basic conversation	Asking someone to repeat something	한번 더 말씀해 주세요. 천천히 말씀해 주세요. 예?	"한번 \| one time, once 더 \| more 말씀하다 \| to speak, to say (honorific) 주다 \| to give"	Why it's important to keep your cool in Korea
10	"I Don't Understand" in Korean	Basic conversation	Apologizing	죄송합니다, 이해 못 해요 한국말 못 해요	"이해 \| understanding 못 \| can't, won't 하다 \| to do 한국말 \| Korean (language)"	Pockets empty? You may not have to worry in Korea
11	Korean Greetings at Business Establishments	Greetings	Replying to welcome messages	손님이 왕이다. 어서 오십시오. 안녕히 가십시오.	"안녕히 \| peacefully 가시다 \| to go (honorific) 손님 \| customer, guest 왕비 \| queen 어서 \| quickly 이다 \| to be 오시다 \| to come (honorific) 오다 \| to come 가다 \| to go"	Customers are royalty in Korea
12	Korean Restaurant, Part 1: Ordering and Getting the Check	Restaurant	Talking about numbers	저기요. 이거 주세요. 물 주세요. 계산서 주세요.	"이거 \| this 주다 \| to give 물 \| water 계산서 \| check, bill"	Why using two hands is better than one
13	Korean Restaurant, Part 2: Korean Table Etiquette	Restaurant	Asking for smoking or non-smoking seats	잘 먹겠습니다. 잘 먹었습니다.	"먹었다 \| ate 잘 \| well 먹다 \| to eat"	Sharing the wealth in Korea
14	Korean Restaurant, Part 3: Delicious!	Restaurant	Ordering food and drinks	맛있어요. 뭐가 맛있어요?	"뭐 \| what 맛있다 \| be delicious 이거 \| this, this one 뭐예요? \| What is it? What? 이 \| this (demonstrative modifier) 찌개 \| stew, soup"	What the heck is kimchi?
15	Korean Restaurant, Part 4: Smoking or Nonsmoking	Restaurant	Getting the check	흡연석 드릴까요? 금연석 드릴까요? 금연석 주세요.	"흡연석 \| smoking section, smoking seat 드리다 \| to give (polite) 금연석 \| non-smoking section, non-smoking seat"	Avoid this Korean faux pas!
16	Korean Restaurant, Part 5: How Many People? (and Numbers)	Restaurant	Counting numbers of people	몇 분 이세요? 한 명. 두 명. 세 명. 네 명. 다섯 명.	"명 \| counter for people (non-honorific) 넷 \| four (Pure-Korean) 여덟 \| eight 아홉 \| nine 둘 \| two (Pure-Korean) 여섯 \| six 다섯 \| five (Pure-Korean) 셋 \| three 일곱 \| seven 하나 \| one 열 \| ten"	How to count from 1 to 10 in Korean
17	Korean Counters	Numbers	Using counters	맥주 한 잔. 맥주 두 잔. 맥주 세 잔 주세요. 맥주 네 개.	"맥주 \| beer 세 잔 \| three glasses 주다 \| to give 병 \| bottle 개 \| counting-unit word for general or non-specific items, units, ojbects"	99 bottles (cans, mugs, etc.) of beer on the wall
18	Asking "How Much?" in Korean	Shopping	Asking prices	얼마예요? 이거 얼마예요? 그거 얼마예요?	"이거 \| this 얼마 \| how much 그거 \| that [spoken - (close to the listener) ] 이다 \| to be"	Can you bargain-shop in Korea?
19	Lower, Please!	Shopping	Asking for a discount	깎아주세요.	"깎다 \| to discount 주다 \| to give"	Hunting for bargains in Korea
20	Korean Numbers and One Very Useful Phone Number	Telephone number	Telling a telephone number in Korean	공 일 이 삼 사 오 육 칠 팔 구 십	"칠 \| seven 일 \| one 육 \| six 삼 \| three (Sino-Korean) 팔 \| eight 이 \| two 사 \| four 오 \| five 구 \| nine (Sino-Korean) 십 \| ten"	Making the right calls in Korea
21	Korean Currency	Numbers	Counting currency	천원 오천원 만원 십만원	"원 \| won (Korean currency) 천원 \| one thousand won 오천원 \| five thousand won 만원 \| 10,000 won 십만원 \| one hundred thousand won 백원 \| 100 won 오백원 \| five hundred won"	Counting in Korean
22	Korean Internet Cafe	Internet	Using an internet cafe	피씨방. 무선 인터넷 돼요? 아이디하고 비밀번호 주세요.	"무선 \| wireless 인터넷 \| Internet 되다 \| to become 아이디 \| ID 비밀번호 \| password 하고 \| and 주다 \| to give"	Getting online in Korea
23	Riding the Bus in Korea, Part 2	Bus	Buying a bus card	서울역 서울역 가요? 강남역 가요? 교통카드 주세요.	"주다 \| to give 강남역 \| Gangnam station 가다 \| to go 서울역 \| Seoul station 교통카드 \| transportation card 역 \| station"	On the fast train in Korea with T-Money
24	Riding the Bus in Korea, Part 2	Bus	Confirming bus destinations	다음 정류장은 뭐예요? 강남역은 다음이에요?	"다음 \| next, next time 정류장 \| stop, station 뭐예요? \| What is it? What? 강남역 \| Gangnam station 이다 \| to be"	The best way to get around Korea
25	Riding the Korean Rails, Part 1	Train	Buying a train ticket	서울역 한 장 주세요. 서울역 두 장 주세요. 서울역은 얼마에요?	"서울역 \| Seoul station 한장 \| one ticket 두 장 \| two tickets 주다 \| to give 얼마 \| how much 이다 \| to be"	Korean bullet trains
26	Riding the Korean Rails, Part 2	Train	Buying a subway ticket	부산역 한 장 주세요. 부산역 한 장. 부산역.	"한 장 \| one ticket 부산역 \| Busan station 주다 \| to give 부산 \| Busan"	Korean subway system
27	Taking a Taxi in Korea	Taxi	Taking a taxi	강남역. 강남역 가주세요. 서울역. 서울역 가주세요.	"가 주세요. \| Please go to.... 가다 \| to go 주다 \| to give 강남역 \| Gangnam station"	Tips in Korea
28	Is There a Bathroom Near Here in Korea?	Bathroom	Asking where something is located	여기 화장실 있어요? 여기 편의점 있어요?	"여기 \| here 화장실 \| toilet, bathroom 있다 \| there is 편의점 \| convenience store"	Korean convenience stores
29	Where Can I Buy...in Korea?	Directions	Looking for the closest store/ATM	물 어디에서 살 수 있어요? 영어 신문 어디에서 살 수 있어요?	"에서 \| at, in (location particle) 어디 \| where 사다 \| to buy 살 수 있다 \| can buy, able to buy 영어 신문 \| English newspaper 물 \| water"	English newspapers in Korea
30	Directions in Korean	Directions	Giving directions	쭉 가세요. 오른쪽으로 가세요. 왼쪽으로 가세요. 오른쪽에 있어요. 왼쪽에 있어요.	"왼쪽 \| left, left side 있어요 \| exist, is, have 있다 \| to be, to exist 가다 \| to go 으로 \| to 오른쪽 \| right, right side 쭉 가세요. \| Go straight."	Navigating Korea
31	Please Take My Picture in Korea	Photography	Asking someone to take your picture	사진 찍어 주세요. 하나, 둘, 셋 김치.	"김치 \| Kimchi 사진 \| picture, photo 치즈 \| cheese 하나 \| one 둘 \| two (Pure-Korean) 셋 \| three 주세요 \| Please give me. 찍다 \| to take (photos)"	Photo booths
32	May I Take Your Picture in Korea?	Photography	Asking permission in Korean	사진 찍어도 돼요? 같이 사진 찍어도 돼요?	"사진 \| picture, photo 찍다 \| to take (photos) 같이 \| together -도 돼요? \| May I...? , Can I...?"	Korean photo culture
33	How Do I Say This in Korean?	Asking questions	Asking how to say something in Korean	한국말로 어떻게 말해요? 'Water' 한국말로 어떻게 말해요? 'rice' 한국말로 어떻게 말해요?	"한국말 \| Korean (language) 어떻게 \| how, in what way 말하다 \| to say, to speak"	Group-centered society
34	Write it Down in Korean, Please	Asking questions	Asking someone to write something down	써 주세요. 영어 발음대로 써 주세요.	"쓰다 \| to write 주다 \| to give 영어 \| English 발음 \| pronunciation"	Structure of the Korean language
35	How Do You Read This in Korean?	Asking questions	Asking pronunciation, meaning, etc	이거 어떻게 읽어요? 무슨 뜻이에요?	"이거 \| this 어떻게 \| how, in what way 읽다 \| to read 무슨 \| what, what kind of 뜻 \| meaning 이다 \| to be"	Pronunciation changes
36	How Do You Eat This in Korea?	Food	Asking someone how to eat something in Korea	이거 어떻게 먹어요? 이거 어떻게 해요?	"이거 \| this 어떻게 \| how, in what way 먹다 \| to eat 하다 \| to do"	Sharing food in Korea
37	Spicy or Not Spicy in Korea	Food	Asking someone if the food is spicy or not	이거 매워요? 안 맵게 해 주세요. 약간 맵게 해 주세요. 아주 맵게 해 주세요.	"아주 \| very 이거 \| this 맵다 \| to be spicy 안 \| not 하다 \| to do 주다 \| to give 약간 \| a little"	Spicy dishes in Korea
38	Hotels in Korea	Hotels	Checking into a hotel	체크인 하고 싶어요. 체크아웃 하고 싶어요. 열쇠 주세요. 여기 여관 있어요?	"체크인 \| check-in 하고 싶다 \| to want to do 체크아웃 \| check-out 열쇠 \| key 주세요 \| Please (give me)... 여기 \| here, this place 여관 \| inn 있어요 \| I have.../there is... (standard)"	Yeogwans in Korea
39	Korean Post Office, Part 1	Post office	Sending something at the post office	이거 뉴욕으로 보내고 싶어요. 이 엽서 이 편지 이 소포	"이거 \| this 뉴욕 \| New York 보내다 \| to send 편지 \| letter 엽서 \| postcard -고 싶다 \| to would like to 소포 \| parcel"	Postal service in Korea
40	Korean Post Office, Part 2	Post office	Sending a package	우체국. 내용이 뭐에요? 책. 옷. 과자.	"우체국 \| post office 과자 \| crackers, cookies 내용 \| content, substance 뭐 \| what 이다 \| to be 책 \| book 옷 \| clothes"	How to send things at Korean post offices
41	Korean Foreign Exchange	Exchanging money	Exchanging currency	한국돈으로 바꿔주세요.	"한국 \| Korea 바꿔 주세요 \| Please exchange it. 돈 \| money"	How to exchange currencies in Korea
42	Public Telephones in Korea	Phone card	Buying a phone card	공중전화카드 주세요. 국제 전화카드 주세요. 삼천오백 원짜리 주세요. 오천 원짜리 주세요.	"공중전화카드 \| public telephone card 전화카드 \| phone card 국제 \| international 주세요 \| Please give me. 삼천오백 \| three thousand and five hundred 짜리 \| particle for worth (money, age, amount) 원 \| won (Korean currency unit) 오천 \| five thousand"	Public telephones in Korea
43	Admissions in Korea	Tickets	Buying tickets	한 장 주세요. 두 장 주세요. 세 장 주세요. 네 장 주세요. 다섯 장 주세요.	"주세요 \| Please give me. 장 \| (counter for sheets, pages or slices) 다섯 장 \| five tickets 한 장 \| one ticket 두 장 \| two tickets 세 장 \| three tickets 네 장 \| four tickets"	Tips to get admission tickets
44	Renting Korean Cell Phones	Cell phone	Renting phones in Korean	핸드폰 핸드폰을 빌리고 싶어요. 한 시간에 얼마예요?	"핸드폰 \| cell phone 싶다 \| to want to 빌리다 \| to borrow, to rent 한 시간 \| an hour 얼마예요? \| How much is it?"	Korean cell phone network
45	Do You Have an English One in Korea?	Info guide	Asking for an info guide in another language	영어 거 있어요? 독일어 거 있어요? 일본어 거 있어요? 중국어 거 있어요?	"영어 \| English 거 \| thing, stuff 있어요 \| I have.../there is... (standard) 독일어 \| German, German language 중국어 \| Chinese 일본어 \| Japanese language"	Guide books in different languages
46	Help! in Korean	Help	Asking for help	도와주세요. 경찰을 부르세요.	"도와주세요. \| Help. 경찰 \| police 부르다 \| to call, to call for"	Getting help in Korea
47	Medical Assistance in Korea, Part 1	Medical assistance	Asking for medical assistance	병원으로 데려가 주세요. 약국으로 데려가 주세요. 구급차를 불러주세요.	"병원 \| hospital -으로 \| to 데려가다 \| take along 주다 \| to give 약국 \| pharmacy 구급차 \| ambulance 부르다 \| to call, to call for"	Getting sick in Korea
48	Medical Assistance in Korea, Part 2	Medical assistance	Asking for medical assistance	병원에 가야 해요. 약국에 가야 해요. 한국에 가야 해요.	"병원 \| hospital 약국 \| pharmacy 한국 \| Korea -에 \| to 가다 \| to go -야 하다 \| have to"	Doctors speaking English
49	Explaining Symptoms in Korean	Medical assistance	Explaining symthoms	배가 아파요. 여기 아파요. 감기 걸렸어요. 열이 났어요. 설사해요.	"배 \| stomach, belly 아프다 \| to hurt, to be in pain, to be painful 여기 \| here, this place 감기 \| cold 걸리다 \| to catch (a cold) 열이 나다 \| to have a fever 설사하다 \| to have diarrhea"	Toilet-related conversation
50	Explaining Allergies in Korean	Medical assistance	Explaining allergies	땅콩에 알레르기 있어요. 사과에 알레르기 있어요. 딸기에 알레르기 있어요.	"땅콩 \| peanut 알레르기 \| allergy 사과 \| apple 딸기 \| strawberry 있어요 \| I have.../there is... (standard)"	Korean dishes with vegetables
51	I Don't Eat Meat in Korea	Food	Saying you are a vegetarian/asking if a certain dish has something	저는 채식주의자입니다. 고기 안 먹어요. 계란 안 먹어요.	"저 \| I (humble) 채식주의자 \| vegetarian 입니다 \| is, am, are 고기 \| meat 안 먹다 \| to not eat 계란 \| egg"	Saying you don't eat something
52	Self-Introductions in Korea	Introduction	Introducing yourself	처음 뵙겠습니다. 저는 키쓰입니다.	"처음 뵙겠습니다 \| It's nice to meet you. 처음 \| first, the first time 저는 (name)입니다. \| I am (name)."	Bowing during introductions
53	What Time Is It in Korea?	Time	Asking what time it is	몇 시에요? 한 시. 열 시. 삼십 분. 사십오 분. 두 시 삼십 분.	"몇 시에요? \| What time is it? 한 시 \| one o'clock 열 시 \| ten o'clock 삼십 분 \| thirty (thirty minutes) 사십오 분 \| forty-five (forty-five minutes) 분 \| minute 시 \| hour 두 시 \| two o'clock"	Different ways to ask the time
54	What Time Does it Open in Korea?	Time	Asking what time something closes or opens	몇 시에 문 열어요? 몇 시에 문 닫아요? 열 시에 문 열어요. 아홉 시에 문 닫아요.	"몇 시 \| what time 문 \| door 열다 \| to open 닫다 \| to close, to shut 열 시 \| ten o'clock 아홉 시 \| nine o'clock -에 \| at"	Room culture
55	Likes and Dislikes in Korean	Preferences	Talking about preferences	이거 좋아해요. 갈비 좋아해요. 이거 싫어해요.	"이거 \| this (spoken) 좋아하다 \| to like 갈비 \| galbi (beef in marinade: variety of Korean barbeque) 싫다 \| to hate, to dislike"	Politeness level
56	High-Frequency and Useful Korean Adjectives	Basic conversation	Using frequency adjectives	예뻐요. 좋아요. 재미있어요. 진짜 재미있어요. 진짜. 이거 예뻐요.	"이거 \| this (spoken) 예쁘다 \| to be pretty 좋아하다 \| to like 재미있다 \| fun, interesting 진짜 \| really, for real, seriously"	How to say adjectives correctly
57	Korean Business Phrases	Greetings	Greeting in business manners	좋은 아침입니다. 부탁합니다. 수고했습니다.	"좋은 \| good 아침 \| morning 입니다 \| is, am, are 부탁하다 \| to ask, to request 수고하다 \| to have a hard job (literally)"	Drinking etiquette
58	Exchanging Korean Contact Information	Basic conversation	Asking someone's contact information	이메일 주소는 뭐예요? 집 주소는 뭐예요? 전화번호는 뭐예요?	"이메일 \| email 주소 \| address 집 \| home 전화번호 \| phone number 뭐예요? \| What is it? What?"	Internet culture in Korea
59	Service: Free Stuff in Korea!	Service	Telling someone to give service	서비스 주세요.	"서비스 \| (literally)something extra given by a business 주세요 \| Please give me."	Service culture in Korea
60	Congratulations in Korea	Holidays	Talking about special holidays in Korean	축하합니다. 생일 축하합니다.	"축하하다 \| to celebrate, to congratulate 생일 \| birthday 생일 축하합니다. \| happy birthday."	How to tell your age