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Basic Korean Phrases: 60 Useful Korean Phrases For Travel 2024

Want to travel to Korea but worried you won’t be able to get around, talk to people, or buy those souvenirs you want? Don’t worry. These 60 basic Korean phrases will help you make friends, grab bargains in the markets, and enjoy the tastiest Korean dishes with ease.

From simple greetings to shopping, eating out, travelling around, and even asking for help, these simple Korean phrases pack a lot of punch and are easy enough to learn before travelling to the Land of the Morning Calm. They’re easy to learn and go a long way.

Korean is a unique language with letters that look unfamiliar, but it’s actually easier to learn than English. A few basic Korean phrases and words go a long way. Now read on to start learning these easy Korean words and phrases and begin your journey to language success.

Table of Contents

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Understanding These Basic Korean Phrases

These basic Korean phrases for travellers have been split into 6 sections to cover the various places where you might need some Korean when travelling in Korea. There’s also a bonus section about Korean numbers.

Essential Phrases – basic phrases to talk to people and be polite.

Greetings – how to greet people, ask about others, and start chatting.

Ordering Food & Drink – how to order food, ask questions, and give thanks.

Getting Around – how to use public transportation and understand directions.

Shopping – how to check for prices, ask for discounts, and complete a sale.

Emergencies – how to ask for help in an emergency and to describe problems.

Korean numbers – how to say and understand Korean numbers.

Before covering these basic Korean phrases, I want to point out some key points about the phrases used here, how to use them, and how to speak Korean.

The Korean Writing System

For those who have never studied Korean and are used to a latin script, like English, the Korean writing system ( hangul ) can seem very confusing. It’s actually one of the easiest to learn and you can pick it up with a few days of practice. I really recommend learning hangul , it’ll make your trip to Korea so much easier and let you read signs, menus, displays, and lots more.

Phrases With Blank Spaces

Some sentences have blank spaces so you can add what you want in that phrase. For example, ‘I’ll have a ____’. This is a useful phrase (covered in section 3) where you can add in whatever it is you want to buy, eat, or drink.

How To Pronounce These Basic Korean Phrases

To make it easier to learn these basic Korean phrases, I’ve included a pronunciation guide for each section.

Korean words are made up of groups of syllables, e.g. kim – chi (김-치) Therefore, the pronunciation guide is in syllable groups. If you pronounce the words as you would in English, you’ll be able to speak Korean, even if you don’t understand what the words mean.

To understand how to pronounce these Korean words more naturally, try to remember these pronunciation rules:

‘ eu ‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘boot’ but without rounding your lips.

‘ ae ‘ is pronounced like ‘ay’ in ‘pay’.

‘ oo ‘ is pronounced like ‘oo’ in ‘zoo’.

‘ kk ‘, ‘ gg ‘, ‘ tt ‘ and other double consonants are pronounced more strongly than a single consonant.

‘ ah ‘, ‘ eh ‘, ‘ oh ‘, ‘ uh ‘ are pronounced softly (like a in apple, not a in ace)

Planning to visit Korea? These travel essentials will help you plan your trip, get the best deals, and save you time and money before and during your Korean adventure.

Visas & K-ETA: Some travellers to Korea need a Tourist Visa , but most can travel with a Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA). Currently 22 Countries don’t need either one.

How To Stay Connected : Pre-order a Korean Sim Card or a WiFi Router to collect on-arrival at Incheon Airport (desks open 24-hours). Alternatively, download a Korean eSIM for you travels.

Where To Stay : For Seoul, I recommend Myeongdong (convenient), Hongdae (cool culture) or Gangnam (shopping). For Busan, Haeundae (Beach) or Seomyeon (Downtown).

Incheon Airport To Seoul : Take the Airport Express (AREX) to Seoul Station or a Limo Bus across Seoul. Book an Incheon Airport Private Transfer and relax to or from the airport.

Korean Tour Operators : Tour companies that have a big presence in Korea include Klook , Trazy , Viator , and Get Your Guide . These sites offer discounted entry tickets for top attractions.

Seoul City Passes : Visit Seoul’s top attractions for free with a Discover Seoul Pass or Go City Seoul Pass . These passes are great for families and couples visiting Seoul – you can save lots.

How To Get Around : For public transport, grab a T-Money Card . Save money on Korea’s high speed trains with a Korea Rail Pass . To see more of Korea, there are many Rental Car Options .

Travel Money : Use money exchanges near Myeongdong and Hongdae subway stations for the best exchange rates. Order a Wise Card or WOWPASS to pay by card across Korea.

Flights To Korea : I use flight comparison sites such as Expedia and Skyscanner to find the best flights to Korea from any country. Air Asia is a good option for budget flights from Asia.

How To Learn Korean : The language course from 90 Day Korean or Korean Class 101 both have well-structured lessons and lots of useful resources to help you learn Korean.

Who Is This Guide For?

These basic Korean phrases are designed for people who don’t speak Korean. Many phrases are simplified, some particles are dropped where the meaning is obvious, and grammar is usually in the polite form.

When we use English, we can use many phrases for the same thing. For example, ‘Give me a pizza‘, or ‘I’ll have a pizza‘, or just ‘Pizza, please‘. The meaning is the same, but the way we say them differs.

The same applies with Korean. I’ve used basic Korean phrases for the various topics covered here. This is not only to help you learn them more easily, but also so that Koreans can understand you.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean and want an excellent course that will start you on your journey, I highly recommend 90 Day Korean. You can learn more about their Korean language learning courses with the link below.

Now let’s look at the first 10 basic Korean phrases, covering the essentials.

1: Essential Korean Phrases

If you’re only going to remember one set of basic Korean phrases, it should probably be this one. These are the most basic Korean words and phrases and if you can master these, you’ll be one step closer to travelling more easily.

These will help you be polite and show the locals that you’re willing to learn a little bit of language when you visit their country. This can open the door to conversations and more. Plus, it’s always nice to be polite when you travel.

Understanding These Essential Basic Korean Phrases

In this section I’ll explain some of the Korean words from this list that will help expand your vocabulary.

주세요 (ju-se-yo) – Please

This is a very flexible word and can be used in many situations. It directly translates to ‘ please give me ‘. Add any word in front of it (e.g. pizza) and you can ask for something you want to buy, receive, or learn about.

안녕 (an-nyong) – Hello & Goodbye

This is the short (informal) version of both 안녕하세요 (hello) and 안녕히 가세요 (goodbye) and can be used in both situations. 2 for the price of 1!

괜찮아요 (kwen-cha-na-yo) – OK

This is my favourite Korean word, one which I use many times each day. It’s very flexible and you can use it when you want to say you’re OK, refuse something, or tell someone that, yes, you do know how to use chopsticks.

Do you want a receipt? 괜찮아요 (no, thanks).

Can I sit here? 괜찮아요 (yes, you may).

Are you sure you can eat spicy food? 괜찮아요! (sure I can!).

2: Korean Phrases For Greeting People

Now that you know how to be polite, why not learn a few words to introduce yourself and start a simple conversation?

These basic Korean phrases for greeting people will help you stand out when meeting people for the first time. After all, a nice greeting can go a long way to breaking down cultural barriers and getting to know more about Korean people when you visit Korea.

If in doubt, you can greet people with a simple ‘hello’ ( an-nyong-ha-se-yo ) from the previous list. I usually use this when I meet a stranger or get in a bus or taxi.

Understanding These Greeting Phrases

영어 (yong-oh) – english language.

This is the word for the English language (Korean is han-gook-oh – 한국어). Even if you can’t remember the complete phrase to ask if someone speaks English, you should be able to convey that you want to speak in English with just ‘ yong-oh ‘.

You might be surprised at how many people can speak English in Korea and once you’ve asked them, they will often open up and start talking more. If you’re lucky, that’ll be in English, too.

뭐예요? (mwo-ye-yo?) – What is this?

This is a really useful basic Korean phrase that can be used to ask what something is. If you want to know the name of something, simply point and say 뭐예요? – the other person should understand that you don’t know what it is.

천천히 (chon-chon-hee) – Slowly

This word is perfect for when you want someone to slow down, such as when someone is talking too fast or your taxi driver is driving too fast.

Another useful basic Korean phrase to remember in these situations is palli-palli (빨리빨리), which means ‘hurry up’. Korea has been described as a palli-palli culture – always busy!

3: Korean Phrases For Dining Out

You can’t travel to another country and not try the Delicious Korean Dishes ! Korea has a wide range of culinary treats just waiting for you.

Fortunately, many restaurants have picture menus, like the one above. They often have English translations, too, which can really help.

If in doubt, point to something and say ‘ ju-se-yo ‘ (please). This simple Korean phrase will help you get what you want most of the time.

Understanding These Phrases For Dining Out

매워요 (may-wo-yo) – spicy.

This is a Korean word you’ll definitely want to learn if you love spicy food (or can’t stomach it). When a Korean dish is red, it’s more than likely going to be spicy. If you want a spicy dish, you can point at a dish and ask mae-wo-yo? (is this spicy?).

알레르기가 있어요 (al-le-loo-gi-ga iss-o-yo) – I have an allergy

If you need to say you ‘have an allergy to something’, then say the thing you’re allergic to, followed by this phrase. For travellers with special dietary needs, it would be a good idea to find the word of the food you’re allergic to before travelling.

Want More Dining Out Phrases?

For more basic Korean phrases about eating out and ordering food, including more about health and dietary requirements in Korean, check out this article with 60 more Korean phrases for eating out .

4: Korean Phrases For Transportation

Travelling in Korea is a lot easier than you might think. Many signs at airports, train stations, subways, and on buses, are in English. They’re sometimes in Chinese and Japanese, too.

Korea is a very modern country when it comes to transport and there are a lot of different transport options, including high speed trains (KTX), subways, and buses.

These phrases will help you avoid getting lost and help you find your way around. Remember, if you get really stuck, you can always use gestures.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Transportation

어디예요 (oh-dee-ye-yo) – where is.

This basic Korean phrase is very helpful not only for transportation, but also shopping and when you need to find a toilet in Korea .

Want to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace? Point to a picture of it and ask ‘ oh-dee-ye-yo? ‘. These other Korean phrases will help you understand the directions, too.

가주세요 (ga-ju-se-yo) – Please go (somewhere).

This phrase is used to ask someone to ‘take you somewhere’. As mentioned, ‘ ju-se-yo ‘ means ‘please’. The ‘ ga ’ part of this phrase is from ‘ ga-da ‘, the verb for ‘to go’.

You can use ga-ju-se-yo whenever you want to go somewhere. Usually in a taxi. Jump in, tell the driver ‘ Seoul-yog (Seoul Station) ga-ju-se-yo ‘ and they’ll take you straight there.

Save Money On Transportation

When you travel in Korea, don’t forget to pick up a T-Money Card . This transportation card makes travelling around Korea a real breeze and you can also use it to pay for things in shops and restaurants. Why not practice using these Korean phrases when ordering a taxi from Kakao Taxi in Korea .

5: Korean Phrases For Shopping

Shopping in Korea will be a lot easier with these basic Korean phrases, whether you’re in a department store or trying to buy some delicious Korean street food.

Learning to give your opinion about how cheap or expensive something is shows the shop owner you know a good price and can get you a big discount.

The traditional markets in Korea are great places to get some bargains on local and international brands. You’ll also find some of the best food available here and a window into traditional Korean culture.

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Shopping

얼마예요 (ol-ma-ye-yo) – how much.

This is a basic Korean phrases you can use for so much – ordering food, shopping, asking for taxi fees, and more. Want to haggle for a new bag in the market? O l-ma-ye-yo ? Want to know the cost of a train to Busan? Ol-ma-ye-yo ?

싸요! (ssa-yo!) & 비싸요! (bi-ssa-yo!) – That’s cheap! & That’s Expensive!

You can use these Korean phrases in the traditional markets when you want to haggle. After asking how much something is (and hearing it’s too much), reply with ‘ bi-ssa-yo !’ and start to walk away. The vendor, no doubt impressed by your Korean skills, will start to haggle, and lower the price (if you’re lucky).

6: Korean Phrases For Emergencies

Crime rates in Korea are very low, but you can never be too careful. Hopefully you will never need to use these emergency Korean phrases, but they are here for you just in case.

If you need to get some medicine, then visit one of the many pharmacies located throughout any city. You can’t miss them, they have a big green + sign outside.

There are separate numbers for emergency services in Korea.

Dial 112 for the police

Dial 119 for fire & medical services

Dial 1339 for COVID-19 support

Dial 1330 for tourist support

Understanding These Korean Phrases For Emergencies

도와주세요 (do-wa-ju-se-yo) – please help me.

This basic Korean phrase isn’t just for emergencies. If you have heavy luggage and you want to ask for help carrying it down the stairs, you can say ‘ do-wa-ju-se-yo ‘ (in a calm voice). A kind Korean person will surely help out.

의사 (wi-sa) – Doctor

If you need to speak to a doctor, you can use this word to ask for help. Doctors can often speak English, at least for discussing medical problems.

약국 (yak-gook) – Pharmacy

As mention, you can find a pharmacy by looking for a big green cross sign. You’ll also see the word ‘ 약 ‘ on the sign. Look for these if you need medicine.

7: How To Say Korean Numbers

There are two ways to say numbers in Korean, known as the Korean system and the Chinese system. The Korean system only goes up to 99. The Chinese system is generally used more, which is why I’ll tell you about those numbers.

Whichever system you use, Koreans will be able to understand you as they mean the same thing, they might just grumble you’re using the wrong system.

Find out about how the Korean numbering system works in this article.

You can see how to say and read the Korean numbers from 1 to 10,000 in the table below.

Learning Korean At Home

I hope you’ve found these basic Korean phrases useful and can use them to explore Korea and interact with the locals a bit more easily.

Learning a foreign language can be a massive undertaking, one that you need to devote a lot of time and effort to be successful at. But it can also be very rewarding, make you smarter, and help you travel more easily.

If you’re interested in learning how to speak Korean, then I’d personally recommend the inner circle course with 90 Day Korean – it’s the course I have been using to learn Korean.

Of course, there is more than one way to learn a language. I practice Korean in a variety of ways. Here are some of the best apps and courses for learning Korean.

• Korean Class 101
• Talk To Me In Korean

Papago and Google Translate are translation apps that will translate words into Korean and also show you how to say them. I prefer Papago as it is more accurate and wrote an article about how to use Papago to show you how to get the most out of this essential translation app.

One final Korean word for you to learn – ‘ hwaiting ‘ 화이팅, which is Korean for ‘fighting’ – or ‘you can do it’! Fighting!

Do You Need To Learn Korean?

No. You don’t have to learn Korean, but it will definitely help you. Even expats like myself who have lived here for a long time don’t necessarily have to learn Korean to enjoy being in Korea. If you want to know more about whether or not you need Korean to survive living in Korea, check out my article about whether you need to learn Korean to live in Korea .

Learn More About Korea

Understanding a language is a lot more than learning a few basic Korean phrases. You also need to understand some of the cultural and societal reasons that people speak and behave in the way they do.

Here are some of my best articles about Korean culture that will give you interesting insights into Korean society, people, and help you prepare to visit the Land of the Morning Calm.

Are you interested in understanding Korean etiquette ? It’s really helpful to know more about how and why people behave the way they do in Korea. Impress your friends at home or in Korea with these South Korean culture facts . You might be shocked at some of these interesting facts.

If you’re worried about planning a trip to Korea, check out my pre-travel tips for Korea .

Support In My Korea Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

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Hi! My name is Joel, I'm the author of In My Korea and writer of this article. I've lived, worked and travelled in Korea since 2015 and want to share my insights, stories and tips to help you have the best experience during your trip to Korea.

I love learning more about Korean culture, hiking the many mountains, and visiting all the coolest places in Korea, both modern and traditional. If you want to know more about my story, check out the ' about me ' section to learn why I love living in Korea.

2 thoughts on “Basic Korean Phrases: 60 Useful Korean Phrases For Travel 2024”

I’m sorry in Korean is 죄송합니다 or 미안합니다. You wrote it as “최성합니다” which is incorrect. 최성 is not a valid word in Korean and it should be corrected to 죄송. A rather easier way to say “I’m sorry” would be 미안합니다 (mee-ahn-hab-nih-dah) for English speakers.

Also, zero is either pronounced “gong” (공) or “young” (영) in Korean, but “young” (영) is more widely used.

Thanks for your interest in studying Korean!

Hi, thanks for that correction 🙂 I’ve updated the info in the article. Appreciate the time to point out my mistake.

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80+ Basic Korean Travel Phrases – Phrases to Learn Before Visiting Korea

Getting around Korea these days is pretty easy – even if you know now Korean at all. There is a large amount of English signage, most menus have English captions, and many locals know at least basic English. It’s entirely possible to visit Korea without knowing any Korean.

However, knowing at least some basic Korean phrases will make your trip much easier. It’s also much more polite – if you’re visiting Korea you should at least try to learn and use some basic phrases. Not only that, but often locals will be impressed and very happy if you speak Korean – even if it’s only the simplest Korean!

Something that many people don’t realise is that learning the Korean alphabet (hangul) is actually extremely easy. If you set aside a few hours you can easily learn how to read. There are also some fantastic platforms out there to help such as 90 Day Korean and How To Study Korean .

If you don’t have the time to learn some basic Korean or would prefer to just know the vital Korean travel phrases, then this post is for you. In it, I cover basic phrases that you need to know. Everything from basic introductory phrases to asking if food is vegan is covered!

This article contains affiliate links. Affiliate links provide me with a percentage of purchases made from links on this page. This comes at no extra cost to you – for more information, please refer to my affiliate disclaimer .

Please note that the Korean examples in this article may not be totally grammatically correct. While all of the sentences and phrases in this article make sense and will be understood, some of them aren’t perfect. This was done in order to make the phrases as easy to use as possible. It’s better to get an understandable sentence across than to worry about all of the details.

On top of this, Korean has respect levels that are very important to take into account. To avoid complications, I have only used the formal/semi-formal versions of words and phrases in this article. You can say all of these phrases without worry – it’s better to speak only formal than only informal!

Korean Sentence Structure

Image from this fantastic guide .

Before getting into the essential Korean travel phrases that you need to know, I want to briefly touch on Korean sentence structures. I am not a language expert and I don’t want to go too in-depth here, but I would like to mention the structural differences as it will help a lot throughout this article. If you do want to learn about Korean sentences in-depth, check out Glossika .

English follows the SVO (subject, verb, object) structure. In other words, an English sentence is formed like this:

I walked to school – I (subject) walked (verb) to school (object)

However, Korean sentences are formed using the slightly different SOV (subject, object, verb) structure. This can take a while to get used to and even today I forget sometimes!

저는 학교에 걸어요 – 저는 (subject) 학교에 (object) 걸어요 (verb) – I (subject) school (object) walked (verb).

This is a very simple sentence and in reality the differences are much more complex. However, knowing this difference will greatly help with your understanding of Korean in the future! It will also help to explain a lot of the sentences in this article.

Korean Phrases For Travel

Basic Korean Introduction Phrases

1. Hello – 안녕하세요 – Ahn-yeong-ha-sae-yo

Hello – an essential in every language! 안녕하세요 (Ahn-yeong-ha-sae-yo) is a word that you will hear every day. It’s worth noting that while you should use 안녕하세요 for all adults, you can say 안녕 (ahn-yeong) to children or animals (if you sometimes say ‘hi’ to dogs like me!). This is the lower-formality level of ‘hello’.

Two interesting points about 안녕하세요. Firstly, it’s not used on the phone. If you are answering the phone, you should use 여보세요 (yeo-bo-sae-yo). However, make sure to only use it on the phone! Secondly, when entering restaurants, convenience stores, or other areas you will often hear 어서 오세요 (eo-seo o-sae-yo). This means ‘welcome’ and you can reply to it by saying 안녕하세요!

2. Goodbye – 안녕히 가세요/안녕히 계세요 – ahn-yeong-hi ga-sae-yo/ahn-yeong-hi gye-sae-yo

This is an interesting one as it often confuses people who are new to Korea. Korea’s standard goodbye has two forms, one for the person who is leaving and one for the person who is staying. For example, if you visit a friend’s house you would say 안녕히 계세요 when it’s time to leave (as you are leaving). They would say 안녕히 가세요 as they are staying.

안녕히 가세요 (ahn-yeong-hi ga-sae-yo) is for the person staying. However, if both people are leaving (say you went to watch a movie together and are now departing back to your houses) then both parties would say 안녕히 가세요. This may seem a bit confusing at first, but you’ll quickly get used to it!

3. Nice to Meet You – 만나서 반갑습니다 – Man-na-seo ban-gap-sueb-ni-da

This is the most common way to say ‘nice to meet you’ that you will find in Korea. 만나서 반갑습니다  (Man-na-seo ban-gap-sueb-ni-da) is very common and can be used whenever you are meeting someone for the first time. Some people will also just say 반갑습니다 – really, it’s up to you as either is fine.

4. My Name Is (name) – 제 이름은 (name)입니다 – Je ee-reum-eun (name) ib-ni-da

If you want to introduce yourself and tell someone your name you can simply put your name in the sentence 제 이름은 (name)입니다 (Je ee-reum-eun (name) ib-ni-da). For example, in my case I would say 제 이름은 Ethan입니다. Or, if I wanted to make it easier to pronounce I would say 제 이름은 이든입니다 (이든 = E-deun, or Ethan!)

5. I am from (country/city) – 저는 (country/city) 에서 왔어요 – jo-neun (country/city) ee-seo wass-eo-yo

If you want to tell someone where you are from then you can use the basic phrase 저는 (country/city) 에서 왔어요 (jo-neun (country/city) ee-seo wass-eo-yo). Korean tends to have its own words for countries, but cities usually have very similar names! I have included a table below with some countries – if I missed your country I am sorry, I had to keep the table somewhat manageable…

For me, I am from New Zealand. To tell someone where I am from I would simply add the word for New Zealand (뉴질랜드 – nyu-jil-laen-deu) to the sentence 저는 (country/city) 에서 왔어요. This would make my sentence 저는 뉴질랜드에서 왔어요

Korean Country Words

6. I am (age) years old – (age)살 입니다 – (age)sal ib-ni-da

There are a few different ways to introduce your age in Korean, but the simplest way is to say (age)살 입니다. What makes this a little bit more complicated is that you need to know a few Korean numbers – and Korea has two different counting systems. Luckily, you only need to know one for age. I have included the table of all numbers up to 100 below!

If you want to make a number like 27 just combine 20 (스물) with 7 (일곱). For example, 스물(20)일곱(7)살 입니다. Or, in English, I am 27. The same goes for every other number. If you happen to be an age that is a multiple of 10 you can just use the words directly from the table below.

Korean Numbers

8. How are you? – 어떻게 지내세요? – eo-tteoh-gae ji-nae-se-yo?

How are you (어떻게 지내세요) is a word that you probably won’t want to use when visiting Korea. However, I know people will ask so I included it. With that being said, you shouldn’t use it unless you are meeting an old friend.

The phrase ‘how are you’ is not something that is really used in Korea – and definitely not with strangers. If you are meeting a friend who you have met before, however, it’s okay to ask. While 어떻게 지내세요 is a more direct translation, 잘 지내세요 (jal ji-nae-se-yo) is more commonly used and it literally means ‘have you been well?’.

9. I am (profession/job) – 저는 (profession/job)입니다 – joe-neun (profession/job) ib-ni-da

If you want to express your profession or job then 저는 (profession/job)입니다 is the easiest Korean phrase to use. You can put a variety of words in the gap. For me, I usually put the word ‘student’ there as I am a student at Korea University ! The word for ‘student’ is 학생 (hag-saeng), so I would say 저는 학생입니다. I’ve included a short table with some common jobs below!

Korean Professions

10. I’ve been in Korea for (time) – 한국에 온 지 (time) 됐어요 – han-gug-ae on ji (time) dwaess-eo-yo

Whether you’ve been in Korea for one month, one week, one day, or even only one hour you might want to tell someone! This sentence is a little bit more complicated as you also need to know some words like hour, day, week, month, and year. However, the basic sentence structure is 한국에 온 지 (time) 됐어요.

To use this sentence properly you will want to say 한국에 온 지 (number + counter) 됐어요. For example, if you have been in Korea for one week you will want to say the number 1 (일) + the word for week (주) therefore, the complete sentence would be 한국에 온 지 일주 됐어요.

Korean Time Words

11. I study (major) – 제 전공은 (major)입니다 – je Jeon-gong-eun (major) ib-ni-da

This one might seem a bit unusual at first, but if you are younger you will likely be asked what you study or what your major is. Education is very important in South Korea, and you can expect to see and hear a lot about it. For that reason, knowing how to say your major is very helpful!

There are a ton of majors and I can’t include them all. However, I’ve included some common majors below. To complete the sentence, simply insert your major in 제 전공은 (major)입니다. For example, if you study political science (정치학 – jeong-chi-hak) then you can say 제 전공은 정치학입니다!

Korean University Majors

General Korean Phrases

12. Yes – 네 – ne

Yes, or 네 in Korean is a word that you definitely should know (it’s also worth knowing ‘no’!). While there are many ways to say yes, 네 is the most common. The term most simply means yes and shows agreement. While all you need to know is 네, you may also see 예 (ye). This is very handy because it sounds similar to ‘yeah’ in English and it’s also formal!

13. No – 아니요 – a-ni-yo

아니요 simply means no! There’s not much more to it.

14. Thank you – 감사합니다 – gam-sa-hab-ni-da

감사합니다 is the most common form of ‘thank you’ that you will hear every day in Korea. You can use it in almost all of the same situations that you would in English. However, foreigners in Korea tend to use it a lot more than locals.

15. Excuse me – 실례합니다 – sil-lye-hab-ni-da

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to say ‘excuse me’, for example, if you need to push past someone on Seoul’s fantastic public transport , you can simply say 실례합니다!

16. I understand – 알겠습니다 – al-gess-seub-ni-da

알겠습니다 shows that you have understood something or that you agree with it. For example, if you were to ask for directions you could say 알겠습니다 to show that you have understood what the other speaker said.

17. I don’t understand – 잘 모르겠어요 – jal mo-reu-gess-eo-yo

If you don’t understand something that someone has said, you can say 잘 모르겠어요! This simply indicates that you don’t understand what the other person is saying or has said.

18. Wait a second – 잠시만요 – jam-si-man-yo

잠시만요 is one of my favourite Korean words. It’s extremely useful and means something along the lines of ‘wait a second’ or ‘wait a minute’. If you need a minute to look at the menu before ordering, or if you need a second to get out your phone to translate a word, you can say 잠시만요!

19. I don’t speak Korean – 전 한국말 할 줄 몰라요 – jeon han-gug-mal hal jul mol-la-yo

20. Do you speak English? – 영어 할 줄 아세요? – yeong-eo Hal jul a-se-yo

21. I like (thing) – (thing) 좋아해요 – (thing) joh-a-hae-yo

If you would like to say that you like a thing, person, or otherwise, you can just add 좋아해요 after any word! If you don’t know the name of the item, but can see it, you can say ‘이것 좋아해요’ (I like this).

22. I don’t like (thing) – (thing) 좋아하지 않아요 – (time) joh-a-ha-ji ahn-a-yo

On the other hand, you can also say that you don’t like something by putting any word before 좋아하지 않아요. This does not mean that you hate something, just that you don’t like it.

23. Please give me (item) – (item) 주세요 – (item) ju-se-yo

주세요 is a very important word and probably one of the five most important Korean words to know before coming to Korea. It simply means ‘give me’ and you can use it after almost any word. While in English ‘please’ is often said, you can omit this in Korean.

주세요 will be covered in more detail in the cafe & restaurant phrases section as it’s very important in those cases!

24. Are you okay? – 괜찮아요? – gwaen-chan-a-yo?

When asking someone if they are okay, you can 괜찮아요? To make it a question, just raise your intonation towards the end of the word. The ‘yo’ at the end of the word should be emphasised to turn the word into a question. Otherwise, it just means ‘I am okay’.

25. I am okay – 괜찮아요 – gwaen-chan-a-yo

26. I am sorry – 죄송합니다 – chwae-seong-hab-ni-da

27. I don’t know – 몰라요 – mul-la-yo

28. Good – 좋아요 – joh-a-yo

While 좋아요 usually means ‘good’ it can also be used to show agreement. For example, if your friend asks you if you want to go to the cinema to see a movie you can reply simply with ‘좋아요’. This means ‘good!’ but in this case can be interpreted as ‘yes!’

29. Take care – 잘 지내세요 – jal jin-nae-se-yo

This means ‘live well’ and it isn’t often used in the same situation that ‘take care’ is in English. However, you may still want to use it and it is probably the closest translation of ‘take care’. If you won’t be seeing someone for a long time, 잘 지내세요 is a nice phrase to use.

30. What is this? – 이게 뭐예요? – I-ge mwo-ye-yo?

A very universal phrase, 이게 뭐예요 can be used to ask what anything is! Just make sure to also point at the thing in question to make sure that you are understood.

Korean Phrases for Restaurants & Cafes

The below three sentences will allow you to ask if a cafe or restaurant has an item or dish. If they do, you can then go ahead and ask to order it! Korea has a fantastic coffee culture , so I highly recommend checking out some of the fantastic cafes in Seoul and other cities .

31. Can I have (item)? – (Item) 주세요 – (Item) ju-sae-yo

주세요 simply means ‘give me’. However, while this may not should polite in English it’s the normal way to ask for something in Korean. You can use 주세요 with anything that you need at a cafe or restaurant.

32. Do you have (item)?  – (item) 있나요? – (Item) iss-na-yo

Before asking for an item, you might want to ask if that store, restaurant, or cafe actually has it! For example, you can ask 라떼 (la-ddae) 있나요? in a cafe to ask if they sell lattes!

33. How much is (item)? – (item) 얼마에요? – (item) eol-ma-e-yo

‘How much is this’? is an extremely useful term. If you are unsure of the word for the item that you are asking about, and if the item is visible, you can just point at it and ask ‘이것 (I-goet) 얼마에요?’ which means ‘how much is this’?

Can I have (drink) – (drink) 주세요

Luckily, you will notice that nearly all Korean coffee words are very similar to their English counterparts.

Can I have (item) – (item) 주세요

If you want more of something but you don’t know the word, you can just point at what you want more of and say 이것 더 주시겠어요? (I-goet deo ju-si-gess-eo-yo – can I have more of this?).

34. I would like (size/flavour/etc) – (size/flavour/etc) 주세요 – (size/flavour/etc) ju-sae-yo

Similar to asking for an item or product in the tables above, you can also use 주세요 to ask for a specific flavour or size (and much more) of an item.

35. To go/take out – 포장해주세요 – po-jang-hae-ju-sae-yo

If you want a coffee or some food to go then just use the phrase 포장해주세요! The server will instantly know that you want the product to go. Further, if you are using an ordering machine and you see the phrase it means that you are ordering to go.

36. I will eat here – 여기서 먹고 갈게요 – yeo-gi-seo meog-go gal-ge-yo

On the other hand, if you want to eat/drink in you can 여기서 먹고 갈게요 to show that you intend to enjoy your meal/drink there!

37. Do you accept cash? – 현금 결제 되나요? – hyeon-geum gyeol-je dwi-na-yo

Some places in Korea may only accept cards or mobile payments. If you are wondering if somewhere accepts cash, just ask 현금 결제 되나요? Alternatively, you can ask if a location accepts cards by asking 카드 (ka-deu) 결제 되나요?

If you are enjoying drinking on a night out you can say 건배 to mean cheers! While it’s not as common to say this in Korea, it can be handy to know.

38. Can I have the menu? – 메뉴판 좀 보여주시겠어요? – me-nyu-pan jom bo-yeo-ju-si-gess-eo-yo

While you normally won’t need to ask for the menu (often it will be already given to you or can be found on the wall), you can use 메뉴판 좀 보여주시겠어요? if needed.

39. Is this spicy? – 이게 맵나요? – I-ge maeb-na-yo

40. Make it not spicy – 안 맵게 해주세요 – an maeb-ge hae-ju-se-yo

If you want something to be specifically not spicy you can ask 안 맵게 해주세요 (essential please make it not spicy). If you a less spicy option (but potentially still spicy) you can say 덜 맵게 해주세요 (deol maeb-ge hae-ju-se-yo).

41. Does this have (food) in? – 여기에 (food) 이 들어있나요? – yea-gi-e (food) i deul-eo-iss-na-yo

If there is a specific food that you are trying to avoid eating, or perhaps that you are allergic to, you can ask 여기에 (food) 이 들어있나요? Just put the ingredient/food that you are wondering about in the gap.

42. I am allergic to (food) – 저는 (food) 알레르기가 있어요 – joe-neun (food) al-le-leu-gi-ga iss-eo-yo

If you want to let a restaurant or cafe know that you are allergic to something you can insert the food/ingredient from the table below into the blank.

Does this have (food) in (common allergies/foods that are avoided)

43. Is this (halal/vegan) – 이게 (halal/vegan) 인가요? – I-ge (halal/vegan) in-ga-yo

If you have specific dietary needs then you can use the words below and put them in the gap. For example, if you are looking for vegan food you can ask 이게 채식 인가요?

44. Do you have (halal/vegan food)? – (halal/vegan food) 가 있나요? – (halal/vegan food) ga iss-na-yo

If you would like to ask a restaurant if they have halal, vegan, vegetarian, or dairy-free food you can use the sentence _ 가 있나요? with a word or phrase from the table below.

Is this (halal/vegan/dairy free)

45. Hey, excuse me! – 저기요 – Jeo-gi-yo

저기요 is a combination between ‘hey’ and ‘excuse me’ that should only be used in restaurants when you need service. If you are wanting to order more food, need a fork, or otherwise, you can call a waiter by yelling out 저기요!

잠시만요 (jam-si-man-yo) which literally means ‘wait a minute’, and 여기요 (yeo-go-yo, literally ‘here’) also work when you are in need of service.

46. I would like this – 이것으로 주세요 – I-goet-eu-ro ju-se-yo

If you want something that is in a cabinet or on the menu you can simply point to it and say 이것으로 주세요! I would like this!

47. What’s in this? – 여기 뭐가 들어갔나요? – yeo-gi mwo-ga deul-eo-gass-na-yo

여기 뭐가 들어갔나요 can be used to ask what ingredients or foods are in a dish. While the response is most likely to be in Korean, the phrase may be useful at times.

48. What is good/delicious here? – 여기 추천 메뉴가 있나요? – yeo-gi chu-cheon me-nyu-ga iss-na-yo

Visiting a restaurant or cafe but can’t decide what to order? Then you can ask what the waiter would recommend! Another way to ask a similar question is to say 보통 어떻게 주문하나요? (bu-tong eo-deohh-ge ju-mun-ha-na-yo) which literally means ‘what do people usually order?’.

49. Please bring me some water – 물 좀 주세요 – mul jom ju-se-yo

주세요 (give me) was already covered in detail above but it’s worth mentioning again as it’s very important!

50. Do you have any food without (ingredient) – 여기 (ingredient) 가 안들어간 음식이 있나요? – yeo-gi (ingredient) ga an-deul-eo-gan eun-sik-i iss-na-yo

If you need to avoid certain food or ingredient you can use the sentence 여기 (ingredient) 가 안들어간 음식이 있나요? Just place a word from the table below into the blank or search for the word online if it isn’t included.

51. Don’t give me (food) – (food) 빼주세요 – (food) bae-ju-se-yo

This sentence might seem a bit out of place, however, I’ve found it to have one great use. Ordering sandwiches at Subway! (food) 빼주세요 is a simple way to say what vegetables you don’t want on your sandwich. Of course, this sentence has some uses outside of Subway too!

52. Cheers – 건배 – geon-bae

Korean Navigation Phrases

53. Where is (location)? – (location) 가 어디에 있나요? – (location) ga eo-di-e iss-na-yo

(location) 가 어디에 있나요? Is an easy-to-use sentence that will allow you to ask where any location is. Whether you are looking for the local metro station or a good place to shop it will work!

54. How can I get to (location)?  – (location) 에 어떻게 가나요? – (location) e eo-deoh-ge ga-na-yo

55. Is there a (location) near here? – 여기 근처에 (location) 가 있나요? – yeo-gi gun-cho-e (location) ga iss-na-yo

Common Korean Location Names

56. Take me to (location) – (location) 에 데려다 주세요 – (location) e de-ryeo-da ju-se-yo

If you are taking a taxi the the sentence (location) 에 데려다 주세요 will be very helpful. You can put a hotel name in the blank, or a subway station that you would like to go to.

57. Where is the closest subway station? – 여기서 제일 가까운 지하철역이 어디에 있나요? – yeo-gi-seo je-il ga-gga-un ji-ha-cheol-yeog-i eo-di-ae iss-na-yo

58. I am lost – 저 길을 잃었어요 – jeo jil-eul ilh-eoss-eo-yo

59. Where can I get a taxi? – 택시 어디서 타면 되나요? – taek-si eo-di-seo ta-myeon dwi-na-yo

60. Does this bus go to (location)? – 이 버스가 (location) 에 가나요? – I beo-seu-ga (location) e ga-na-yo

61. Does this train go to (location)? – 이 기차가 (location) 에 가나요? – I gi-cha-ga (location) e ga-na-yo

Korean Shopping Phrases

62. How much is (item)? – (item) 얼마에요? – (item) eol-ma-e-yo

얼마에요 literally means ‘how much’ and this word can be used with any item to ask how much it costs. This is one of the best phrases to know when you visit Korea and it’s invaluable.

63. Do you have (item)? – (item) 이 있나요? – (item) I iss-na-yo

64. Where can I buy (item)? – (item) 어디서 살 수 있나요? – (item) eo-di-seo sal su iss-na-yo

If you visit a store but it doesn’t have the item that you need you can ask where you can find the missing item. Otherwise, if you are struggling to find a specific store you can always ask someone on the street!

65. Please give me a receipt – 영수증 좀 주세요 – yeong-su-jeung jom ju-se-yo

While receipts may seem like a thing of the past for many people, there’s an important caveat here. Receipts are often needed for tax-returns if you are looking to shop at duty-free stores. For this reason, knowing the Korean phrase to ask for a receipt is very handy.

66. I need a bag – 봉지 좀 주세요 – bong-ji jom ju-se-yo

If you need a bag to carry your purchases in you can use 봉지 좀 주세요. Keep in mind that this sentence just applies to plastic bags.

67. Can I pay with cash? – 현금으로 계산해도 되나요? – hyeon-geum-eu-ro gye-san-hae-do dwi-na-yo

68. Can I pay with card? – 카드로 계산해도 되나요? – ka-deu-ro gye-san-hae-do dwi-na-yo

69. Do you have a bigger size? – 더 큰 사이즈가 있나요? – deo keun sa-i-jeu-ga iss-na-yo

70. Do you have a smaller size? – 더 작은 사이즈가 있나요? – deo jag-eun sa-i-jeu-ga iss-na-yo

71. Do you have a different colour? – 다른 색깔이 있나요? – da-reun saeg-ggal-i iss-na-yo

72. It’s too expensive – 너무 비싸요 – neo-mu bi-ssa-yo

너무 비싸요 may seem a bit rude at first, but it does have some usefulness. While most stores in Korea have fixed prices, you may also find yourself shopping at markets . If you do find yourself at a market such as Namdaemun , Yongsan, or Gwangjang some of the prices are somewhat flexible. In these cases, the phrase 너무 비싸요 may lead to a drop in prices.

73. I will think about it – 생각해볼게요 – saeng-gak-hae-bol-ge-yo

We’ve all had that experience where a shop assistant won’t leave you alone! If this happens in Korea you can say 생각해볼게요 – I will think about it. This should let you escape the store and allows for more time to think.

74. Is this for sale? – 이거 파는건가요? – I-goe pa-neun-geon-ga-yo

75. Is cash cheaper? – 현금 계산은 더 싼가요? – hyeon-geum gye-san-eun deo ssan-ga-yo

‘현금 계산은 더 싼가요?’ may seem like a bit of an odd question to ask, but it’s especially useful in markets. Often, markets in Korea will offer a 10% discount to those who use cash. This is especially true in Yongsan electronics market . If you are shopping at a market it’s worth asking ‘현금 계산은 더 싼가요?’ to see if you can get the 10% discount!

76. I am just looking – 그냥 좀 보는 중이에요 – gue-nyang jom bo-neun jung-i-e-yo

Simile to point 73, this one can help you escape from a store if you are feeling pressured.

77. Where is a (blank) store? – (blank) 가게는 어디에 있나요? – (blank) ga-ge-neun eo-di-e iss-na-yo

78. Can I try this on? – 이거 입어봐도 되나요? – I-goe ib-eo-bwa-do dwi-na-yo

79. Please give me a discount – 가격을 깎아 주세요 – ga-gyeog-eul ggagg-a ju-se-yo

가격을 깎아 주세요 is not something that you would usually ask in stores, but as with some of the other Korean phrases on this list, it can work great at markets. Often sellers can drop their price by 5-10% and asking for a discount may save you a bit of money!

80. Please give me (number) – (number)개 주세요 – (number)gae ju-se-yo

If you want more than one of something, you can ask for (number) + 개 주세요. For example, if I wanted to buy three pencils I could say 연필 3개 주세요 (yeon-pil sam-gae ju-se-yo). While Korean has different counters for animals, glasses, people and more, 개 is the easiest counter to learn and people will understand if you use it.

The numbers that you should use for this sentence are actually a bit different from the numbers that are used to introduce your age. You can use the numbers from the table below followed by 개 주세요 to indicate how many of an item you would like!

Korean Numbers 1-10

Learn More Korean Words & Phrases

I hope that this list has helped you pick up some basic Korean phrases for traveling and living in Korea. However, this list is far from exhaustive. If you are going to visit Korea for a longer time, or if you want to practice more Korean then I highly recommend studying some more Korean. There are many great platforms that will help you study Korean .

For anyone seriously wanting to study Korean (even if only to pick up the basics) I recommend checking out 90 Day Korean . They offer a strong curriculum and aim to allow users to have a basic conversation within 3 months. In conjunction with a memorisation platform such as Glossika you can pick up the basics of Korean in no time!

Essential Korean Travel Phrases FAQ

What are the 5 most important korean travel phrases.

Give me _____ = _____ 주세요 = _____ ju-sae-yo How much does _____ cost? = _____ 얼마에요? = _____ eol-ma-e-yo? Where is _____? = _____ 가 어디에 있나요? = _____ ga eo-di-e iss-na-yo? Do you have _____? = _____ 이 있나요? = _____ i iss-na-yo? How can I get to _____? = _____ 에 어떻게 가나요? = _____ e eo-deoh-ge ga-na-yo?

What Korean Phrases Do I Need for Ordering Food?

Do you have _____? = _____ 이 있나요? = _____ i iss-na-yo? Give me _____ = _____ 주세요 = _____ ju-sae-yo I would like take-out = 포장해주세요 = po-jang-hae-ju-sae-yo Excuse me (for service) = 저기요 = Jeo-gi-yo

How Can I Learn More Korean?

If you are looking to learn more Korean past basic phrases then I recommend checking out this post on the best ways to learn Korean .

Do I Need to Learn Korean Before Visiting Korea?

It isn’t essential to learn Korean before visiting Korea. However, learning even basic Korean will make your trip that much better. Not only will it make communication easier, but it’s always polite to learn the language of the country that you are visiting.

What Korean Phrases Do I Need for Shopping?

Give me _____ = _____ 주세요 = _____ ju-sae-yo How much does _____ cost? = _____ 얼마에요? = _____ eol-ma-e-yo? Do you have _____? = _____ 이 있나요? = _____ i iss-na-yo? Where can I buy _____? = _____ 어디서 살 수 있나요? = _____ eo-di-seo sal su iss-na-yo?

What Korean Phrases Do I Need for Introducing Myself?

Nice to meet you = 만나서 반갑습니다 = man-na-seo ban-gab-seub-ni-da My name is _____ = 제 이름은 _____ 입니다 = je i-reum-eun _____ ib-ni-da I am from _____ = 저는 _____ 에서 왔어요 = joe-neun _____ e-seo wass-eo-yo I am _____ years old = _____ 살 입니다 = _____ sal ib-ni-da

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101 Basic Korean Words for Travel in South Korea

Erin E. Honigman

When you visit South Korea, you'll find that English is quite common in big international cities like Seoul or Busan. English academies and immersion schools have been flourishing for decades, so it's safe to say you'll be able to get by without speaking much Korean.

However, if you want to explore more of the Korean peninsula (and trust me, you definitely do), be sure to practice a few basic traveling phrases in Korean. Not only will knowing some Korean phrases help you avoid an awkward situation -like sitting in someone's reserved seat or ordering squid as snack- but it will also impress the locals. Korean people will definitely appreciate your attempt to communicate in their language. If you know some basic traveling phrases, it shows respect for Korean culture.

So, whether you're planning to take a trip to South Korea or even if you're just curious about Korean culture , use our list of 101 basic Korean phrases to improve you Korean speaking and listening skills.

Why Visit South Korea?

Most people don't immediately think of South Korea when planning a trip to Asia. Isntead, they opt for the more popular beaches of Thailand and the rolling rice hills in Vietnam.

But guess what. Korea has both of these things, and more. South Korea is truly a unique country to visit, and it has something to offer for every tourist's preference.

Although small in land area, the country is rich in regional and geographical diversity. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, South Korea has miles of beautiful beaches . Hiking more your thing? Then Korea is the perfect place to go. Over 70% of South Korea is covered in mountains, so you won't miss out on the beautiful nature.

If you're not really a nature person, don't worry. You'll be captivated by Korean culture and history. After all, Korea is home to 11 Unesco World Heritage sites , including temples and fortresses from ancient dynasties. You can also spend hours shopping, or my personal favorite: indulge in delicious Korean delicacies that vary across the country.

Have I enticed you to visit South Korea yet? Even if you can't take a trip overseas soon, learning Korean travel phrases will help expand your Korean vocabulary and prepare you for any future travels.

Basic Korean Phrases for South Korea Travel

It's important to note that Koreans use different verb conjugations depending on the person they are speaking to. The different conjugations imply various levels of respect and politeness. For the purpose of traveling in Korea, it's okay to use either the formal or polite form of the verb, and that's what will be included on this list. Koreans won't expect foreingers to understand the sublte nuances of Korean honorifics, so just being polite is the best way to go.

Also, you might notice several phrases are listed more than once. That's because unlike in English, Koreans have different variations of words and phrases for very specific situations.

Now, let's learn some basic Korean phrases for travel!

The Most Basic Korean Words You Must Know

• An-nyeong ha-se-yo (안녕하세요) :Hello. This is the most common way to greet someone at anytime of the day. You'll be greeted any time you enter a shop, restaurant, taxi- well anywhere, really. So you should learn how to say hello in response.
• An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo (안녕히 가세요): Goodbye. This is the goodbye to use if someone else is leaving. "Ga-se-yo" means to go,so you are basically telling someone to go peacefully.
• An-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo (안녕히 계세요): Goodbye. This is the goodbye to use when YOU are leaving. There is a slight difference in the endings of the two goodbyes; however, don't worry too much if you don't remember the difference. You can always just say "an-nyeong."
• Ne (네): Yes
• A-ni-yo (아니요): No
• A-ma-do (아마도): Maybe
• Mol-la-yo (몰라요): I don't know.
• Jam-shi-man-yo (잠시만요): Excuse me./Just a moment. You can use this phrase to get the attention of others, for example if you need someone to move out of your way. You can also use this to mean "wait a minute."
• Jeo-gi-yo (저기요): Excuse me. Use this version of "excuse me" to get attention in a restaurant or business.
• Sil-lye-hab-ni-da (실례합니다): Excuse me. This version of excuse me is used to apologize, like if you accidentally bump into someone.
• Mi-an-hab-ni-da (미안합니다): Sorry.
• Gam-sa-hab-ni-da(감사합니다): Thank you.
• Gwaen-chan-ayo(괜찮아요): It's alright/never mind/it's okay.
• Cheon-man-e-yo(천만에요): You're welcome/don't mention it.
• Shi (씨): Add this at the end of someone's name to be polite. It means Mr./Ms. regardless of gender or marital status.
• Eo-je (어제): Yesterday.
• Oh-neul (오늘): Today.
• Nae-il (내일): Tomorrow.
• Ji-guem (지금): Right now.
• Na-jung-eh (나중에): Later.
• Eol-ma-ye-yo?(얼마예요?): How much is it?
• I-geo ju-se-yo.(이거 주세요.): Give me this, please.

Introducing Yourself

• Ee-reum-ee mo-eh-yo(이름이 뭐에요?): What's your name?
• Je ileum-eun (your name)ibnida.(제 이름은 (your name)입니다.): My name is _________.
• Jeo-neun (country)e-seo wass-eo- yo. (저는 country에서 왔어요): : I'm from ____________. For a list of countries, click here .

Making Yourself Understood

Of course, if you are not Korean, you might stick out as a foreigner in smaller cities. Still, some locals might mistake you for a expat living in South korea and assume you can communicate well. Use these Korean phrases to make yourself understood.

• Han-guk-mal mot hae-yo.(한국말 못 해요.): I can't speak Korean.
• Han-guk-mal jo-geum mal hal su iss-eoyo. (한국말 조금 말 할 수 있어요.): I can speak a little Korean.
• I-hae mos hae-yo. (이해 못 해요): I don't understand.
• Cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae-jus-eyo. (천천히 말해주세요): Please speak slowly.
• Da-si han beon mal-hae-jus-eyo(다시 한 번 말해주세요.): Please say it again.
• Yeong-eo ha-se-yo? (영어 하세요?): Do you speak English?

Asking for Help

If you're traveling in a country that doesn't speak your language, there's probably going to be several times that you need to ask for help. Whether it's an emergency situation or you're just looking for a toilet (which, okay is also an emergency sometimes), here are basic Korean phrases to ask for help.

• Do-wa-ju-se-yo (도와주세요) : Help me!
• Gyeong-chal-eul bul-eu-se-yo.(경찰을 부르세요): Call the police.
• Eung-geub sang-hwang-i-e-yo! (응급 상황이에요): It's an emergency.
• Ui-sa-ga pil-yo hae-yo. (의사가 필요 해요): I need a doctor.
• Gu-geub-cha-leul bul-leo ju-se-yo. (구급차를 불러 주세요): Call an ambulance.
• Ah-pa-yo. (아파요): I feel sick.
• Jil-mun-i is-seub-ni-da. (질문이 있습니다): : I have a question.
• Byeong-won (병원): : Hospital
• Gyeong-chal-seo (경찰서): Police station
• Yag-guk (약국): Pharmacy
• Eun-haeng (은행): Bank
• Hwa-jang-sil (화장실): Bathroom
• __eh ga-ya hay-yo ( __ 에 가야 해요): This sentence means, I have to go to the (place). So, you can, say "byeonh-won-eh ga-ya hay-yo," to mean "I have to go to the hospital.
• Eo-di-ye-yo? (어디예요?): Where is it? You can also add the place in front of the question. So, if you ask "Hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?," you're asking where the bathroom is.

Transportaion

Lucky for travelers, getting around South Korea is cheap and easy. You can use applications on your phone for accurate bus times and maps. South Korea has a renowned public transportation system. It's clean, cheap, and efficient, so you can get from one end of the country to the other in no time at all. Although most travel hubs have some English, you still might need to use these phrases when getting around the country. Use the term "where" (#45) to make questiosn with some of these words.

• Beo-su(버스): Bus
• Beo-seu jeong-lyu-jang (버스 정류장): Bus stop
• I beo-seu (place) ga-na-yo?(이 버스 place name 가나요?): Does this bus go to ___ ?
• Da-eum beo-seu-neun eon-je iss-eo-yo?(다음 버스는 언제 있어요?): When is the next bus?
• Gi-cha(기차): Train. It's important to note here that the high speed train in Korea is called the KTX , so if you say "KTX," you will be understood.
• Ji-hae-chol (지하철): Subway
• Ji-hae-chol yeog (지하철역): Subway station
• Bi-haeng-gi (비행기): Airplane
• Gong-hang (공항): Airport
• Taek-si (택시): Taxi. For an easier way to hail a taxi, you can use this phone app .
• Seoull-yeoge ga-go si-peun-de-yo.(서울역에 가고 싶은데요.): I'd like to go to Seoul Station. Of course, if you're in a taxi, you can interchange any location with the word Seoul.
• Pyo (표): Ticket
• Bal-gwon-gi (발권기): : Ticketing machine

• Dong (동): East
• Seo (서): West
• Nam (남): South
• Buk (북): Buk
• Yeo-gi (여기): Here
• Geo-gi (거기): There
• Jeo-gi (저기): Over there
• O-leun-jjog-eulo ga-se-yo. (오른쪽으로 가세요): Turn right.
• Oen-jjog-eu-lo ga-se-yo. (왼쪽으로 가세요): Turn left.
• Jig-jin-ha-se-yo. (직진하세요.): Go straight.

Accomodation

Although you can definitely find five star hotels in Korea, there are a number of more affordalbe - and more unique- options to look at while you travel around the country. 69. Sa-u-na (사우나): Sauna. Did you know that you can sleep on the floor of a sauna? This is the cheapest place to stay, usually under 10,000 Korean won. You'll be given a mat on a warm floor. 70. Ho-seu-tel (호스텔): Hostel. 71. Min-bak (민박): Min-bak. A minbak usually is a simple room with access to a kitchen and a private bathroom. They can range from anything like a motel to a room in the owners' house. 72. Mo-tel (모텔): Motel. Motels in Korea are often themed and geard toward lovers, so if you go with this option, make sure you find one that's nice and clean. 73. Gue-su-tu Ha-oe-seu (게스트 하우스): Guesthouse. 74. Ho-tel (호텔): Hotel. 75. Pen-sion (펜션): Pension. Pensions are like partially furnished houses or apartments that you can rent. They're affordable and usually quite beautiful, as most are in the countryside or in a scenic area. 76. Ri-jor-teu (리조트): Resort. 77. Bin-bang iss-eo-yo?(빈방 있어요?): Do you have any vacancies? 78. I-il mug-gess-eo-yo(이일 묵겠어요): I'm staying for two days. In this case, the first syllable "i" is the number for 2. You can use other numbers if you plan to stay longer. 79. I in-yong chim-dae (이 인용 침대): A bed for two people. 80. Ye-yag-eul ha-go sip-eoyo. (예약을 하고 싶어요): I'd like to make a reservation.

At the Cafe or Restaurant

• Bae-go-pa-yo. (배고파요): I'm hungry.
• Ka-deu bad-euse-yo? (카드 받으세요?): Do you accept cards? A lot of Korean restaurants are still cash only, so it's best to carry some Korean money or check before ordering. If you forget, don't worry. There are ATM's on almost every street
• Ttalo-ttalo gye-san-hal-ge-yo. (따로따로 계산할게요): Please split the bill. Most Koreans share the meal and one person pays the bill. Again, it's best to carry cash so you and your companions can all contribute if necessary.
• Po-jang-hae jus-e-yo. (포장해주세요): Please make it to go.
• Wai-pai iss-eo-yo?(와이파이 있어요?): Do you have wifi?
• Bi-mil beon-ho all-yeo ju-seyo. (비밀 번호 알려 주세요): Please tell me the wifi password.
• Kon-sen-teu is-seo-yo?(콘센트 있어요?): Do you have electrical outlets?
• Chae-sig men-yu iss-eo-yo?(채식 메뉴 있어요?): Do you have a vegetarian menu?
• Da meo-geul su is-seo-yo. (다 먹을 수 있어요): I can eat anything.
• Mwo-ga mas-iss-eo-yo?(뭐가 맛있어요?): What is delicious?
• All-eo-ji iss-eo-yo. (알러지 있어요.): I have an allergy.
• (이거 매워요?): Is it spicy? Now, I suppose spice tolerance is subjective. However, often times Koreans will worry about the level of spice foreigners can handle. They think kimchi is very spicy. In my experience, Korean "spice" is a little sweet, and it's delicious. If you're like me, you won't find it spicy at all, so ask for more pepper.
• Mas-is-seo-yo!(맛있어요!): It's delicious.

Miscellaneous

• Geon-be! (건배!) : Cheers!
• A-ya! (아야!): Ouch!
• Jo-ah-yo. (좋아요): Good/I like it.
• An jo-ah-yo. (안 좋아요): Bad.
• Sel-ka (셀카): Selfie
• Seo-bis-eau (서비스): Service. This refers to a free item at a restuarant or store.
• Hwa-i-ting! (화이팅!): You can do it! Fighting!
• Meong meong (멍멍): This is the sound of a dog barking in Korean. Cute, right?

Practice Makes Perfect

While these words look simple on paper, you might want to practice speaking them outloud to make sure your pronunciation is perfect. Lucky for you, Speechling coaches are here to help. Try Speechling's Freestyle Mode! You can input and listen to any Korean traveling phrase, then record your own pronunciation. Speechling's dedicated coaches will give you personalized feedback. Your pronunciation will be like a native speaker's in no time at all!

Speechling is a nonprofit app and website that combines human coaching with technology to improve your foreign language speaking.

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80 Korean Travel words and Phrases to brush up on your language skills

It has always been believed that language is the most influential way to pervade native’s hearts with your respect and care towards their culture. Mother tongue instinctively softens one’s perspectives and makes them believe that the other person is putting efforts to communicate which makes it deeply touching. Therefore, instead of learning every possible sentence in Hangul , taking help of precise and helpful travel words and phrases could act as the initiation of basic understanding of South Korean culture.

It is now possible to get the hang of the basic reading structure of the language in a short span of time. It will in turn be helpful in reading the boards and posters easily. Investing some of your time in solving practice sheets and rehearsing the pronunciation of essential vocabulary might prove to be one of the best ways to travel South Korea for the first time.

There is a lot of information out there about tips and tricks when traveling to Korea, but most of it isn't in the form of travel words and phrases. I'll give you a few short sentences you can use while you are visiting, or just to learn along the way.

Travel Vocabulary In Korean !!

Also see : Reason to improve your Korean vocabulary

Korean phrases that should be tongue friendly~

Also see : Tips to improve your Korean speaking skills

Even though you don't know how to make full sentences in Korean, saying a few words will still come in handy when you travel to Korea someday !!

In contrast to English the levels of formality in korean might appear complex to many; but a continuous practice can prove to be fruitful. Either learn basic Korean by yourself, or join some online courses, or if you prefer meeting some online Korean friends, do so as learning a new language is all about finding new perspectives and landing on some comfortable horizon on your exposure.

If you have suggestions or questions. Feel free to comment below.

Thank you !!

Smriti Ekka graduated in Commerce and Library science, and currently she is working as a content writer at TOPIK Guide website. She is a Korean language and culture enthusiast and has been working across multiple disciplines which broadly addresses narratives of similarities between Korean and Indian culture. Apart from being a content writer at TOPIK Guide she manages Annyeong India website and has had her pieces published in Learn Korean in India website as well. In her other life, she is a singer, rising entrepreneur, life enthusiast and a learner.

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47 Useful Korean Words & Phrases to Learn for Travelers

The Hallyu culture or Korean wave has taken the world by storm. From K-pop and K-drama to K-beauty and K-travel, it would be an advantage if you understand (or master!) some basic Korean words and phrases .

On both our Korea trips ( winter and spring ), we regret not arming ourselves with some useful Korean words and phrases. If not for our bilingual friends who helped us translate some English and Filipino to Korean words and phrases, it would have been a lot more challenging for us to explore and interact with the locals.

Now, we are trying to learn the Korean language, starting off with these useful Korean words and phrases for travel.

Basic Korean words and phrases for introductions and greetings

1. “Annyeonghaseyo” (안녕하세요) = “Hello” / “Hi”

Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) is the standard way of saying “Hi” or “Hello” in Korean. According to our friend who now lives in Korea, it’s more respectful to say “Annyeonghaseyo” completely instead of “Annyeong” only, especially if you don’t know the person yet.

2. “Mannaseo bangapseumnida!” (만나서 반갑습니다!) / “Mannaseo bangawoyo!” (만나서 반가워요!) = “Nice to meet you!”

The standard way of saying “Nice to meet you!” in Korean is Mannaseo bangawoyo! (만나서 반가워요!), which is safe to say to everyone. However, it’s not as polite as the formal version Mannaseo bangapseumnida! (만나서 반갑습니다!), which you can use when speaking to someone with a higher social rank or to a large group.

3. “Eotteoke jinaesseoyo?” (어떻게 지냈어요?) = “How are you?”

This is a formal way of asking how your friend is doing. A more casual way would be, “Jal jinaesseo?” (잘 지냈어?). Do note that these Korean phrases are only used among friends, and not acquaintances or strangers.

4. “Aniyo. Gwaenchanayo.” (아니요 괜찮아요.) = “No. It’s okay.”

You use this Korean phrase when politely declining something, like when you are asked if you need a receipt, you can reply, “Aniyo. Gwaenchanayo.” (No. It’s okay.)

5. “Ireumi mwoyeyo?” (이름이 뭐예요?) = “What’s your name?”

There are many ways to ask “What’s your name?” in Korean, but this one’s the everyday version, which is generally acceptable by most Koreans.

6. “Je ireumeun <name>ibnida / iyeyo.” (제 이름은 <name>입니다 / 이예요.) = “My name is <name>.”

This is your reply to the person asking for your name. See samples below:

• Je ireumeun Benyeyo. (제 이름은 벤예요.) = “My name is Ben.”
• Benieyo. (벤예요) = “Ben.”
• Naneun Benida. (나는 벤이다.) = “I’m Ben.”

7. “Eodieseo wasseoyo?” (어디에서 왔어요?) = “Where are you from?”

This is the standard way of asking where the person is from.

8. “Jeoneun <place> eseo wasseoyo.” (저는 <place> 에서 왔어요.) = “I’m from <place>.”

This is your reply when asked where you are from. For example, Jeoneun Pillipineseo wasseoyo. (저는 필리핀에서 왔어요.) means “I’m from the Philippines.”

9. “<Language> hal su isseuseyo?” (<language> 할 수 있으세요?) = “Do you speak <language>?”

To ask if the person speaks a certain language, use this Korean phrase. For instance, you can say “Yeongeo hal su isseuseyo?” (영어 할 수 있으세요?) if you want to ask, “Do you speak English?”.

10. “Jogeum” (조금) = “A little bit”

Use this Korean word if you want to answer “a little” or “a little bit”.

11. “Ihaega andwaeyo.” (이해가 안돼요.) = “I do not understand.”

If you don’t understand, just use this Korean phrase.

12. “Moleugessseubnida.” (모르겠습니다.) = “I don’t know.”

And if you don’t know, you can reply with this Korean phrase.

13. “Ne” (네) / “Ye” (예) = “Yes”

There are different ways to say yes in Korean, but the standard one is Ne (네), and the more polite version is Ye (예).

14. “Aniyo” (아니요) = “No”

This is the standard and most basic way of saying no in Korean.

15. “Amado” (아마도) = “Maybe”

This is the Korean word translation for maybe.

Useful Korean words and phrases for social etiquette

16. “Kamsahamnida“ (감사합니다) / “Gomapseumnida” (고맙습니다) = “Thank you”

Kamsahamnida (감사합니다) is the Korean word for thank you. There are multiple ways to express gratitude or say thank you in Korean. See the different usage and levels of politeness below:

• Kamsahamnida (감사합니다) – Formal and most common way
• Gomapseumnida (고맙습니다) – Polite way and still widely used
• Gomawoyo (고마워요) – Less formal and used between friends
• Gomawo (고마워) – Informal version and used between close friends of the same age or younger than you

17. “Aniyeyo” (아니예요) = “Not a big deal.”

It can be nuanced as “You’re welcome” in Korean language.

18. “Annyeonghi gaseyo” (안녕히 가세요) / “Annyeonghi gyeseyo” (안녕히 계세요) = “Goodbye”

Use Annyeonghi gaseyo (안녕히 가세요) when saying goodbye to the person leaving. But if you are the one leaving, you should say Annyeonghi gyeseyo (안녕히 계세요) instead.

19. “Juseyo” (주세요) = “Please”

Use this Korean word when you ask for a favor or say please.

20. “Jwesonghamnida” (죄송합니다) = “Sorry”

Say this Korean word if you want to apologize.

Helpful Korean phrases for travel and exploration

21. “Eodie isseoyo?” (어디에 있어요?) = “Where is it?”

Use this Korean word if you’re asking for the location of a place. For instance, if you’re asking, “Where’s the toilet?”, you can say, “Hwajangsil eodie isseoyo?” (화장실 어디에 있어요?).

22. “Eodi gaseyo?” (어디 가세요?) = “Where are you going?”

As mentioned previously, Eodi (어디) means where. Just add gaseyo (가세요) to form the question “Where are you going?”.

23. “Jeoneun jibe galgeoyeyo.” (저는 집에 갈거예요.) = “I’m going home.”

This is what you say when you’re going home.

24. “Eotteoke gayo?” (어떻게 가요?) = “How to get there?”

Eotteoke (어떻게) means “how” in Korean. Use the Korean phrase above if you’re asking for directions on how to get there.

25. “Yogeumeun eolmayeyo?” (요금은 얼마예요?) = “How much is the fare?”

Use this Korean phrase if you’re asking how much to pay for the fare.

26. “Baro orgeyo.” (바로 올게요.) = “I’ll be right back.”

This is what you say when you have to leave temporarily but will be right back.

27. “Gileul ilheosseoyo!” (길을 잃었어요!) = “I’m lost!”

Utter this when you’re lost, especially when navigating a new location or place.

28. “Dowajuseyo!” (도와주세요!) = “Help me!”

Say this Korean word when you need help.

29. “WiFi isseoyo?” (와이피이 있어요?) = “Do you have WiFi?”

Say this Korean phrase to ask if the establishment has WiFi.

30. “Bimilbeonho al su isseulkkayo?” (비밀번호 알 수 있을까요?) = “May I know the password?”

If they do have WiFi, you can then proceed to ask for the password.

Tip: Avoid the hassle of asking for free WiFi by getting your own Korea SIM card or pocket WiFi before your trip.

Practical Korean words and phrases for shopping

31. “Eolmayeyo?” (얼마예요?) = “How much?”

You can use this standard Korean word to ask for the price of something.

32. “Igeon mwoyeyo?” (이건 뭐예요?) = “What is this?”

You can use this Korean phrase if you’re curious about the item you want to buy.

33. “Jeoge mwoyeyo?” (저게 뭐예요?) = “What is that?”

Change Igeon (이건) with Jeoge (저게) to make it “that”.

34. “Harini isseoyo?” (할인이 있어요?) = “Is there a discount?”

This is what you say when asking if there is still a discount.

35. “Igeo juseyo.” ( 이거 주세요. ) = “Please give me this.”

Use this Korean phrase if you have already decided on what to buy and would like to get the item.

36. “Yeongsujeung juseyo.” ( 영수증 주세요 .) = “Please give me a receipt.”

After purchasing an item, you can always request for a receipt, especially if you are planning to claim for a tourist refund.

Handy Korean words and phrases for eating

37. “Meokja!” (먹자!) = “Let’s eat!”

This is the Korean word or expression for “Let’s eat!”.

38. “Masissge deuseyo!” (맛있게 드세요!) = “Enjoy your meal!”

This is the Korean translation for bon appetite!

39. “Bap meogeoseoyo?” (밥 먹었어요?) = “Have you eaten?”

Use this Korean phrase to ask if the person has eaten already. It can also be nuanced as saying “hi” or “hello” to someone.

40. “Aniyo. Ajig iyo.” (아니요. 아직이요.) = “No. Not yet.”

This is your reply if you haven’t eaten yet.

41. “Baegopayo.” (배고파요.) = “I’m hungry.”

Although there are different ways of expressing you are hungry, this is the standard way of saying it in Korean.

42. “Baebulleoyo.” (배불러요.) = “I’m full.”

And when you are already full, just say this Korean word.

43. “Jal meogeotseumnida.” (잘 먹었습니다.) = I ate well.

This is what you say after eating and you enjoyed the meal.

44. “Masisseoyo!” (맛있어요!) = “Delicious!”

This is a common way of saying “delicious” in Korean. Just add Wanjeon (완전) as in Wanjeon masisseoyo! (완전 맛있어요!), if you want to say, “It’s very delicious!”.

45. “Dalkomhada! (달콤하다!) = “It’s sweet!”

This is how you describe a food that tastes sweet.

46. “Menyu jom juseyo.” (메뉴 좀 주세요.) = “Please give me the menu.”

This is what you say when you can’t find the menu on the wall and you’d want to ask for it from the waiter or attendant.

47. “Gyesanhalkkeyo.” (계산할게요.) = “I’ll pay for the bill.”

This is what you say when you already want to pay the bill.

These are just some of the useful Korean words and phrases to learn for a start. We’ll keep updating this list once we learn more words and phrases that’ll be useful for travelers to South Korea .

Do you have more Korean words and phrases to add? Do let us know on our social media channels: Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Twitter , and YouTube .

*Special thanks to Kevin, our polyglot friend who now lives in Korea, for reviewing our Korean language translation.

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100+ Korean Travel Phrases

One often-overlooked aspect of preparing for travel is learning a bit of the local language. 

While English will get you quite far in South Korea (especially in the bigger cities), nothing can replace learning a little Korean to get around. It can make things easier for you, and the natives will appreciate the effort!

Here’s a list of essential phrases to get you started.

Basic Greetings

Common courtesy, communicating in korean, important places, navigating around, transportation, accommodations, tourist attractions, emergency situations, travel essentials, miscellaneous, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The bare fundamentals, a simple “Hello” or “Goodbye,” can be much appreciated by any native speaker.

안녕하세요 — Hello

This can be said at any point in the day, and you can reply to this in exactly the same manner.

반갑습니다 —  Nice to meet you

If you meet someone, especially someone of importance, you can illustrate your respect with this short phrase.

어떻게 지내세요? —  How are you?

잘 지내요 — I am good

A positive response to the above question of “How are you?” 

이름이 뭐예요?   — What is your name?

This is a polite way to ask, but if you want to be more casual, you can say 이름이 뭐야? instead.

제 이름은 _____  — My name is _____

안녕 / 안녕히 계세요   / 안녕히 가세요   — Goodbye

“Goodbye” comes in different flavors in Korean.  안녕  is informal and should be used for friends and closer acquaintances.  안녕히 계세요 (lit. “Please stay well”) is specifically for when you are leaving the premises, but the other person is staying. Conversely,  안녕히 가세요 (Please leave well) is when you are staying, but the other person is leaving.

좋은 아침   — Good morning

If it’s your first time seeing someone in the morning (up until 11 AM), you can greet them with this since it’s pretty common. 

좋은 저녁 —  Good afternoon

좋은 저녁 —   Good evening

These two phrases aren’t used as much as a general 안녕하세요  (Hello), but you’re more likely to come across them in formal situations, such as a work event. 

South Korea holds courtesy in high regard, so you’ll definitely want to learn some ways to express gratitude and respect. Doing so, especially when you’re a foreigner, will help you leave a good impression on those you interact with.

감사합니다 —  Thank you

This is a formal, all-around safe way to offer your gratitude . Alternatively, you may say 고맙습니다 .

천만에요 — You’re welcome (formal)

It’s not often that Koreans actually respond to a “Thank you” with a “You’re welcome,” but if you wish to be extra polite, then you can throw in this phrase. Normally, you can respond to thanks with a simple, humble 아닙니다 , which means “It’s nothing.”

실례합니다 (polite) / 잠시만요  — Excuse me

실례합니다  is a very polite phrase used to get someone’s attention, such as for when you approach a stranger for help.  잠시만요  more or less means “Wait a moment” but can be used for situations such as when you need to push past or be a minor physical hindrance to people.

여기요 — Over here

Use this phrase with a raised hand or some kind of physical gesture to get someone to come over to you. This can also be used to flag down a waiter in a restaurant.

죄송합니다 / 미안합니다  — I’m sorry

Used for any situation where you need to excuse your behavior. Both ways of saying sorry are formal and have an almost equal amount of weight (are interchangeable).

[object] + _____ 주세요 — Please give _____  

Use this if you’re politely requesting an object from another person. This can be said alone, or follow after you specify what you want.

To learn more about how to be polite in Korean—and listen to how some of the super common situations in this post sound in real life—you can use a learning program like FluentU . 

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Getting confused is an unavoidable experience when traveling to another country that speaks a different language! By knowing some key vocabulary, though, you can make communication easier. 

잘 모르겠네요 — I don’t understand

한국말 잘 못해요 — I don’t speak Korean well

It’s highly likely that you won’t understand every word of Korean you hear, and it’s best to let whoever’s talking to you know that! Many will be kind enough to try and simplify their message for your comprehension.

영어 할 수 있어요? — Do you speak English?

Most Korean natives know some English to be able to help you out in a tough spot, so don’t be afraid to ask!

천천히 말씀해 주세요 — Please speak slowly

다시 한 번 말해주시겠어요? — Can you please say that again?

Korean is a rather quickly-spoken language, especially when the speaker is quite emotional ( Korean dramas , anyone?), so keep these two phrases in mind just in case. 

종이에 적어 주세요 — Please write it down

This is essential when you’re asking about the name of a place or getting someone’s phone number.  

Wherever you’re going in Korea, some of the most helpful vocabulary to know would be place names: 

• 지하철역 — Subway station
• 기차역 — Train station
• 버스 정류장 — Bus station
• 공항 — Airport
• 호스텔 — Hostel
• 식당 — Restaurant
• 관광 안내소 — Tourist information center
• 박물관 — Museum
• 시장 — Market
• 약국 — Pharmacy
• 편의점 — Convenience store
• 쇼핑 센터 —  Shopping center

Even if you go off-track at some point or lose your way, don’t worry — getting lost can make for a great adventure in your travels and be a perfect opportunity for you to practice your Korean with locals.

왼쪽 / 오른쪽 / 직진 — left / right / straight

북쪽 / 남쪽 / 동쪽 / 서쪽 — north / south / east / west

These direction words are self-explanatory, and if you’re asking for directions, you’ll most definitely be hearing these words. Make sure to be familiar with them so you can at least pick up general directions.

근처에 _____ 이(가) 있나요? —  Is there a _____ nearby? 

This will tell any native that you’ll need some navigation help. Follow up with something that will indicate where you’d like to go.

_____이(가) 어디인지 아세요? — Do you know where _____ is?

어떻게 _____ 에 가나요? —  How do I get to…?

Ask any of these two phrases for specific directions.  

_____이(가) 얼마나 먼가요? —  How far is _____? 

_____ 까지 얼마나 걸려요? —  How long does it take to get to _____ ?

It might feel quite different from English, but you’d put the name of the place at the start. You can use the table in the previous section as a reference!

_____ (으)로 가 주세요 —  Please take me to _____

If you need a guiding hand, then this will be the phrase to use. You can quickly find people willing to direct you to where you need to go. This phrase can also be used to inform a taxi driver of your destination. (When the place name ends with a consonant, use “으로,” otherwise use “로.”)

화장실이 어디예요? —  Where is the bathroom?

Because in the world of travel, being able to find a bathroom is essential. Note that 어디예요 ,   by itself, means “where is it.”

South Korea has a convenient transportation system that also makes it easy to travel from city to city. Here are the main forms of transportation: 

• 지하철 —  subway
• KTX — high-speed train

These phrases will help you get around: 

버스 정류장이 어디에 있나요? — Where is the bus station? 기차역이 어디에 있나요? — Where is the train station? 지하철역이 어디에 있나요? — Where is the subway station? 

Bus stations are pretty much everywhere, while subway stations are only in major cities like Seoul, Busan and Daegu. Train stations are inter-city and meant for long-distance trips so they’re a bit more spread out.  

표를 예매하고 싶어요 —  I want to book a ticket

Aside from a simple ticket, you can also get a transportation card ( 교통 카드 ), which covers both train and bus trips. 

표는 어디서 살 수 있나요? —  Where can I buy tickets?

Bus or train stations usually have ticket machines, but tickets are available online too, which might be more convenient.  

버스가 몇 시에 도착하나요 ? —  What time does the bus arrive?

버스는 몇 시에 출발하나요? —  What time does the bus depart?

다음 버스는 몇 시에 있나요? —  What time is the next bus? 

You can replace 버스 (bus) in these sentences with 기차 (train) or 지하철 (subway). For real-time bus or train scheduling updates, locals often check apps like Kakao Map and Naver Map .

[place] + 로 가려면 어떤 버스를 타야 하나요? —  Which bus should I take to go to [place]? 

이 버스는 _____ (으)로 가나요? —  Does this bus go to _____ ? 

It’s not uncommon to get lost! The bus system in Korea can be confusing at first because it uses numbers to represent routes. 

You’d mainly say this when riding a taxi. For extra politeness, you can add 주세요 , which means “please,” at the end.  

택시 요금은 얼마예요? — How much is the taxi fare? 

Most taxis use the meter to track payment, but to avoid confusion, it’s best to ask the driver before you get in around how much it’ll cost. Remember too that you don’t have to tip taxi drivers in Korea!

Settle into your accommodations more quickly and move on to exploring with the practical phrases below: 

체크아웃 / 체크인 시간은 언제인가요? —  What time is check-out / check in? 

룸 서비스를 이용하고 싶어요 — I would like to use room service 

Depending on the hotel, 룸 서비스  usually means food from the in-hotel restaurant, amenities like towels and blanket and sometimes laundry service. 

추가 비용이 있나요? —  Is there an additional charge? 

Sometimes this isn’t obvious, such as when you’re getting drinks from the minibar. 

_____을(를) 추가로 받을 수 있을까요? —  Can I have more _____ ?

You can usually ask for items like 타올 (towels), 물 (water), 이불 (blankets), 베개 (pillows), 샴푸 (shampoo), 비누 (soap), 칫솔 (toothbrush) and 치약 (toothpaste). 

전기 변압기가 필요해요 —  I need an electrical adapter

Most hotels have extra adapters on hand since it’s a common request. 

방을 변경하고 싶어요 — I would like to change my room

택시를 부르고 싶어요 — I would like to call a taxi

와이파이 비밀번호가 무엇인가요? —  What is the wi-fi password?

Having internet access is pretty much invaluable when you’re in a foreign city, so this is worth remembering not just for hotels, but also for when you’re out and about.  

Whether you’re going to a heritage site, museum, theme park or traditional village, these phrases will let you make the most out of your visit. 

이곳은 언제까지 열려 있나요? — Until what time is this open? 

가이드 투어가 있나요? —  Is there a guided tour available? 

Major museums, palaces and cultural heritage sites often have guided tours in English, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace ( 경복궁 ) and National Museum of Korea ( 국립중앙박물관 ). 

사진 찍어 주실 수 있나요? — Can you take a photo of us? 

Unless you have a lengthy selfie stick, you’ll likely have to make this request to strangers. If you’re not sure whether you can take photos, you can ask the staff 사진을 찍어도 되나요? to confirm. 

입장료는 얼마예요? — How much is the admission fee? 

This works for pretty much any tourist attraction and even performances and concerts. 

티켓을 구매하고 싶어요 —  I would like to purchase a ticket 

_____ 장 주세요 —   _____ ticket/s, please 

When buying tickets, just place the number before 장 주세요 . For example, for one ticket, you’d say 한 장 주세요 , while for two or three tickets, it’d be 두 장 주세요 or 세 장 주세요  respectively. 

할인 티켓이 있나요? —  Do you have any discounted tickets?

어린이 요금이 어떻게 되나요? —  What is the children’s fare?

경로 요금이 어떻게 되나요? —  What is the senior’s fare?

If you’re buying tickets as a group or you’re with children or seniors (60 years old and above), you might get a discount. 

안내 지도를 얻을 수 있을까요? —  Can I get a map?

명소를 추천해 주실 수 있나요? —  Can you recommend some attractions?

근처에 추천해 줄 식당이 있나요? —  Can you recommend any restaurants nearby?

Asking locals for recommendations can point you to cool spots that you won’t find easily online, and they might give you practical tips too.  

South Korea is a food-lover’s paradise . On every street, you’ll find indoor and outdoor food venues, selling everything from traditional Korean meals to trendy snack foods. These phrases will help you when you’re up for some indulgent dining .

_____ 주세요 — Please give me _____  

To order your meal, simply state it and tack on  주세요  afterwards. Short and simple!

메뉴 주세요 — Menu, please

More often than not, Korean restaurants won’t have the menu out on the tables. To get one, simply raise your hand and state this phrase.

계산서 주세요 — Bill, please

Waiters in Korean restaurants often will not personally ask if you’ve finished your meal, so once your stomach is satisfied and you’re ready to head out, ask for the bill!

싸 주세요 — Please wrap / It’s to-go

If you want wrapped leftovers, you definitely have to let your servers know as they probably will assume otherwise. Note that you’ll likely only get your meal, not any side dishes, packed up.

제가 알레르기가 있어요 — I have an allergy

If you have an allergy, then you must say so, preferably in Korean so that they know exactly what to exclude.

어떤 음식을 추천하시나요? —  What food do you recommend?

Asking for the staff’s recommendations is one of the surest ways to try what’s good in a restaurant. 

영어 메뉴가 있나요? —  Is there an English menu?

Restaurants that get plenty of travelers are likely to have English menus. 

좀 덜 맵게 해 주세요 —  Please make this dish less spicy

Korean food can be quite spicy, so you can make this request if you prefer milder flavors. To minimize the spiciness, you can even say 안 맵게 해 주세요 — Please make this dish not spicy. 

예약했어요 —  I made a reservation for a meal

따로 계산해 주세요 — Please separate the bill. 

This is for when you want to split the bill and get separate receipts for less hassle. 

물 한 잔 주세요 —  Please give me a glass of water

A lot of Korean restaurants have water stations or dispensers so you can get water whenever you want. In case there’s none, though,  you can ask the staff directly since it’s usually free.

얼마나 기다려야 하나요? —  How long do I have to wait ? 

Thankfully, once you’re at the table, 반찬  or side dishes tend to be served pretty quickly, so you can munch on something while waiting for your order. 

젓가락 하나 더 주세요 —  Please give me an extra pair of chopsticks

숟가락 하나 주세요 — Please give me a spoon

Chopsticks and spoons are the main utensils in restaurants in Korea. Note that 포크 or forks are less common in traditional restaurants!

Since eating out is likely going to be a major part of your itinerary, here are some more survival Korean expressions for ordering food:

With its plethora of food establishments, South Korea also has a huge variety of shopping outlets. You definitely won’t get bored by what’s available for purchase, so you’ll want to know what exactly to say when something catches your eye and makes you reach for your wallet.

_____ 있어요?  — Do you have _____?

얼마예요? — How much is it?

It’s highly recommended to know how numbers work in Korean , as there are two distinct systems that are used in different contexts. However, if you’re not overly familiar with them, it’s probable that the cashier will be able to tell you the price in English.

카드 받으세요? — Do you take credit cards? 

South Korea has a high credit card usage rate, so you shouldn’t have a problem if you’re strapped for cash and only have your card on hand.

환불해 주세요 — Please give me a refund

Be prepared with a good reason for your request! Even if you’re a foreigner, you’ll still need to explain yourself (and explain well!) to the store employee.

교환해 주세요 — Please give me an exchange

If your shopping purchase is damaged or needs to be switched to fit your needs, then use this phrase to notify the employee. You shouldn’t have a hard time with this request, especially if you have a valid reason.

할인해 주실 수 있나요? — Is there a discount?

You never know when there might be a sale or promo!

이거 더 작은 사이즈로 있나요? —  Do you have this in a smaller size?

이거 더 큰 사이즈로 있나요? — Do you have this in a bigger size? 

Korea’s size system for clothes can seem very familiar at first because it also uses letters like S, M and L. Sizes can be different from those in other countries, though, so you’ll definitely want to try on the clothes first before buying them! Some stores have free alteration services too. 

피팅룸은 어디에 있나요? —  Where are the fitting rooms? 

이거 살게요 —  I’ll buy this 

When you’re done at the fitting room and you’re satisfied with the clothes, then you can let the store employee know. 

In the event that an urgent situation pops up and you’re in need of direct, quick help, you’ll need some quick phrases to get proper attention.

도와주세요! — Help!

A straightforward call for assistance. This literally means “Give me help,” to which a proper response might be 도와줄게요 , which means “I will give you help.”

긴급 상황이에요 — It’s an emergency

Whatever the nature of your problem, this phrase will get you rapid assistance. Consider who exactly you need to help you, whether it’s the police or the paramedics, for example.

경찰 / 경찰을 부르세요 — Police / Call the police

It’s helpful to know that in South Korea, the phone number to contact the police is 112. But in case you don’t have a phone or are in quick need of legal service, saying the above phrase to a native will most likely get the help you need.

병원 — Hospital

If you say this phrase alone to a native, that could be enough of an alert for them to aid you. If you need quick medical attention and know you need care at a hospital, then use this phrase.

여기가 아파요 — It hurts here

This is useful for any injury you receive that needs to be treated. Along with this phrase, point to where exactly you feel pain.

의사가 필요해요 — I need a doctor

Along with the word for hospital, this is good to know if there’s ever a possibility that you need professional care. It’s possible someone will call an ambulance for you, should the situation be dire, but you should also know that the Korean phone number for the fire brigade and ambulance services is 119.

Your passport is the most important document to have while traveling, so here’s some helpful vocabulary: 

여권 —  Passport

This can be useful to know how to say in Korean because some places — like hotels and bars — might look for your passport. A related word is 비자 (visa). 

여권 잃어버렸는데, 보셨나요? —  I lost my passport, have you seen it? 

Fingers crossed that this won’t actually happen! If you lose something else, you can replace 여권   (passport) in this sentence. Other valuables are 지갑 (wallet),  핸드폰   (mobile phone), 신용카드 (credit card) or 가방  (bag). 

[Your country] 대사관은 어디에 있나요? —  Where is the… embassy?

If you lose your passport or get visa-related issues, then you’ll have to head to your country’s embassy in Korea.

환전소는 어디에 있나요? —  Where is the currency exchange? 

Aside from banks, you can get currency exchange done at the airport, hotel and major shopping centers. Look for signs that say 환전 or 외화 교환 , which both mean currency exchange.

Here are some phrases you may hear anywhere, anytime, and aren’t necessarily attached to any one context.

화이팅! / 파이팅! — Fighting!

Slang used for encouragement, you can passionately exclaim this to boost one’s morale. It’s usually accompanied nu a firm shake of the fist.

괜찮아요 — It’s okay

The equivalent to the English “It’s fine.” You can say this in a multitude of situations, such as expressing the state of your physical health or accepting a certain circumstance.

진짜요? — Really?

Just in case you need some extra affirmation about something. This phrase is also commonly used as an exclamatory statement.

안 돼요 — It doesn’t work/It cannot (be)/No way

This phrase differs slightly in meaning depending on the context. You can use it for a variety of situations, from talking about a dysfunctional washing machine to adamantly denying a particular circumstance.

재미있어요 — It’s fun

Of course, if you’re having fun and want to say so, then by all means you should! This phrase will be relevant quite frequently while you’re out and about adventuring in Korea.

With these phrases as part of your mental luggage, you’ll be more confident and have a more satisfying trip to Korea.

Safe travels, or as you would say in Korean, 여행 잘 하세요, 조심해서 가세요 !

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Essential Korean Language for Travel that You Must Know

Are you planning to travel to Korea? Korean travel phrases in language-learning are absolutely essential for just this reason!

Learning basic South Korean travel phrases will definitely help you in nearly any situation, including urgent ones. The Korean travel phrases and Korean travel words you’ll learn in this article will make your travels more fun and help you connect with locals, so that you can get the most out of your upcoming trip to South Korea!

Table of Contents

• Essential Korean Travel Phrases: Basic Expressions
• Essential Korean Phrases: Transportation
• Essential Korean Phrases: Shopping
• Essential Korean Phrases: At Restaurants
• Essential Korean Phrases: Asking for and Giving Directions
• Essential Korean Phrases: Emergencies
• Essential Korean Phrases: Flattery Phrases
• Essential Korean Phrases: Useful Phrases to Go Through Language Problems
• Essential Korean Phrases: Buying Tickets at a Museum
• Essential Korean Phrases: Taking Pictures
• How KoreanClass101.com Can Help You with Korean

1. Essential Korean Travel Phrases: Basic Expressions

You’ll be able to converse with local native Koreans by simply remembering these basic phrases. Koreans will appreciate the fact that you made the effort to speak to them in their local language, and it will certainly add more fun to your South Korea trip.

1- 안녕하세요 ( annyeonghaseyo ) – “hello” (polite form)

This is one of the most basic and commonly used Korean phrases for travelling, so be sure to keep it in your arsenal!

Example 1: You enter a restaurant and a waitress greets you.

• Waitress: 안녕하세요. Waitress: Annyeonghaseyo . Waitress: “Hello.”
• You: 안녕하세요. You: Annyeonghaseyo . You: “Hello.”

Example 2: You take a taxi and want to greet the taxi driver.

• Taxi driver: 네, 안녕하세요. 어디로 가시나요? Taxi driver: Ne, annyeonghaseyo. Eodiro gasinayo? Taxi driver: “Yes, hello. Where would you like to go?”

2 – 반갑습니다 ( bangapseumnida ) – “nice to meet you” (polite form)

Example 1: Jason went to your friend’s house and met their roommate, who is older than him, for the first time.

• Roommate: 어? 친구 데려왔어? 누구야? Roommate: Eo? Chingu deryeowasseo? Nuguya? Roommate: “Oh, you brought your friend home? Who is he?”
• Jason: 안녕하세요, 반갑습니다. Jason: Annyeonghaseyo, bangapseumnida. Jason: “Hello, nice to meet you.”

Example 2: Michael went to a language exchange event in Hongdae and wants to introduce himself to others.

• Michael: 안녕하세요, 저는 마이클이라고 합니다. 반갑습니다. Michael: Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun maikeurirago hamnida. Bangapseumnida. Michael: “Hello, my name is Michael. Nice to meet you.”

3 – 감사합니다 ( gamsahamnida ) – “thank you” (polite form)

Example 1: You’re walking in the busy streets in the Gangnam area, and see a lady drop her wallet. You pick it up and give it to her.

• You: 여기, 지갑 떨어뜨리셨어요. You: Yeogi, jigap tteoreotteurisyeosseoyo. You: “Here, you dropped your wallet.”
• Lady: 어머, 감사합니다. Lady: Eomeo, gamsahamnida. Lady: “Oh, thank you so much.”

Example 2: You order a cup of coffee at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and a clerk gives you the change after you’ve paid.

• Clerk: 500원 거스름돈 드리겠습니다. Clerk: Obaegwon geoseureumdon deurigetseumnida. Clerk: “Here is [your] change, 500 won.”
• You: 감사합니다. You: Gamsahamnida. You: “Thank you.”

4 – 실례합니다 ( sillyehamnida ) – “excuse me” (polite form)

This is one of the most useful Korean travel phrases you can learn, so keep it in mind.

Example 1: You’re on a crowded subway and need to get closer to the exit.

• You: 실례합니다. 지나가겠습니다. You: Sillyehamnida. Jinagagetseumnida. You: “Excuse me. Passing through.”

Example 2: You accidentally stepped on a stranger’s foot inside the busy subway.

• You: 실례합니다. You: Sillyehamnida. You: “Excuse me.”

5- 네; 아니요; 괜찮아요. ( ne; aniyo; gwaenchanayo. ) – “yes; no; no, thank you.”

While you learn Korean travel phrases, never underestimate the importance of even the smallest words. They can have the most impact!

• You: 이쪽으로 가면 화장실인가요? You: Ijjogeuro gamyeon hwajangsiringayo? You: “Is this way to the toilet?”
• Clerk: 아니요, 그쪽은 창고예요. Clerk: Aniyo, geujjogeun changgoyeyo. Clerk: “No, that’s the storage section.”
• You: 아, 그럼 저쪽으로 가면 되나요? You: A, geureom jeojjogeuro gamyeon doenayo? You: “Ah, so should I go that way?”
• Clerk: 네, 맞아요. Clerk: Ne, majayo. Clerk: “Yes, correct.”

Example 2: You had a great time hanging out with your friend. But it’s getting late—time to go home.

• Friend: 많이 어두워졌네, 집에 데려다 줄까? Friend: Mani eoduwojyeonne, jibe deryeoda julkka? Friend: “It became really dark. Did you want me to take you to your home?”
• You: 아니, 괜찮아. 혼자갈 수 있어. You: Ani, gwaenchana. Honjagal su isseo. You: “No, I’m fine. I can go home by myself.”

We have more free lessons like “ Top 10 Conversational Phrases ,” so do check out this page when you have time.

2. Essential Korean Phrases: Transportation

Traveling by public transportation is the most efficient way to get around South Korea. The fares for the subway and public buses are very cheap, and the routes are easy to understand. There are also announcements offered in various languages, so the chance of getting lost is slim.

However, you need to remember that most of the staff at the ticket booths don’t speak English. Let’s learn the most important and useful phrases for buying tickets and conversing with any staff that you encounter.

1- ~으로 가는 티켓 주세요. ( ~euro ganeun tiket juseyo. )

~으로 가는 티켓 주세요. ( ~euro ganeun tiket juseyo. ) means “Please give me a ticket to ~.” Use this phrase to buy any tickets to go out of the city area.

Example 1: You’re at Dong-Daegu train station ( 동대구역; dongdaeguyeok ) to buy a train ticket to Busan .

• You: 부산으로 가는 티켓 주세요. You: Busaneuro ganeun tiket juseyo You: “I would like to buy a ticket to go to Busan.”
• Staff: 출발시간은 언제가 괜찮으십니까? Staff: Chulbalsiganeun eonjega gwaenchaneusimnikka? Staff: “When would you like to depart?”
• You: 오후 1시쯤 출발하는 기차 있을까요? You: Ohu 1sijjeum chulbalhaneun gicha isseulkkayo? You: “Are there any trains that depart at 13:00 (one o’clock PM)?”

Example 2: You’re at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal to buy a bus ticket to Pohang ( 포항; pohang ).

• You: 안녕하세요, 오후 1시 포항으로 가는 티켓 주세요. You: Annyeonghaseyo, ohu 1si pohangeuro ganeun tiket juseyo. You: “Hello, I would like to buy a ticket to go to Pohang at 13:00 (one o’clock PM).”
• Staff: 네, 몇장 드리면 될까요? Staff: Ne, myeotjang deurimyeon doelkkayo? Staff: “Okay, how many tickets do you need?”
• You: 한장이요. You: Hanjangiyo. You: “Just one.”

2- ~으로 가는 전철/버스 인가요? ( ~euro ganeun jeoncheol/beoseu ingayo? )

This phrase means “Does this subway/bus go to ~?”

It’s likely that you’ll take a bus or subway to get around in South Korea. This travel phrase will come in handy when you want to ask a question to locals. When you travel by boat or ferry, simply replace the noun with “boat” ( 배; bae ).

Example 1: You’re at the Incheon airport and need to go to the Jamsil area. A bus stops in front of you, and you want to ask whether this bus goes to Jamsil.

• You: 잠실로 가는 버스인가요? You: Jamsillo ganeun beoseuingayo? You: “Does this bus go to Jamsil?”
• Staff: 네, 갑니다. Staff: Ne, gamnida. Staff: “Yes, it does.”

Example 2: You’re at Gukje market in Busan and you need to catch the subway to go to Gimhae International airport .

• You: 실례합니다. 이 전철은 부산 공항으로 가는 전철인가요? You: Sillyehamnida. i jeoncheoreun busan gonghangeuro ganeun jeoncheoringayo? You: “Excuse me. Does this subway go to the Busan airport?”
• Stranger: 아니요, 부산 공항으로 가는 전철은 저쪽이예요. Stranger: Aniyo, busan gonghangeuro ganeun jeoncheoreun jeojjogiyeyo. Stranger: “No, the subway bound for the Busan airport is over there.”

3- ~으로 가주세요. ( ~euro gajuseyo. )

This phrase means “Please take me to ~.”

This travel phrase is the most effective and simple phrase to tell your taxi driver. Simply add the destination that you want to reach, such as “ Insadong ” (인사동; insadong ) or “ Dongdaemun ” (동대문; dongdaemun ) etc., followed by 으로 가주세요. ( ~euro gajuseyo. ). That’s it. You don’t need to say anything else!

However, if you want to go somewhere less touristy, and it requires you to explain where exactly you want to go, give the taxi driver the address. Every taxi has a navigation system installed. Also, taxi companies provide free interpreter services in South Korea.

To know whether the taxi you got in offers this service, take a look on the right-hand side of the door. Usually, there’s a large rectangular sign that explains about this service in English, Japanese, and Chinese. So if you’re struggling to explain where you want to go, simply say “free interpreter” to the taxi driver.

Example 1: You’re at “ Gangnam station ” (강남역; gangnamyeok ) right now and want to move to “ Itaewon ” (이태원; itaewon ) to have dinner with your friends.

• You: 안녕하세요, 이태원역으로 가주세요. You: Annyeonghaseyo, itaewonyeogeuro gajuseyo. You: “Hello, please take me to Itaewon station.”
• Taxi driver: 네, 알겠습니다. Taxi driver: Ne, algetseumnida. Taxi driver: “Sure.”

Example 2: You want to visit your friend’s house in Busan, and you have his address.

• You: 안녕하세요, 이곳으로 가고 싶은데요.. (주소를 보여줌) You: Annyeonghaseyo, igoseuro gago sipeundeyo.. (jusoreul boyeojum) You: “Hello, I would like to go to this place…” (show him the address)
• Taxi driver: 잠시만요. (네비게이션으로 주소 확인함) Taxi driver: Jamsimanyo. (nebigeisyeoneuro juso hwaginham) Taxi driver: “Please hold on…” (checks the location via navigation system)

3. Essential Korean Phrases: Shopping

1 – 이거/저것 얼마예요? ( igeo/jeogeot eolmayeyo? )

This phrase means “How much is this/that?”

Use this travel phrase when you want to ask the seller how much the items cost while shopping in South Korea. To get the seller’s attention, you can say 저기요 ( jeogiyo ) which means “excuse me.” If the seller is male, you can call him by 아저씨 ( ajeossi ) meaning “mature man,” and if the seller is female, you can call her by 아줌마 ( ajumma ) meaning “matured female” or 이모 ( imo ) meaning “aunt.”

Also, remember that 이것 ( igeot ) means “this” and 저것 ( jeogeot ) means “that.” If you want each of them to be plural, say 이것들 ( igeotdeul ) meaning “these” and 저것들 ( jeogeotdeul ) meaning “those.”

Example 1: You’re shopping at a famous market called “ Gwangjang market ” (광장시장; Gwangjangsijang ), in Seoul. You found a set of Korean traditional clothing called “ Hanbok ” (한복; hanbok ) which you want to buy, and you’re curious to know how much it costs.

• You: 아저씨, 이거 얼마에요? You: Ajeossi, igeo eolmaeyo? You: “Excuse me sir, how much is this?”
• Seller: 7만원이에요. Seller: Chilmanwonieyo. Seller: “It’s 70,000 won.”

Example 2: You found a pink sweater that you like while shopping at 서문시장 ( seomun sijang ) in Daegu . You want to ask how much the sweater costs.

• You: 저기요, 저건 얼마예요? You: jeogiyo, jeogeon eolmayeyo? You: “Excuse me, how much is that?”
• Seller: 2만9천원이예요. Seller: Imangucheonwoniyeyo. Seller: “It’s 29,000 won.”
• You: (저거) 한개 주세요. You: (jeogeo) Hangae juseyo. You: “Please give me one (of that).”

2 – 이거 #개 주세요. ( igeo #gae juseyo. )

This phrase means “Please give me [number] [of the product].”

Example 1: You’re at the supermarket and the clerk wants to ask how many plastic bags you want.

• Seller: 비닐봉지 몇개 드릴까요? Seller: Binilbongji myeotgae deurilkkayo? Seller: “How many plastic bags would you like to have?”
• You: 2개 주세요. You: Dugae juseyo. You: “Two please.”

Example 2: You found a beautiful “Korean traditional pocket” called 전통 주머니 ( jeontong jumeoni ) and want to buy six of them.

• You: 이거 6개 주세요. You: Igeo yeoseotgae juseyo. You: “Please give me six (of the Korean traditional pockets).”
• Seller: 네. Seller: Ne. Seller: “Ok.”

On our website, KoreanClass101 , you can find many lessons on counting numbers in Korean. Feel free to check out our website whenever you want.

3- 조금만 깎아 주시면 안될까요? ( Jogeumman kkakka jusimyeon andoelkkayo? )

This phrase means “Can you please reduce the price?”

The prices in Korea are usually fixed, but you can definitely negotiate the price at a market. To ask for a discount, use this phrase!

If you want to buy items for a cheaper price in Korea, try to pay by cash. If you pay with a credit card, you’ll be charged extra (approximately ten percent more).

Example 1: You’re at 남대문시장 ( Namdaemun sijang ) meaning “Namdaemun market” in Seoul and found a nice jacket. You ask for the price and think that it costs too much. You want to negotiate the price.

• You: 너무 이쁘긴한데… 비싸네요. 조금만 깎아 주시면 안될까요? You: Neomu ippeuginhande… bissaneyo. Jogeumman kkakka jusimyeon andoelkkayo? You: “It’s really pretty…but it’s expensive. Can you please reduce the price a bit?”
• Seller: 그럼 3,000원만 깎아 줄게요. Seller: Geureom samcheonwonman kkakka julgeyo. Seller: “I will give you a discount of 3,000 won then.”

Example 2: You’re at 고속터미널 역 지하상가 ( gosokteomineol yeok jihasangga ) an underground shopping mall in the Express Bus Terminal station in Seoul, and want to buy a pair of jeans. The sign says that it costs 10,000 won if you pay by cash. But you only have a credit card.

• You: 이거 카드로 계산할게요. You: Igeo kadeuro gyesanhalgeyo. You: “I will pay by credit card.”
• Seller: 카드로 계산하면 11,000원이에요. 현금으로 내는게 더 저렴해요. Seller: kadeuro gyesanhamyeon mancheonwonieyo. hyeongeumeuro naeneun ge deo jeoryeomhaeyo. Seller: “If you pay by card, it will be 11,000 won. It will be cheaper by cash.”
• You: 아 그래요? 이곳에 가장 가까운 ATM기계는 어디에 있나요? You: Igose gajang gakkaun ATMgigyeneun eodie innayo? You: “Oh really? Where is the nearest ATM from here?”

4- S/M/L 사이즈 있나요? ( S/M/L saijeu innayo? )

This phrase means “Do you have S/M/L size for this?”

When you ask for a different size, if a seller says it’s 프리사이즈 ( peurisaijeu ), this means that it’s “free-size.” Do be careful when you buy free-size clothing, as it may be too big or small when you try it on. Also, for many shops at a market or an underground shopping area, you can’t refund the items after purchase.

Example 1: You’re at an underground shopping mall in Gangnam station. You find a sweater and there’s no size written on the tag.

• You: 이건 사이즈가 어떻게 돼요? You: Igeon saijeuga eotteoke dwaeyo? You: “What size is this?”
• Seller: 그거 프리사이즈에요. Seller: Geugeo peurisaijeueyo. Seller: “It’s a free-size sweater.”

Example 2: You want to ask if the dress you chose comes in different sizes.

• You: 이 드레스 M 사이즈도 있나요? You: I deureseu em saijeudo innayo? You: “Do you have an M size?”
• Seller: 네, 잠시만요. Seller: Ne, jamsimanyo. Seller: “Yes, hold on a sec.”

5- 뭐가 제일 인기 많아요? ( mwoga jeil ingi manayo? )

This phrase means “What are the most popular ones?”

Sometimes it can be overwhelming when you need to choose something out of so many goods. If you’re not sure which one to choose, it’s always safe to ask a seller which item is popular these days.

Example 1: You bought a number of items at a shop and a seller wants to give you some freebies.

• You: 너무 이쁜것들이 많아서 못 고르겠어요. 어떤 것이 제일 인기가 많아요? You: Neomu ippeungeotdeuri manaseo mot goreugesseoyo. eotteon geosi jeil ingiga manayo? You: “There are so many things that I can’t choose. What is the most popular one from here?”
• Seller: 요즘은 이 아이템이 한국에서 인기가 많아요. Seller: Yojeumeun i aitemi hangugeseo ingiga manayo. Seller: “These days, this item is quite popular in Korea.”

Example 2: You want to buy a dress that’s trending in Korea.

• You: 어느 드레스가 제일 인기 많아요? You: Eoneu deureseuga jeil ingi manayo? You: “Which dress is the most popular dress in Korea?”
• Seller: 이거요. Seller: Igeoyo. Seller: “This one.”

Do you want more phrases for shopping? Check out “ 15 Shopping Phrases. Exchanges, Refunds and Complaints !” on KoreanClass101.com.

4. Essential Korean Phrases: At Restaurants

1- ~주세요 ( ~juseyo ).

This phrase means “Please give me ~,” and it can be used not only to order dishes, but also to buy things like tickets or clothing.

Example 1: You enter a restaurant and want to ask for a menu.

• You: 저기요, 메뉴주세요. You: Jeogiyo, menyujuseyo. You: “Excuse me, please give me a menu.”
• Waitress: 네, 여기있습니다. Waitress: Ne, yeogiitseumnida. Waitress: “Sure, here you go.”

Example 2: You want to order a bottle of beer and soju to try to make 소맥 ( somaek ) which is a whiskey and beer cocktail.

• You: 저기요, 맥주 한병이랑 소주 한병 주세요. You: Jeogiyo, maekju hanbyeongirang soju hanbyeong juseyo. You: “Excuse me, can I please have a bottle of beer and soju?”
• Waitress:네, 여기있습니다. Waitress: Ne, yeogiitseumnida. Waitress: “Sure, here you go.”

2- 많이 매운가요? ( Mani maeungayo? )

This phrase means “Is this spicy?”

Many Korean dishes are spicy for foreigners because we use 고추장 ( Gochujang ) meaning “red chili paste” or 고춧가루 ( gochutgaru ) meaning “chili powder” in most dishes. When ordering spicy dishes in Korea, you can request to make it less spicy, so you can still enjoy Korean dishes!

Example 1: You’re at one of the famous ddeokbokki restaurants named 죠스떡볶이 ( jyoseutteokbokki ). It’s your first time trying some ddeokbokki .

• You: 떡볶이 주세요. You: Tteokbokki juseyo. You: “I will have ddeokbokki please.”
• Waitress: 매운 거 잘 못 드시면 많이 매우실 텐데요. Waitress: Maeun geo jal mot deusimyeon mani maeusil tendeyo. Waitress: “If you struggle a lot to eat spicy foods, you may not be able to eat this dish.”
• You: 아, 많이 매운가요? 그럼 덜 맵게 해주시겠어요? You: A, mani maeungayo? geureom deol maepge haejusigesseoyo? You: “Ah, is it really that spicy? Is it possible to make it less spicy?”

Example 2: You want to ask whether the dish you want to order is spicy or not.

• You: 이거 많이 매운가요? You: Igeo mani maeungayo? You: “Is this spicy?”
• Waiter: 아니요, 맵지 않습니다. Waiter: Aniyo, maepji anseumnida. Waiter: “No, it’s not spicy.”

3- 저는 채식주의자예요. ( Jeoneun chaesikjuuijayeyo )

This important phrase means “I am a vegetarian.”

“Vegetarian” is 채식주의자 ( chaesikjuuija ) and “vegan” is 비건 ( bigeon ) in Korean. Although the number of vegetarian restaurants is increasing, this concept (especially veganism) is fairly new to South Korea. Therefore, do research in advance if you’re after specific vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Korea.

Otherwise, vegetarian dishes are easy to find, so don’t worry too much. Classic dishes include 야채 김밥 (vegetable gimbap ) and 잡채 ( japchae ).

Example 1: You’re at a gimbap restaurant and want to order a vegetarian gimbap .

• You: 저는 채식주의자예요. 어떤 김밥을 먹으면 될까요? You: Jeoneun chaesikjuuijayeyo. eotteon gimbabeul meogeumyeon doelkkayo? You: “I am vegetarian. Is there any gimbap for me to eat?”
• Staff: 채식주의자세요? 그럼 야채 김밥 드셔야겠네요. Staff: Chaesikjuuijaseyo? geureom yachae gimbap deusyeoyagenneyo. Staff: “Are you vegetarian? Then you should order the vegetable gimbap.”

Example 2: You went to a restaurant with your friend, who doesn’t know that you’re vegetarian. He wants to order 삼겹살 ( samgyeopsal ) or “pork belly.”

• Friend: 우리 삼겹살 시켜먹을까? Friend: Uri samgyeopsal sikyeomeogeulkka? Friend: “Shall we order some pork belly?”
• You: 미안, 나 채식주의자야. 그래서 고기 못 먹어 You: Mian, na chaesikjuuijaya. Geuraeseo gogi monmeogeo You: “Sorry, I’m vegetarian, so I can’t eat meat.”
• Friend: 아 진짜? 몰랐네. 미안, 그럼 다른거 시켜먹자. Friend: A jinjja? mollanne. Mian, geureom dareungeo sikyeomeokja. Friend: “Oh really? I did not know. Sorry, let’s order something else.”

4- ~ 알러지있어요 ( alleojiisseoyo ) – “I am allergic to ~.”

This phrase means “I am allergic to ~,” and may be the most important restaurant phrase you learn today!

Are you allergic to peanuts? “Peanut” is called 땅콩 ( ttangkong ) in Korean. “Wheat” is called 밀 ( mil ).

To say that you’re allergic to something, just say the name of the food that you’re allergic to, followed by 알러지있어요 ( alleojiisseoyo ).

Example 1: You’re allergic to peanuts and you want to ask if the snack you want to buy contains some nuts.

• You: 제가 땅콩 알레르기가 있는데요, 이 과자 땅콩이 들어가 있나요? You: Jega ttangkong allereugiga inneundeyo, I gwaja ttangkongi deureoga innayo? You: “I am allergic to peanuts, I am wondering if this snack contains some peanuts?”
• Staff: 확인해볼께요. 네, 들어가 있네요. Staff: Hwaginhaebolkkeyo. Ne, deureoga inneyo. Staff: “Let me have a check. Yes, it does.”

Example 2: You’re currently staying with a Korean homestay family. The homestay father gave you chocolates and you want to say that you’re allergic to them.

• You: 전 초콜릿에 알레르기가 있어서 먹을 때마다 기침을 해요. You: Jeon chokollise allereugiga isseoseo meogeul ttaemada gichimeul haeyo. You: “I am allergic to chocolates, so every time I eat I sneeze.”
• Father: 그런데도 먹어? Father: Geureondedo meogeo? Father: “And you still eat chocolates?”
• You: 네, 너무 맛이 있어서요. You: Ne, neomu masi isseoseoyo. You: “Yes, because it‘s too delicious. “

5- 와이파이 비밀번호는 뭐예요? ( Waipai bimilbeonhoneun mwoyeyo? )

This phrase translates to “What is the password for Wifi?”

You’ll be startled at the speed of Internet services in South Korea. Moreover, free wifi services are available nearly everywhere—on the subway, KTX, at restaurants and cafes, etc. Most restaurants and cafes provide free wifi for customers, so ask for the password to access the free wifi.

Example 1: You stopped by 엔제리너스커피 (Angel-in-Us Coffee) to take a break from a long walk, and you want to use free wifi.

• You: 와이파이 비밀번호는 뭐예요? You: Waipai bimilbeonhoneun mwoyeyo? You: “What is the password for wifi?”
• Waiter: 1234567890입니다. Waiter: I-ri-sam-sa-o-yuk-chil-pal-gu-yeong-imnida. Waiter: “It’s 1234567890.”

Do you want to learn more practical phrases to use at Korean restaurants? Check out “ Vocabulary and Phrases for the Restaurant ” on our website.

5. Essential Korean Phrases: Asking for and Giving Directions

1- ___은 어떻게 가나요? ( ___eun eotteoke ganayo? )

This phrase translates as “How do I go to ~?” in English.

This is the phrase to use when you’re asking for detailed directions. Use this phrase to ask how to get somewhere, when there are many steps involved.

Example 1: You’re asking your homestay father how to get to Busan from Daegu.

• You: 부산에서 대구까지 어떻게 가나요? You: Busaneseo daegukkaji eotteoke ganayo? You: “How do I get to Busan from Daegu?”
• Father: 부산역에서 KTX 열차 티켓을 하고나서… Father: Busanyeogeseo KTX yeolcha tikeseul hagonaseo… Father: “You need to buy a KTX ticket from a station called Busan station and ….”

2- ~은 어디에 있어요? ( ~eun eodie isseoyo? )

This phrase means “Where is ~?”

Example 1: You’re at a shop and want to use the bathroom.

• You: 화장실은 어디에 있어요? You: Hwajangsireun eodie isseoyo? You: “Where is the bathroom?”
• Staff: 가게 밖으로 나가면 바로 오른쪽에 있어요. Staff: Gage bakkeuro nagamyeon baro oreunjjoge isseoyo. Staff: “Go out of the shop; the toilet is on the right-hand side.”

Example 2: You feel tired after visiting many places and want to go back to the hotel to rest, but you’re not sure where the closest station is.

• You: 여기서 가장 가까운 지하철역은 어디에 있어요? You: Yeogiseo gajang gakkaun jihacheollyeogeun eodie isseoyo? You: “Where is the closest subway station from here?”
• Stranger: 횡단보도 건너면 홍대역이 보일거예요. Stranger: Hoengdanbodo geonneomyeon hongdaeyeogi boilgeoyeyo. Stranger: “Just cross the road and you’ll be able to see the station called Hongdae.”

3- Vocabulary for Directions

Here’s some useful vocabulary:

Reference: Position/Direction

There are several example sentences using these vocabulary words in our vocabulary list about positions and directions. Do check out the page for more learning material.

4- 여기는 어디인가요? ( yeogineun eodiingayo? )

This phrase means “Where am I?”

When you’re not sure where you are, or you want to know the name of the place you’re at, use this phrase to ask. 어디 means “where” in Korean. If you want to double-check your location with someone, replace 어디 with the name of the place.

For example, if you want to know whether the place you’re in is 가로수길 ( garosu-gil ), you should ask 여기는 가로수길인가요? ( yeogineun garosugiringayo? ) which translates to “Am I in Garosu gil?”

• You: 길을 잃었어요. 여기는 어디인가요? You: Gireul ileosseoyo. Yeogineun eodiingayo? You: “I am lost. Where am I?”
• Stranger: 음… 어디로 가시는데요? 가는길 알려드릴께요. Stranger: Eum… eodiro gasineundeyo? Ganeungil allyeodeurilkkeyo. Stranger: “Hmm…where are you heading to? I may be able to tell you the way.”

Example 2: You’re with a tour guide and you want to say how beautiful this place is.

• You: 정말 아름다운 곳이네요. 여기는 어디인가요? You: Jeongmal areumdaun gosineyo. Yeogineun eodiingayo? You: “This place is really beautiful. Where is this place?”
• Guide: 광화문 이라고 하는 곳입니다. 아름답지요? Guide: Gwanghwamunirago haneun gosimnida. Areumdapjiyo? Guide: “It’s called Gwanghwamun. Isn’t it beautiful?”

5- 여기서 ~까지는 많이 먼가요/가까운가요? ( yeogiseo ~kkajineun mani meongayo/gakkaungayo? )

This phrase means “From here to ~, is it far/close?”

Use this phrase when you want to ask how far or close something is from your current location.멀다 ( meolda ) is “far” and 가깝다 ( gakkapda ) is “close” in Korean. To make each word into a question, they become 먼가요? ( meongayo ) meaning “Is it far?” and 가까운가요? ( gakkaungayo? ) meaning “Is it close by?” respectively.

Example 1: You’re at Daegu Station and want to go to Palgongsan, a tourist favorite in Daegu.

• You: 팔공산 은 여기서 많이 먼가요? You: Palgongsaneun yeogiseo mani meongayo? You: “Is Palgongsan far from here?”

Example 2: You’ve just landed in Jeju International Airport . Your friend comes to pick you up and you’re waiting for a bus to go to your friend’s house.

• You: (너의) 집은 여기서 많이 멀어? You: (neoui) Jibeun yeogiseo mani meoreo? You: “Is your house far from here?”
• Friend: 음, 버스타고 한 20분 정도 가야해. 그렇게 멀진 않아. Friend: Eum, beoseutago han isipbun jeongdo gayahae. Geureoke meoljin ana. Friend: “Hmm, it takes about 20 minutes by bus. It’s not too far.”

6. Essential Korean Phrases: Emergencies

1- 도와주세요. ( dowajuseyo. ).

This phrase translates to “Please help me.”

When you’re in need of help, use this phrase to get people’s attention. Be careful when you use this phrase though, because the meaning changes depending on your intonation. You can also request help more formally by stating, 실례하지만 도와주시겠어요? ( sillyehajiman dowajusigesseoyo? ) which means “I am sorry to bother you, but could you please help?”

Example 1: You were hiking at a mountain called 북한산 ( bukansan ) in Seoul and you injured yourself. You see a number of hikers not far from where you are.

• You: 도와주세요! , 도와주세요! You: Dowajuseyo! Dowajuseyo! You: “Please help! Please help!”

Example 2: You need to call an ambulance, and you go to a help desk for help.

• You: 응급상황이예요, 도와주세요! You: Eunggeupsanghwangiyeyo, dowajuseyo! You: “It’s an emergency! Please help!”

2- 경찰 불러주세요. ( gyeongchal bulleojuseyo. )

This phrase means “Please call the police.”

Use this phrase when you’re in danger. Alternatively, you can call the police by dialing 112. If you want to call an ambulance, which is called 응급차 ( eunggeupcha ) or 일일구 ( irilgu ), simply say the word followed by 불러주세요 ( bulleojuseyo ) meaning “Please call.”

Example 1: You want to ask for help from a person at the service desk.

• Help desk: 무엇을 도와드릴까요? Help desk: Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo? Help desk: “How may I help you?”
• You: 누가 지갑을 훔쳐갔어요, 경찰 불러주세요. You: Nuga jigabeul humchyeogasseoyo, gyeongchal bulleojuseyo. You: “My wallet is stolen and I would like to call the police.”
• Help desk: 네, 지금 바로 하겠습니다. Help desk: Ne, jigeum baro hagetseumnida. Help desk: “Okay, will do it now.”

Example 2: A stranger approaches you and tries to steal your bag.

• You: 도와주세요! 누가 경찰 불러 주세요! You: Dowajuseyo! Nuga gyeongchal bulleo juseyo! You: “Please help! Call the police for me!”

3- ~를 다쳤어요. ( ~reul dachyeosseoyo. )

This phrase means “I injured my ~.”

When you visit a hospital, you need to be able to tell the doctor which part of your body is injured. Unless you go to an international hospital that offers a free interpreter service, you’ll need to speak basic Korean at a local hospital.

If you want to say that you’re just in pain, just say ~가 아파요. ( ~ga apayo ) which means “I feel pain in my~.”

Here’s a vocabulary list of body parts for you to memorize:

Reference: Body Parts, KoreanClass101 Vocabulary list

The vocabulary words above are just a small portion of the entire vocabulary list from KoreanClass101. If you want to check out the entire list, visit our Body Parts vocabulary list on our website. We also have many free lessons on describing body parts in Korean, so check our website for more.

Example 1: You’re at a local hospital and need to explain which part of your body is injured.

• Doctor: 무슨일로 오셨나요? Doctor: Museunillo osyeonnayo? Doctor: “What made you come here today?”
• You: 산책하다가 발목을 다쳤어요. You: Sanchaekadaga balmogeul dachyeosseoyo. You: “I injured my ankle while walking.”
• Doctor: 한번 살펴 보겠습니다. Doctor: Hanbeon salpyeo bogetseumnida. Doctor: “Let me have a look at your ankle.”

Example 2: You weren’t cautious enough when crossing the pedestrian road. Unfortunately, you were run over by a car and your bone is broken.

• You: 걸을 수가 없어요. 뼈를 다친것 같아요. You: Georeul suga eopseoyo. Ppyeoreul dachingeot gatayo. You: “I can’t walk. I think my bone is broken.”
• Driver: (calling an ambulance) 여보세요, 차사고가 났는데요, 사람이 크게 다친것 같습니다. Driver: Yeoboseyo, chasagoga nanneundeyo, sarami keuge dachingeot gatseumnida. Driver: “Hello, there was a car accident and I think that the person is badly injured.”

4- 지갑/여권을 잃어버렸어요. ( jigap/yeogwoneul ileobeoryeosseoyo. )

This phrase means “I lost my wallet/passport.”

Your wallet and passport are the most valuable items while traveling around the world, and you certainly don’t want to ruin your entire trip over missing items. Use this phrase when you want to say that you’ve lost your belongings.

Here’s a list of items that people may lose while traveling:

Example 1: You’re about to head to the airport, and realize that your passport is missing.

• You: 어머, 여권을 잃어버린것 같아. You: Eomeo, yeogwoneul ileobeoringeot gata. You: “Oh no, I think I lost my passport.”
• Friend: 어디서 잃어버렸는데? Friend: Eodiseo ileobeoryeonneunde? Friend: “Where did you lose it?”
• Friend: 어머, 지갑이 어디갔지? Friend: Eomeo, jigabi eodigatji? Friend: “Oh no, where is my wallet?”
• You: 지갑을 잃어버렸어? You: Jigabeul ileobeoryeosseo? You: “Did you lose your wallet?”
• Friend: 휴, 찾았다! Friend: Hyu, chajatda! Friend: “Phew, I found it!”

5- Emergency Numbers to Remember

These are numbers that come in handy when you’re in trouble:

• 112 – Police
• 119 – Ambulance
• 111 – National Security
• 113 – Reporting spies
• 182 – Missing persons

Here, you can learn more vocabulary and phrases: “ Words and Phrases to Help You in an Emergency .”

7. Essential Korean Phrases: Flattery Phrases

1- 한국 음식을 좋아해요. ( hanguk eumsigeul joahaeyo. ).

This phrase means “I like Korean food.”

Koreans tend to worry when they see foreigners eating spicy food—you’ll hear 너무 맵지 않나요? ( neomu maepji annayo? ) which is them asking you “Is it not too spicy for you?” or 조금 매운데, 괜찮아요? ( jogeum maeunde, gwaenchanayo? ) meaning “It’s a bit spicy, is this okay?” when you order a spicy dish.

Don’t worry too much when you hear this, because they’re actually complimenting you for trying Korean dishes and they really do hope that you enjoy the food.

To say a specific dish, just replace 한국 음식 ( hanguk eumsik ) meaning “Korean food” with the name of your favorite dish. For example, if you like 삼계탕 ( samgyetang ) or “ginseng chicken soup,” you can say 삼계탕(을) 좋아해요 ( samgyetang(eul) joahaeyo ). Let’s have a look at more examples below:

• Friend: 어떤 음식 좋아해? Friend: Eotteon eumsik joahae? Friend: “What kind of cuisine do you like?”
• You: 매운걸 좋아해서 한국 음식을 많이 좋아해. You: Maeungeol joahaeseo hanguk eumsigeul mani joahae. You: “I like spicy food, so I like Korean food very much.”
• Friend: 잘됐다! 집근처에 맛집있는데, 같이 갈래? Friend: Jaldwaetda! jipgeuncheoe matjibinneunde, gachi gallae? Friend: “That’s great! There’s a good restaurant around here, do you want to go together?”
• Elder person: 매운 음식 좋아해요? Elder person: Maeun eumsik joahaeyo? Elder person: “Do you like spicy food?”
• You: 네, 좋아해요. You: Ne, joahaeyo. You: “Yes, I do.”

2- 한국문화에 관심이 많아요. ( Hangungmunhwae gwansimi manayo. )

Use this phrase to say “I am interested in Korean culture.”

Has anyone ever asked you what made you become interested in Korea? ~에 관심이 많아요. ( ~e gwansimi manayo. ) is a phrase to say that you “are interested in ~.” You can replace the first noun with something else, such as 한국 역사 ( hanguk yeoksa ) meaning “Korean history,” 케이팝 ( keipap ) meaning “K-pop,” 한국 드라마 ( hanguk deurama ) meaning “Korean drama,” and so forth.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: Jamie is a new exchange student, and Sumi and Soyeon are talking.

• 수미: 제이미가 왜 한국에 왔을까? Sumi: Jeimiga wae hanguge wasseulkka? Sumi: “I wonder what brought Jamie to South Korea.”
• 소연: 한국문화에 관심이 많아서 여기로 왔데. Soyeon: Hangungmunhwae gwansimi manaseo yeogiro watde. Soyeon: “He is here because he is interested in Korean culture.”

Example 2: Your friend asks why you’re interested in Korean culture. You want to say that you became interested in it after watching Korean dramas.

• You: 한국 드라마를 좋아해서 한국문화에 관심이 많아요. You: Hanguk deuramareul joahaeseo hangungmunhwae gwansimi manayo. You: “I became interested in Korean culture because of Korean dramas.”

3- 한국 사람은 친절해요. ( Hanguk sarameun chinjeolhaeyo. )

Use this phrase to say “Korean people are friendly.”

Koreans are friendly to tourists, so they will be happy to help you out when you’re in need of help. To say that Koreans are friendly, you can say 한국 사람은 친절해요 ( Hanguk sarameun chinjeolhaeyo. ).

Example 1: A friend asked how your trip to Korea was. You want to compliment Korean people.

• Friend: 한국 여행 어땠어? Friend: Hanguk yeohaeng eottaesseo? Friend: “How was your trip to Korea?”
• You: 응, 재미있었어. 한국 사람은 정말 친절한것 같아. You: Eung, jaemiisseosseo. Hanguk sarameun jeongmal chinjeolhangeot gata. You: “Yeah, it was fun. Koreans are really friendly.”
• You: 드라마를 보면 한국 사람들은 친절한것 같아. You: Deuramareul bomyeon hanguk saramdeureun chinjeolhangeot gata. You: “Based on Korean drama, I think that Koreans are friendly.”

4- 친구가 되고 싶어요. 페이스북/인스타그램 있어요? ( chinguga doego sipeoyo. peiseubuk/inseutageuraem isseoyo? )

Use this phrase to say “I want to be your friend. Do you have a Facebook/Instagram?”

You’ll encounter many locals while traveling in South Korea. If you meet someone that you want to keep in touch with long-term, say this phrase.

Example 1: You meet a local while traveling in Jeju and you want to keep in touch with her.

• You: 친구가 되고 싶어요. 혹시 페이스북이나 인스타그램 있어요? You: Chinguga doego sipeoyo. hoksi peiseubugina inseutageuraem isseoyo? You: “I want to be your friend. Do you have a Facebook or Instagram by any chance?”
• Friend: 페이스북은 없고, 인스타그램은 있어요. Friend: Peiseubugeun eopgo, inseutageuraemeun isseoyo. Friend: “I don’t have a Facebook account, but I use Instagram.”

8. Essential Korean Phrases: Useful Phrases to Go Through Language Problems

1- 영어 할 수 있어요? ( Yeongeo hal su isseoyo? )

Use this phrase to ask someone “Can you speak English?”

Example 1: A staff member is explaining something to you in Korean and you want to ask if they speak English.

• You: 혹시 영어 할 수 있어요? You: Hoksi yeongeo hal su isseoyo? You: “Do you speak English by any chance?”
• Staff: 죄송해요, 할수 없어요. Staff: Joesonghaeyo, halsu eopseoyo. Staff: “Sorry, no.”

2 – 적어주실래요? ( jeogeojusillaeyo? )

This useful phrase means “Can you write it down?”

Example 1: Your homestay mother suggests that you visit a museum called 전쟁기념관 ( jeonjaengginyeomgwan ) which is “The War Memorial of Korea,” in English. You want to search for this place on the Internet.

• You: 전쟁기념관을 종이에 적어주실래요? You: Jeonjaengginyeomgwaneul jongie jeogeojusillaeyo? You: “Can you please write “The War Memorial of Korea” on the paper?”

Example 2: A stranger is explaining the directions to go to 63 빌딩 ( yuksam building ) or the “63building, but it seems quite complicated.

• You: 죄송하지만, 종이에 적어주실래요? You: Joesonghajiman, jongie jeogeojusillaeyo? You: “I am sorry, but could you please write the directions down?”

3- 죄송해요, 한국말 잘못해요. ( Joesonghaeyo, hangungmal jalmothaeyo. )

Use this phrase to let someone know “I am sorry, I am not good at Korean.”

Example 1: An elderly person approaches you with a smile and asks many questions in Korean. You want to say that you can’t speak Korean.

• You: 죄송해요, 저는 한국말을 못해요. You: Joesonghaeyo, jeoneun hangungmareul mothaeyo. You: “I am sorry, I can’t speak Korean.”

Example 2: A stranger approaches you and asks some questions in Korean. You want to understand what he’s saying.

• You: 죄송해요, 한국말(을) 잘못해요. 조금 더 천천히 말해줄래요? You: Joesonghaeyo, hangungmal(eul) jalmothaeyo. Jogeum deo cheoncheonhi malhaejullaeyo? You: “Sorry, I am not good at Korean. Can you please speak slowly?”

4- 조금 더 천천히 말해주시겠어요? ( jogeum deo cheoncheonhi malhaejusigesseoyo? )

This phrase, hinted at earlier, means “Can you please speak slowly?”

You may want to practice speaking in Korean as much as possible. However, sometimes you may struggle to understand the language, especially when someone speaks to you too quickly. Use this phrase to kindly ask a speaker to speak more slowly for you.

Example 1: You’re on the phone to have food delivered. The staff member speaks too fast and you want him to slow down for you.

• You: 죄송하지만, 조금 더 천천히 말해주시겠어요? You: Joesonghajiman, jogeum deo cheoncheonhi malhaejusigesseoyo? You: “I am sorry, but could you please slow down for me?”
• Staff: 아, 죄송합니다. Staff: A, joesonghamnida. Staff: “Ah, I apologize.”

Example 2: Your friend is upset about something and struggles to speak clearly.

5- 이것은 어떻게 읽나요? ( Igeoseun eotteoke ingnayo? )

Use this phrase to ask someone “How do you read this?”

If you want to ask how to pronounce a word or sentence, say 이것은 어떻게 발음하나요? ( Igeoseun eotteoke bareumhanayo? ) or “How do I pronounce this?”

• You: 이건 어떻게 읽어? You: Igeon eotteoke ilgeo? You: “How do I read this?”
• Friend: 간장게장 이라고 해. Friend: Ganjanggejangirago hae. Friend: “It is soy sauce raw crab.”

9. Essential Korean Phrases: Buying Tickets at a Museum

1 – 성인 1장 주세요. ( seongin hanjang juseyo. ).

Use this phrase to say “One ticket (adult) please.”

There are many museums and exhibitions worth visiting in Korea. Most places, unless you go to a museum in a very rural area, offer pamphlets and free guides in many different languages, so you won’t have much trouble navigating.

However, since you’re a Korean learner, let’s learn some useful travel phrases!

Take a look at the column for the price at the Daerim museum . This is the typical column that you’ll see at any museum or exhibition that you go to in Korea. “Adult” in Korean is 성인 ( seongin ). “Children” is 어린이 ( eorini ) and “student” is 학생 ( haksaeng ).

Let’s take a look at two examples:

Example 1: You arrive at 김치박물관 ( gimchibangmulgwan ) or “Museum Kimchikan.” You want to buy a ticket.

• You: 안녕하세요, 성인 1장 주세요. You: Annyeonghaseyo, seongin hanjang juseyo. You: “Hello, one ticket (adult) please.”

Example 2: You arrive at 전쟁기념관 ( jeonjaengginyeomgwan ) or “War Memorial of Korea.” You’re with your younger sister who is only fifteen years old.

• You: 안녕하세요, 성인 1장이랑 어린이 1 장주세요. You: Annyeonghaseyo, seongin hanjangirang eorini hanjangjuseyo. You: “Hello, one adult and one child please.”

2- 팜플렛 주세요. ( pampeullet juseyo )

Asking for pamphlets is easy too. You just need to use this phrase, which means “Please give me a pamphlet.” You’ll be able to get a pamphlet in many different languages at the counter.

• Clerk: 몇장드릴까요. Clerk: Myeotjangdeurilkkayo. Clerk: “How many (tickets) would you like?”
• You: 성인 1장 주세요. You: Seongin hanjang juseyo. You: “One adult, please.”
• Clerk: 5,000원입니다. 팜플렛 필요하세요? Clerk: Ocheonwonimnida. Pampeullet pillyohaseyo? Clerk: “It’s 5,000 won. Do you need a pamphlet?”
• You: 네, 영어 팜플렛 주세요. You: Ne, yeongeo pampeullet juseyo. You: “Yes, an English pamphlet please.”

3- 무료 가이드있나요? ( muryo gaideuinnayo? )

Use this phrase to ask “Is there a free tour?”

Many museums offer free guides in English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. Some places only offer them once per day, or even once per month, so do check their schedule on their website in advance if you want to participate.

• You: 이곳에 무료 가이드 있나요? You: Igose muryo gaideu innayo? You: “Is there a free tour?”
• Clerk: 네, 오늘 오후 5시에 영어로 진행되는 무료 가이드 있습니다. Clerk: Ne, oneul ohu daseotsie yeongeoro jinhaengdoeneun muryo gaideu itseumnida. Clerk: “Yes, there is one in English at 17:00 (5 PM).”

4- 오늘 특별한 행사 하나요? ( Oneul teukbyeolhan haengsa hanayo? )

Want to know if a museum has any special events? Use this phrase to ask a clerk. It translates to “Is there a special event?”

Example 1: You hear loud music coming out of the museum.

• You: 오늘 특별한 행사 하나요? You: Oneul teukbyeolhan haengsa hanayo? You: “Is there a special event?”
• Clerk: 네, 방금 시작했어요. Clerk: Ne, banggeum sijakaesseoyo. Clerk: “Yes, it has just started.”

5- 오디오 가이드 있나요? ( odio gaideu innayo? )

Use this phrase to ask “Is there an audio guide?”

• You: 영어 오디오 가이드 있나요? You: Yeongeo odio gaideu innayo? You: “Is there an audio guide?”
• Clerk: 네, 있습니다. 몇개 드릴까요? Clerk: Ne, itseumnida. myeotgae deurilkkayo? Clerk: “Yes, there is. How many would you like?”
• You: 한 개 주세요. You: Han gae juseyo. You: “Just one, please.”

10. Essential Korean Phrases: Taking Pictures

1- 이곳은 사진 찍어도 괜찮은 장소인가요 ( igoseun sajin jjigeodo gwaenchaneun jangsoingayo ).

Use this phrase to ask “Is it okay to take a picture in this place?”

You can take pictures most places, but it’s always safe to ask if you’re not sure.

Example 1: You’re at the museum and want to ask if you can take pictures.

• You: 이곳은 사진 찍어도 괜찮은 장소인가요? You: Igoseun sajin jjigeodo gwaenchaneun jangsoingayo? You: “Is it okay to take pictures here?”
• Staff: 네, 플래시 없이 해주십시오. Staff: Ne, peullaesi eopsi haejusipsio. Staff: “Yes, but without flash please.”

2- 사진 같이 찍어요. ( sajin gachi jjigeoyo. )

This phrase translates to “Let’s take a picture together.”

Use this phrase when you want to take a picture with someone. Alternatively, you can ask for permission by asking 사진 같이 찍어도 괜찮아요? ( Sajin gachi jjigeodo gwaenchanayo? ) meaning “Is it okay to take a picture with you?”

• You: 사진 같이 찍어요. You: Sajin gachi jjigeoyo. You: “Let’s take a picture together.”
• Friend: 좋아요. Friend: Joayo. Friend: “OK.”

3- 사진 찍어주시겠어요? ( Sajin jjigeojusigesseoyo? )

This phrase means “Can you please take a picture of us?”

Example 1: You’re traveling alone in 전주한옥마을 ( jeonjuhanongmaeul ) or “Jeonju Hanbok Village” and you want to ask someone to take a picture of you with a traditional Korean house in the background.

• You: 죄송하지만, 사진 찍어주시겠어요? You: Joesonghajiman, sajin jjigeojusigesseoyo? You: “I am sorry to interrupt, but could you please take a picture of me?”
• Stranger: 그럼요. Stranger: Geureomyo. Stranger: “Sure.”

Example 2: You’re at 롯데월드 ( rotdewoldeu ) or “Lotte World” and want to ask someone to take a picture of you and your girlfriend.

• You: 안녕하세요, 저희 사진 1장만 찍어주시겠어요? You: Annyeonghaseyo, jeohui sajin 1jangman jjigeojusigesseoyo? You: “Hello, could you please take a picture of us?”

11. How KoreanClass101.com Can Help You with Korean

If you have any questions regarding the travel phrases mentioned above (or other questions about Korean culture), we’ll be more than happy to answer them for you at the KoreanClass101.com forum . On our site, especially the forum, you can find tons of cultural insights and useful tips to help you study Korean. Feel free to check out the forum when you have time.

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Learning Korean travel phrases, along with essential cultural information, is no easy task. But the more that you use Korean travel phrases, the easier it will get. Trust us!

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Home » Articles » 30 Korean Phrases for Beginners and Travelers

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written by Caitlin Sacasas

Language: Korean

Reading time: 12 minutes

Published: Sep 18, 2020

Updated: Sep 17, 2021

30 Korean Phrases for Beginners and Travelers

Preparing for a trip to South Korea? The best way to get ready is to learn a few common Korean phrases before you go!

Why should you learn some basic Korean greetings and words? Because it will help you get the most from your travels! It’s amazing what doors open when you learn a few essential travel phrases .

A lot of Koreans aren’t very comfortable with English, and they know that it’s difficult to speak their language. But that means they’ll be more patient and understanding and appreciate your efforts. So you don’t have to be nervous about trying!

Besides that, you’ll have more opportunities to connect with Korean people. You can make new friends and experience South Korea more like a local and less like a tourist.

So here’s what we’re going to cover below:

• Essential Korean greetings and phrases
• Common Korean phrases for getting around
• Informal Korean phrases and slang

I’m confident you can learn these phrases with ease and make the most of your adventures in Korea!

I’ll first list the phrases as a “quick guide”, then I’ll go in-depth on when to use the phrases.

A quick note here: I’ve included the Hangul, the Korean writing system, so you can get used to seeing the language. If you’re only learning Korean for a quick trip, don’t worry about this too much. Focus on speaking. But if you’re learning Korean because you want to become fluent, then you need to learn how to read Hangul! Check out this article for how to read and write Korean Hangul .

Now, let’s learn Korean. 공부하자! ( gongbuhaja , “Let’s study!”)

Korean Phrases – Quick Guide

• “Hi” – 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo )
• “Nice to Meet You” – 반갑습니다 ( bangapseubnida )
• “My Name is…” – 제 이름은… ( je ileum-eun )
• “Yes” – 예 ( ye )
• “No” – 아니 ( ani ).
• “Bye” – 안녕 ( annyeong )
• “Good Morning” – 좋은아침이에요 ( joeun achimieyo )
• “Goodnight” – 안녕히 주무세요 ( annyeonghi jumuseyo )
• “Please” – 주세요 ( juseyo )
• “Thank You” – 감사합니다 ( gamsahabnida )
• “Excuse Me” – 실례합니다 ( sillyehabnida )
• “I’m Sorry” – 미안해요 ( mianhaeyo ) / 죄송해요 ( joesonghaeyo )
• “Okay” – 괜찮아요 ( gwaenchanayo )
• “Left” – 왼쪽 ( oenjjok )
• “Right” – 오른쪽 ( oleunjjok )
• Straight – 직진 ( jigjin )
• “Please go to…” – …(으)로가주세요 ( (eu)lo gajuseyo )
• “Where is…” – …이어디예요 ( i eodiyeyo )
• “I don’t know” – 몰라요 ( mollayo )

“I want to speak in Korean” – 한국어를하고 싶습니다 ( Hangukeo-leul hago sipseubnida )

• “Please speak slowly” – 천천히 말씀해 주세요 ( cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo )
• “The menu, please” – 메뉴주세요 ( menyu juseyo )
• “Bill, please” – 계산서주세요 ( gyesanseo juseyo )
• “I have an allergy to…” – …알레르기가 있습니다. ( alleleugiga issseubnida )
• “How much is it?” – 얼마에요? ( eolmayeyo )
• Do you have…” – …있어요? ( isseoyo )
• “What’s Up?” – 요즘 어때? ( yojeum eottae )

“Awesome” – 대박 ( daebak )

“one with the force” – 포스 있다 ( poseu itda ), essential korean greetings and phrases.

Now for more details on the above phrases. Let’s begin with the essentials. If you learn nothing else from this list, this section here will be most helpful to you during your travels. That’s because these phrases will help you be polite, respectful, and kind. So these are #1 priority!

“Hi” in Korean – 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo )

In Korean, the phrase 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo ) is a polite way to greet anyone.

But — funny story. I learned “hi” in Korean from watching Arrested Development . But on the show, they just say 안녕 ( annyeong ).

That’s become 안녕 is the informal version, and is more casual. There are actually many ways to say “hi” based on formality, and there are more tiered levels of respect than we have in English. (I explain this more in this article about how to say “hello” in Korean if you want to know more.)

But if you’re ever unsure which to use, 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo ) is the way to go.

“How are you?” In Korean – 어떻게 지내세요? ( eotteohge jinaeseyo )

You can also use 안녕하세요? ( annyeong haseyo? ) to ask “How are you” in Korean, to which you would get a yes or no reply. That’s because 안녕하세요 ( annyeong haseyo ) literally means “are you at peace?”

But 어떻게 지내세요? ( eotteohge jinaeseyo ) is a bit deeper. It’s asking if your friend is really okay, how they’re really doing.

“Nice to Meet You” in Korean – 반갑습니다 ( bangapseubnida )

When you meet someone for the first time, it’s polite to use the phrase 반갑습니다 ( bangapseubnida ) to say “nice to meet you.” Note here that the romanized version says bangapseu b nida . But in reality, the “b” is pronounced more like an “m.” Bahn-gahp-suem-knee-dah.

This is the most common way to hear it. But there is a more polite version: 만나서 반갑습니다 ( mannaseo bangapseubnida ) This longer version only makes it more formal.

There’s another similar phrase that you’ll often hear when you meet someone for the first time. This phrase is 잘부탁드립니다 ( jalbutag deurimnida ). It doesn’t translate well into English, but it means something like “please look after me” or “thank you, please take care of it.” It’s used in many ways, but these are the two main uses.

The first usage is meeting someone for the first time and asking them to “please look after you”, as in, please keep in contact and have a good relationship.

The second usage is when you ask a favor of someone, and you ask them to handle it with care. It’s like “Thanks, I’ll leave it to you.”

Either way, if you say 반갑습니다 ( bangapseubnida ) to someone, they’ll likely respond with 저야말로 잘 부탁드립니다 ( jeoyamallo jalbutag deurimnida , lLikewise, nice to meet you.”)

“My Name is…” in Korean – 제 이름은… ( je ileum-eun )

이름 ( ileum ) is the Korean word for “name.” 제 ( je ) is “my” and 은 ( eun ) is the particle marker. So, you’ll add your name, plus the verb 이다 ( ida , “to be”).

So, if I want to introduce myself, I would say: 제 이름은 케이틀린입니다. ( je ileum-eun keiteullin-ibnida ) “My name is Caitlin.”

To make it more casual, you’d change the formal ending of 이다 ( ida ) from 입니다 ( ibnida ) to 이에요 ( ieyo ). That makes it less formal.

To simplify it even more, you could just say “I’m (name)”.

나는케이틀린이에요. ( na neun keiteullin-ieyo ) “I’m Caitlin.”

Yes and No in Korean

Yes and no are super easy to remember in Korean. Yes is 예 ( ye ) and no is 아니 ( ani ).

예 ( ye ) sounds a lot like “yes”. And 아니 ( ani ) reminds me of “anti-”, meaning something is negative or against something.

“Bye” in Korean – 안녕 ( annyeong )

That’s right, “goodbye” in Korean is the same as “hello”! But only in its casual form. Think of this as “bye” or “see ya” versus “goodbye”.

For a polite “goodbye”, there are two forms: 안녕히 계세요 ( annyeonghi gyeseyo ) and 안녕히 가세요 ( annyeonghi gaseyo ).

To be honest, these phrases sound nearly identical to the untrained ear.

But the change from gyeseyo to gaseyo changes the meaning. You use 안녕히 계세요 ( annyeonghi gyeseyo ) when you’re the one leaving . But if you’re staying, and the other person is leaving, you reply with 안녕히 가세요 ( annyeonghi gaseyo ).

“Good Morning” in Korean – 좋은아침이에요 ( joeun achimieyo )

In Korea it’s actually most common to use 안녕 ( annyeong ) for “good morning. (See how handy this one phrase is?) But sometimes you’ll hear 좋은아침이에요 ( joeun achimieyo ) to say “good morning”.

“Goodnight” in Korean – 안녕히 주무세요 ( annyeonghi jumuseyo )

That’s right, it’s annyeong again! This time, 안녕히 ( annyeonghi ) means “peacefully” and jumuseyo is the formal form of the verb “to sleep”, 자다 ( jada ). So it means “sleep peacefully”.

But that’s pretty formal. To say it casually, the phrase is 잘 자요 ( jal jayo ), which means “sleep well.”

“Please” in Korean – 주세요 ( juseyo )

Like many of the phrases here, “please” in Korean has a few different ways to say it, based on the level of formality. But 주세요 ( juseyo ) is the most standard one that you can use in everyday situations. Just add it to the end of your sentence.

“Thank You” in Korean – 감사합니다 ( gamsahabnida )

This is the formal way to say “thank you”. But if you’re thanking a friend, you could say it casually with 고마워요 ( gomawoyo ).

“You’re Welcome” in Korean – 천만에요 ( cheonmaneyo )

천만에요 ( cheonmaneyo ) is used to say “you’re welcome”, but it’s more like saying “don’t mention it.” Likewise, you can say 아니에요 ( anieyo ), which means “no” but it’s more like “no worries.”

“Excuse Me” in Korean – 실례합니다 ( sillyehabnida )

Need to get someone’s attention or ask them if you can squeeze by? Use 실례합니다 ( sillyehabnida ), which means “excuse me”. It’s a formal phrase, so it’s appropriate to use with strangers. (Who you’d usually be saying it to, anyway.)

“I’m Sorry” in Korean – 미안해요 ( mianhaeyo ) / 죄송해요 ( joesonghaeyo )

Both 미안해요 ( mianhaeyo ) and 죄송해요 ( joesonghaeyo ) are polite ways to say “I’m sorry” in Korean. They’re nearly identical in usage and formality, but 죄송해요 ( joesonghaeyo ) is a bit more polite.

Like the other phrases, you can make this more polite by changing haeyo to habnida , the more formal verb ending.

“Okay” in Korean – 괜찮아요 ( gwaenchanayo )

괜찮아요 ( gwaenchanayo ) means “okay” in Korean as in, “it’s okay” or “it’s not bad.” If you raise the intonation at the end of the phrase, it becomes: “Are you okay?”

But if you want to answer “okay” to something, you can use “yes” in Korean (예, ye ).

Common Korean Phrases for Getting Around

This next section, I’ll teach you a few helpful phrases for getting around in Korea. These are handy for asking directions, getting a taxi, or trying to converse with the locals. There are also a few phrases for dining and shopping, too.

Direction Words in Korean

If you’re trying to find your way around, you need to know the basic directions words. Left is 왼쪽 ( oenjjok ). Right is 오른쪽 ( oleunjjok ). And straight is 직진 ( jigjin ).

So for instance, you might hear 왼쪽으로 돌아 ( oenjjok-eulo dola ) which means “Turn left”.

“Please go to…” in Korean – _ (으)로가주세요 ( (eu)lo gajuseyo )

This one is a simple phrase to play with. 가주세요 ( gajuseyo ) is a combo of the verb 가다 ( gada , “to go”) and 주세요 ( juseyo ) which is “please”.

All you have to do is put the place you want to go to at the beginning and add the direction particle 로 ( lo ) or 으로 ( eulo ). If the word that comes before the particle ends in a consonant, use 으로 ( eulo ). But if the word ends with a vowel, you use 로 ( lo ).

“Where is…” in Korean – _ _ 이어디예요 ( i eodiyeyo )

Fill in the blank with what you’re looking for. Here’s an important one:

화장실이어디예요? ( hwajangsil-i eodiyeyo? ) “Where is the bathroom?”

“I don’t know” in Korean – 몰라요 ( mollayo )

If you don’t know the answer to something, you can say 몰라요 ( mollayo ) for “I don’t know.” This is in its standard polite form, but you could always make it more or less polite.

To contrast, “I know” is 알아요 ( arayo ).

If you’re traveling with the intent to learn the language, this one is for you. Speaking from day one is key to learning the language. But sometimes, you may come across people who really try to push you to fall back to your English instead (sometimes out of kindness, sometimes because they want English practice!).

Either way, let them know of your intent with this phrase.

“Please speak slowly” in Korean – 천천히 말씀해 주세요 ( cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo )

Another key phrase that comes in handy often. If someone is speaking too fast for you to understand, ask them to slow it down with this phrase: 천천히 말씀해 주세요 ( cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo )

“Please tell me one more time” is another helpful phrase in these situations. It’s 한 번 더 말씀해 주세요 ( han beon deo malsseumhae juseyo ) in Korean. Just remember for these two longer phrases: You already learned that end word, juseyo . It’s “please”! So these phrases aren’t so bad when you already know a tiny bit.

“The menu, please” in Korean – 메뉴주세요 ( menyu juseyo )

“Menu” is taken from English, so it’s 메뉴 ( menyu ). Makes it easy! And a lot of words are taken from English like that, which helps to understand the language as a beginner.

“Bill, please” in Korean – 계산서주세요 ( gyesanseo juseyo )

To ask for the bill, the word is 계산서 ( gyesanseo ). You can really ask for anything with this format. When you order food, ask for the item and add 주세요 ( juseyo ). Same with asking for a drink, or picking an item in a shop.

“I have an allergy to…” in Korean – _ 알레르기가 있습니다. ( alleleugiga issseubnida )

If you have a food allergy, memorize this one. You’ll need to look up the word for your allergy in Korean. Then add it to the beginning of the sentence, followed by the particle 에 ( e ), which means “for” or “to”.

For example, I’m allergic to gluten and have to be gluten-free. Here’s how I’d say this:

글루텐에 알레르기가 있습니다. ( geulluten-e alleleugiga issseubnida ) “I’m allergic to gluten.”

“How much is it?” in Korean – 얼마에요? ( eolmayeyo )

If you’re out shopping and don’t understand how Korean numbers and prices work yet, ask 얼마에요? ( eolmayeyo ). You can also add on 영어로 말해 줄래? ( yeong-eolo malhae jullae ) which means “Can you tell me in English?”

“Do you have…” in Korean – _ 있어요? ( isseoyo )

If you’re looking for something in particular, you can take any noun and add it before the verb “to have”, which is 있어요 ( isseoyo ).

Informal Korean Phrases and Slang

You may not think of these as everyday Korean phrases for travelers. But these phrases below are quite common to hear. And if you throw out one of these cool phrases, your Korean friends will for sure be impressed with your efforts.

“What’s Up?” in Korean – 요즘 어때? ( yojeum eottae )

With friends, you could say 요즘 어때? (yojeum eottae?) which is a very casual way to say “What’s up.” There’s also this phrase: 밥 먹었어? (bab meogeoss-eo?). It means “Did you eat?” It’s always good to check in with a friend and see if they need food!

“Fighting!” in Korean – 화이팅! ( hwaiting! )

This phrase is used as an exclamation of encouragement to keep doing your best. It’s often used as encouragement between students before an exam, between teammates before a game, or between friends whenever someone has to tackle something tough. It basically means “good luck” or “keep going!”

“It’s the honey jam” – 꿀잼 ( kkuljaem )

This phrase literally translates as “honey jam” but it really means something is funny or interesting. It’s the honey jam. The bread and butter. The good stuff.

This phrase is used all the time for a lot of different things. It can be “amazing”, “awesome”, or “wow”. Use it as an exclamation to anything exciting or shocking.

When I learned this was a thing, it quickly became my favorite Korean slang phrase!

Yes, this phrase literally means “to have the Force” or “to be one with the Force,” and it comes from Star Wars!

It’s used to describe people who have a strong aura or sense of self.

Enjoy Your Korean Adventures!

We covered a lot of essential Korean phrases to start off your travels! Now start practicing and preparing for that first conversation in Korean. You’ll be ready for your trip in no time. 화이팅! ( hwaiting! )

Caitlin Sacasas

Content Writer, Fluent in 3 Months

Caitlin is a copywriter, content strategist, and language learner. Besides languages, her passions are fitness, books, and Star Wars. Connect with her: Twitter | LinkedIn

Speaks: English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

Have a 15-minute conversation in your new language after 90 days

30 Easy Conversational Korean Phrases For Your Next Travel

• , April 19, 2023

Hello, fellow language enthusiasts and globe-trotters! Are you planning a trip to the beautiful and culturally rich country of South Korea? We have a guide on conversational Korean phrases to help you feel more confident and connected during your visit.

Learning  Korean  phrases can work wonders for your travel experience. Not only does it make communication with locals easier, but it also helps you to immerse yourself in Korean culture and form new friendships. As they say, a little effort goes a long way!

In this blog post, we’ve carefully curated 20+ easy conversational Korean phrases that will come in handy during your travels. We’ll cover essential greetings, common questions, and useful expressions for various situations you might encounter. Plus, we’ll throw in some helpful tips on Korean pronunciation to make language learning even more enjoyable.

Let’s get started!

Conversational Korean Greetings

Ready to speak Korean and charm the locals on your next trip to the Land of the Morning Calm? Let’s start with some essential conversational Korean greetings. These basic Korean phrases will help you make an excellent first impression and get off on the right foot.

Hello – 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)

You might have heard this Korean word while watching a Korean drama. You can’t go wrong with this classic! Use it like a Swiss Army knife of greetings, suitable for any time of the day. But remember, 안녕하세요 isn’t just “hello;” it’s also a polite way to indirectly say “How are you?” So, you’re killing two birds with one stone! (Disclaimer: No actual birds were harmed in making this phrase.)

Nice To Meet You – 만나서 반갑습니다 (Mannaseo Bangapseumnida)

Meeting new friends on your travels? Show off your Korean prowess with this gem. It’s a bit of a mouthful, so practice saying “mannaseo bangapseumnida” in the mirror a few times to avoid tripping over your tongue in front of your new buddies.

Pro tip:  Bow slightly while saying this phrase to score extra politeness points.

Goodbye (To The Person Staying) – 안녕히 계세요 (Annyeonghi Gyeseyo)

This is the perfect phrase to say when leaving a place or a gathering, but others stay behind. You know what they say, ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’ So why not leave an elegant impression with your flawless Korean?

Goodbye (To The Person Leaving) – 안녕히 가세요 (Annyeonghi Gaseyo)

On the flip side, if you’re the one staying behind, bid your new friends farewell with “annyeonghi gaseyo.” It’s like a warm hug in the form of words. (Note: Actual hugs may or may not be culturally appropriate, so stick to the linguistic version.)

Conversational Korean Phrases For Asking for Directions

Navigating through a new country can be a thrilling adventure. But let’s face it. Getting lost is an inevitable part of the experience. But don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with these essential Korean words and phrases to help you find your way.

Can You Help Me? – 도움을 주시겠어요? (Doumeul Jusigesseoyo?)

Start any direction-seeking interaction with this very polite and humble phrase. Koreans appreciate good manners; this golden key will unlock their willingness to help you find your way.

There are, in fact, other ways you can use to say, “Can you help me,” depending on the occasion and the person you are talking to. For example:

• 도와 주실 수 있나요?(dowa ju sil su it nayo?) – Polite
• 저 좀 도와주세요(Jeo jom do wa ju se yo) – Polite
• 도와 줄 수 있니 (Casual)

Where Is It? – 어디에요? (Eodieyo?)

The million-dollar question when you’re feeling disoriented. Pair this with your best “I’m-so-lost-please-help-me” face, and locals will line up to assist you. It’s a versatile phrase that works wonders for finding anything from the nearest subway station to that elusive hole-in-the-wall eatery you’ve heard so much about.

How Do I Get There? – 어떻게 가야 합니까? (Eotteoke Gaya Hamnikka?)

Your destination is in mind, and now it’s time to plot your course. This phrase will prompt locals to share their navigational wisdom, often providing you with shortcuts and insider tips to make your journey smoother.

Where Does This Road Lead? – 이 길은 어디로 가요? (I Gil-Eun Eodilo Gayo?)

Consider this your conversational GPS. Because who needs Google Maps when you’ve got the power of the Korean language at your fingertips? This phrase is perfect for exploring on foot and wanting to get a sense of where a particular road might lead you. Will it take you to a bustling market or perhaps a serene park? Only one way to find out!

Go Straight – 직진하세요 (Jigjinhaseyo)

Compass? Check. Map? Check. Korean phrase for “go straight”? Check! With this handy directional phrase, you’ll feel like you’ve got a personal Korean GPS guiding you through the bustling streets of Busan or the tranquil  countryside of Gangwon-do .

Turn Left – 좌회전 (Jwahoejeon)

No more confused looks when trying to navigate the Korean roadways. This phrase will ensure you veer left confidently, embracing the twists and turns of exploring new places.

Turn Right – 우회전 (Uhoejeon)

With this phrase under your belt, you’ll confidently turn right when the moment calls for it. Just remember, when it comes to Korean phrases, “우” (u) is always right!

Where Is The Subway Station? – 지하철 역은 어디 있어요? (Jihacheol Yeogeun Eodi Isseoyo?)

Subways can be your best friend when traversing Korea’s urban centers. This phrase will help you locate the nearest 지하철 역 (jihacheol yeok), ensuring you never miss a beat (or a train) on your Korean adventure.

Where Is The Bus Stop? – 버스 정류장은 어디 있어요? (Beoseu Jeongryujangeun Eodi Isseoyo?)

If you prefer the scenic route, use this phrase to find the nearest 버스 정류장 (beoseu jeongryujang). As you ride through the picturesque landscapes, you can thank the kind Koreans who helped you find your way.

How Many Minutes Does It Take? – 몇 분 걸려요? (Myeot Bun Geollyeoyo?)

Time is precious when you’re exploring Korea, so use this phrase to estimate how long it’ll take to reach your destination. It’s the perfect way to ensure you see all the sights without wasting a single moment.

Conversational Korean Phrases For Ordering Food

Ready to tantalize your taste buds with some tasty  Korean cuisine ? With this crash course on conversational Korean phrases for ordering food, you’ll be savoring every bite like a true Korean restaurant connoisseur. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your phrasebook, and let’s dig into these delicious linguistic morsels!

Please Give Me The Menu – 메뉴판을 주세요 (Menyupaneul Juseyo)

Kick off your culinary adventure with this essential phrase. It’ll summon the menu to your table, granting you access to a world of mouthwatering Korean dishes.

Please Give Me This – 이거 주세요 (Igeo Juseyo)

Once you’ve spotted that irresistible dish, use this phrase to let your server know what you’re craving. Simply point to the menu item and watch as your gastronomic dreams come true.

What Food Do You Recommend? – 추천하는 음식이 뭐예요? (Chucheonhaneun Eumsigi Mwoyeyo?)

If you need more time, this phrase will enlist the help of your server in choosing the perfect dish. After all, who better to guide you through the realm of Korean cuisine than a seasoned local?

I Can’t Eat Spicy Food – 매운 음식을 잘 못 먹어요 (Maeun Eumsig-Eul Jal Mos Meog-Eoyo)

Korean cuisine is known for its fiery flavors. So use this phrase if you prefer to keep things mild. Your taste buds will thank you for it!

What Korean Food Should I Try? – 한국음식 중에서 어떤 것을 먹어봐야 할까요? (Hangugeumsik Jungeoseo Eoddeon Geoseul Meogeobwaya Halkkayo?)

This phrase is perfect for adventurous foodies eager to sample the best of Korea’s culinary offerings. Let your server be your gastronomic guru and guide you toward a truly unforgettable meal.

Please Give Me The Bill – 계산서 주세요 (Gyesanseo Juseyo)

All good feasts must come to an end, and this phrase will signal that it’s time to settle the tab. Pro tip: In Korea, it’s customary to pay at the counter rather than at your table.

It Was Delicious – 맛있게 먹었습니다 (Mas-Issge Meog-Eossseubnida)

Want to make your server’s day? Use this phrase to express your appreciation for the delectable meal you’ve just enjoyed. After all, compliments are the best way to show gratitude in the culinary world.

Conversational Korean Phrases For Making Small Talk

Ready to mingle with locals and make new friends during your Korean adventure? Let’s dive into these common Korean phrases that’ll turn you into a small talk aficionado. So, put on your friendliest smile, and let’s dive into the art of Korean chitchat!

What’s Your Name? – 이름이 뭐예요? (Ileum-I Mwoyeyo?)

You can’t make friends without knowing their names, right? Use this phrase to learn more about your new Korean acquaintances, and watch as your social circle expands.

My Name Is [Your Name] – 저는 [Your Name]이에요 (Jeoneun [Your Name]Ieyo.)

Don’t forget to introduce yourself! This simple phrase will help you establish rapport with your new Korean companions and pave the way for deeper conversations.

Where Are You From? – 어디서 오셨어요? (Eodiseo Osyeoss-Eoyo?)

Curiosity is the key to small talk, and this phrase is perfect for uncovering the origins of your new friends. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about Korea’s diverse regions.

Do You Speak English? – 영어 할 줄 아세요? (Yeong-Eo Hal Jul Aseyo?)

This question is essential to your survival in Korea. Most Korean speakers know a little bit of English. But you’ll encounter many who don’t speak it at all. So, it’s polite to ask this question before starting a conversation.

The Weather Is Nice – 날씨가 좋네요 (Nalssiga Jonneyo)

Ah, the weather – the universal small talk fallback. Use this phrase to bond over the beauty of Korea’s four distinct seasons or to lament the sudden onset of a torrential downpour.

What Did You Do Today? – 오늘 뭐하셨어요? (Oneul Mwohasyeosseoyo?)

Dig a little deeper with this phrase, which invites your conversation partner to share details about their day. Who knows, you might just discover a shared interest or a fascinating local activity to try!

What’s Your Favorite Food? – 좋아하는 음식이 뭐예요? (Joahaneun Eumsigi Mwoyeyo?)

Food is the ultimate conversation starter, and this phrase will have you and your new Korean friends bonding over your shared love of kimchi, bulgogi, and everything in between.

Is This Your First Time Here? – 여기 처음이에요? (Yeogi Cheoeumieyo?)

Whether you’re exploring a new neighborhood or attending a local event, this phrase will help you gauge the familiarity of your conversation partner with the area, opening the door for further exploration and discussion.

See You Again Next Time! – 다음에 또 봐요! (Da-Eume Tto Bwayo!)

As your conversation winds down, use this basic Korean phrase to express your desire to stay in touch. After all, friendships are built on the promise of future encounters!

Ready, Set, Go!

Mastering these easy conversational Korean phrases will undoubtedly take your travel experience to new heights. Plus, it will help you connect with locals on a deeper level. With these essential Korean words in your linguistic arsenal, you’ll be well on your way to embracing and enjoying Korea’s rich culture and warmth.

Remember to speak slowly and practice your Korean language skills at every opportunity. You’ll be surprised at how easily you can learn the language and make friends with locals. Just remember to use these phrases in context, and always be polite. Then, you’ll be well on your way to speaking Korean like a pro!

Learn Korean With Ling

Discover a new world of language learning with the  Ling app  – your ultimate passport to effortlessly mastering languages! Whether traveling to exotic destinations, connecting with international friends, or simply expanding your mind, Ling is here to make language learning fun, fast, and incredibly effective.

The Ling app’s user-friendly interface and engaging lessons are designed to keep you motivated and excited about your progress. Say goodbye to tedious grammar drills and hello to interactive lessons and quizzes that will have you speaking like a native in no time. Unlock the full potential of your linguistic abilities and join Ling today – because with the Ling app, the world is your oyster!

Download on the  App Store  or  Play Store  today!

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Basic Korean Phrases for Travelers and Beginners

환영합니다! [hwanyeonghamnida] Welcome!

This article aims to provide you with some useful travel terms and common phrases in Korean. Both for travelers and for beginning language learners, this is your language guide and travel bible in its easiest form possible.

Basic Korean Phrases for Travelers

General travel terms and phrases.

There are many ways things can be said in Korean. There are formal, casual, informal, and even honorific terms , but we will focus on the most applicable tone in order to express the message and have it be understood.

*In expressing your apologies, you can choose between the two phrases above. “My apologies” sounds formal and more sincere, while “I’m sorry” is more casual – not that it’s less sincere, but if you want to emphasize your sincerity, choose the more formal one.  

At the airport

One place everyone goes through while traveling abroad is the airport 공항 [gonghang] . When traveling from your country you may not need these phrases, but on your way back home you might. 

English speaking assistance may be available, yet there are those times when luck isn’t on your side and you will need to communicate using the local language. Here are some common conversational phrases most travelers might bump into.

Getting around Phrases

돌아 다닐때 [dora daniltte] , or getting around. As a traveler, you should know how to get around without worrying about what to say so you can just enjoy every moment.

* -i/-neun are kinds of suffixes attached to some words like names, places, things and so on. The suffix “i” is used when the word ends with a  consonant, while “ga” is used when the word ends with a vowel. For example, “Where is the market?” 시장이 어디에 있어요? [sijang-i eodi-e iseoyo?] and “Where is the exit?” 출구는 어디에 있어요? [choolgooneun eodi-e iseoyo?]

Food and dining phrases in Korean

One of the interesting parts of exploring a foreign land is the chance to experience its foods and local delicacies. One has to be able to express and understand the language especially if there are dietary restrictions for safety, but most of all for the great satisfaction it can offer.

* Note: If you have enjoyed the meal, “잘 먹었습니다 [jal meogeoseumnida]” or  “ 음식이 맛있었습니다 [eomshigi mashiseoseomnida]”   are phrases to  express your appreciation. But in case you find it difficult to remember these phrases, a simple thank you “감사합니다 [kamsahamnida]” will absolutely suffice. Check out Korean Words and Phrases For Food Issues as well.

Shopping phrases in Korean

Traveling around might give you the chance to buy something for collections, as souvenirs or as presents for your loved ones back home. Here are some common phrases you will find handy.

Signs a traveler might see while shopping in Korea

Korean phrases for assistance or emergencies.

Whether for your personal benefit or someone else’s, knowing what to say or who to look to for help is a sign of wisdom.

Different countries and their Korean terms

*Please note that not only England but other British countries are also called 영국 [Yeonggook] in Korean.

Basic Korean Phrases For Beginners

Korean greetings.

Here are some greetings used when meeting a person for the first time.

*Note that the above words for “hello” are different from the word used when answering a phone. The Korean word “hello” in a phone conversation is “여보세요 [yeoboseyo]? ”

The Korean word “annyeonghaseyo” can be used in different situations. While English greetings include specific times of day like morning, afternoon and evening, Korean greetings use “annyeonghaseyo” as a  general greeting word. Since we are aware of what time it is, it seems to be unnecessary to indicate the time while greeting someone. 

좋은 아침 is actually derived from the English expression “good morning,” and was originally for when a young person wakes up and greet an elder in the morning. The greeting is 안녕히 주무셨어요? [annyeonghi jumusyeoseoyo] which means “did you sleep well?” When somebody older greets someone younger, whether it is morning or after a nap, the greeting is 잘 잤어? [ jal jaseo] . 

Aside from that, all greetings in the morning or anytime in the day, can be expressed by saying “annyeonghaseyo.”

Although annyeonghaseyo can also be used as “hi / hello,” it cannot be used to say goodbye. Annyeong on the other hand can be used as “hi,” “hello,” and “goodbye.”

Saying your farewell greetings in Korean

Simple communicative phrases for beginners, introducing oneself.

I hope I have covered the most important details, especially for travelers. If there is anything important that I have left out, please, do remind me. And for beginners, you can practice your pronunciation through these phrases and broaden your Korean vocabulary. 

Please don’t forget to share with everyone, especially those you know who will travel and visit South Korea soon. Also share on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email to your family and friends. Share! Share! Share!  Thank you so much!

About the Author  Nie Ae

Nie Ae is a Filipina by blood but is now bearing a Korean citizenship and residing in South Korea. She is a Christian missionary, writer, translator, and more than 10 years ESL teacher to Korean nationals.

Useful Korean Phrases and Words for Travelers

If you’re planning to visit South Korea , I highly recommend learning some basic Korean to make the most of your trip.

English is not widely spoken in South Korea, although you have better luck in Seoul . So, without knowing some basic words, especially in suburban areas, you may run into some problems.

What Korean phrases and words should you learn before traveling? Check the following vocabulary list!

Useful Korean Greetings and Phrases

Let’s start with the basic Korean greetings and phrases. In this section, you can learn how to say “hello,” “yes,” “no,” “thank you,” and more.

In case you need help

How to ask for help in Korean? Here are some phrases and words that you can use in case of emergency.

For emergencies, you can call the police by dialing  112  or the fire department at 119 . To connect with the nearest hospital, call 1339 .

How to ask for directions in Korea

Here are some useful Korean phrases to navigate around.

Important locations in Korean

Here are some must-known words in Korean for location and places.

Korean dining vocabulary

South Korea is a food lovers’ paradise. You can find many delicious street food vendors on every corner. To learn more, check my article on Korean food .

Below are some basic phrases to help you order food in restaurants.

If you’re looking to buy something or bring souvenirs back from South Korea, here are15 Korean shopping phrases to score you the best deals. 

Tips for learning Korean

If you’re still new to the Korean language, you may feel overwhelmed at first. I recommend using Quizlet for flashcards. You can learn and test your vocabulary with Quizlet so it’ll be handy for your travel. 

Ha is an avid traveler and writer with a background in marketing & hospitality. She's lived in a few countries and traveled to more than 30. When she's not traveling or writing, Ha loves trying new recipes.

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Korean Language 101: Basic Phrases For Travelers

• July 9, 2023

Are you planning a trip to Korea? Whether it’s for business or pleasure, learning some basic Korean phrases can greatly enhance your travel experience. While many Koreans speak English, knowing even a few key phrases in the local language can help you navigate transportation, order food, and connect with locals on a deeper level.

In this article, we will provide you with essential Korean phrases that every traveler should know. From greetings and introductions to emergency situations and cultural etiquette, we’ll cover all the bases so that you feel confident communicating in Korean during your travels. So let’s dive in and start learning!

Greetings and Introductions

Before you start exploring Korea, it’s important to learn some basic greetings and introductions like ‘annyeonghaseyo’ for hello and ‘jal jinaeseyo’ for goodbye. These common expressions are essential in establishing a friendly connection with the locals. In Korean culture, showing respect is highly valued, so using the appropriate greeting depending on the time of day is crucial. For instance, saying ‘annyeonghaseyo’ in the morning and ‘annyeonghi gyeseyo’ in the afternoon and evening shows your politeness.

Greetings also involve a bowing gesture that varies depending on who you’re talking to. If you’re meeting someone older or higher in rank than you, bowing deeper than them is respectful. However, if they initiate the bow first, following their lead by reciprocating with a similar depth is appropriate. These cultural nuances may seem overwhelming at first but understanding them can make your communication more effective.

Introducing yourself is also vital when meeting new people. The phrase “jeoneun [name] imnida”means “My name is [name],”which can be used when introducing yourself formally. Koreans usually ask about each other’s age as it determines how they address each other respectfully using honorifics or casual language. So don’t be surprised if someone asks your age during an introduction!

Knowing these basic phrases will help create a positive impression among locals while traveling around Korea. Now that you’ve learned about greetings and introductions let’s move on to directions and transportation without any further delay!

Directions and Transportation

In this discussion, you will learn about asking for directions, taking a taxi or bus, and buying tickets. Asking for directions is an important skill when navigating a new city or country, and we will cover key phrases to help you communicate effectively with locals. Taking a taxi or bus can be convenient ways to get around, but it’s important to know the local customs and procedures. Finally, we will discuss how to buy tickets efficiently and avoid common mistakes that travelers make. With these skills in hand, you can confidently explore your destination with ease.

Asking for Directions

If you’re lost in South Korea, don’t hesitate to approach locals and ask for directions using phrases like ‘어디에 있나요?'(Where is it?) or ‘이 길을 따라가면 되나요?'(Should I follow this road?). Koreans are generally friendly and willing to help, so don’t be shy about asking. However, keep in mind that not all locals may speak English fluently. It would be helpful to have a map or a translation app ready just in case.

Here are some tips to make the process of asking for directions smoother:

• Familiarize yourself with common landmarks near your destination.
• Using public restrooms can also serve as a way to confirm if you’re headed in the right direction.
• Be specific when asking for directions and provide context (e.g., “I’m looking for the nearest subway station”).
• Repeat important information back to the person giving you directions to ensure understanding.
• Thank them after they’ve given you directions and consider offering a small token of appreciation like candy or gum.

When navigating around South Korea, taking a taxi or bus can also be an option.

Taking a Taxi or Bus

To navigate around South Korea efficiently, you may want to consider taking a taxi or bus. When taking a taxi, it’s important to be aware of the local customs and etiquette. For example, it is customary to sit in the back seat and not engage in conversation with the driver unless necessary. Additionally, it’s common practice to pay with cash rather than credit card.

If you prefer public transportation, buses are a great option as they are readily available and affordable. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the bus schedules and routes beforehand as they can be quite complex. Be sure to check the destination signs on the front of each bus before boarding and have exact change ready when paying your fare. With these tips in mind, navigating through South Korea should be a breeze.

Transitioning into the subsequent section about buying tickets: Once you’ve decided on your mode of transportation, be it by taxi or bus, the next step would be to purchase tickets for your journey.

Buying Tickets

When you’re ready to travel in South Korea, it’s important to know how to purchase your transportation tickets. Whether you’re taking a train, bus, or subway, buying tickets is easy and convenient. Most ticket offices have English instructions available, so there’s no need to worry about the language barrier. If you have trouble navigating the system, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the staff.

If you’re arriving from another country and need transportation from the airport, look for information desks or kiosks that provide shuttle services or taxis. They will usually provide guidance on how to find accommodations and other tourist attractions as well. Once you’ve arrived at your destination and settled in, don’t forget to explore local cuisine by ordering food at restaurants or street vendors.

Ordering Food

When ordering food in Korea, it’s important to have a basic understanding of food vocabulary. This will help you navigate menus and communicate your preferences to restaurant staff. Additionally, knowing how to order at a restaurant can make the experience much smoother and enjoyable. Finally, if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, it’s crucial to know how to communicate these effectively in Korean.

Basic Food Vocabulary

Craving for some delicious Korean food? You’ll want to know these basic food vocabulary words before ordering your next meal! Traditional Korean dishes, such as bibimbap and bulgogi, are popular among locals and tourists alike. Bibimbap is a rice dish topped with vegetables, meat, and egg while bulgogi is marinated beef or pork grilled to perfection.

If you’re looking for something quick and easy to eat on the go, popular street foods like tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), kimbap (rice rolls), and fried chicken are great options. Tteokbokki is a must-try for those who love spicy food. It’s made with chewy rice cakes in a spicy sauce that packs a punch. Kimbap is similar to sushi but with ingredients like ham, cheese, or tuna instead of raw fish. Fried chicken may not be traditionally Korean but it has become a popular snack in recent years.

Now that you know some basic food vocabulary words, it’s time to learn how to order at a restaurant.

Ordering at a Restaurant

To successfully order at a restaurant in Korea, it’s important to familiarize yourself with common menu items and phrases. Popular Korean dishes include bibimbap, bulgogi, kimchi jjigae, and samgyeopsal. When ordering, it’s polite to use the honorific form of speech by adding “-yo”at the end of your sentences. For example, instead of saying “I want bibimbap,”say “bibimbap juseyo”which translates to “please give me bibimbap.”Additionally, it’s customary to wait for everyone at your table to receive their food before starting to eat.

Restaurant etiquette is also an important aspect when ordering in Korea. It’s considered rude to call out or snap your fingers at servers. Instead, try raising your hand slightly or making eye contact with them. When paying for your meal, it’s common for one person in the group to pay for everyone else as a sign of respect and generosity. Remembering these small gestures can go a long way in showing appreciation for the culture and cuisine of Korea.

As you move on to learning about dietary restrictions in Korean cuisine, keep in mind that many traditional dishes contain meat or seafood products. However, there are still plenty of options available for vegetarians and those with other dietary needs.

Dietary Restrictions

If you have certain dietary restrictions, it’s important to be aware of the ingredients used in Korean cuisine and communicate your needs clearly when ordering at a restaurant. Vegetarian options are available in some restaurants, but it’s important to double-check with the server if any meat or seafood-based products were used in the preparation of the dish. You can say “Chae-sikjuui”which means ‘vegetarian’ or “Sa-seuji”which means ‘vegan’ to let them know about your preferences.

If you have allergies and intolerances, it is crucial to inform the servers about your condition. Some common allergens such as peanuts, shellfish, soy, and wheat are present in many Korean dishes. Therefore, it is essential to ask for recommendations on what dishes are safe for you to consume. The phrase “Jeonjibulmyeon”means ‘I have an allergy,’ while “Jeonjisaeng-gakhaeju-seyo”means ‘Please be careful because I have an allergy.’ Remember that being clear with your requests will help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable dining experience in Korea.

When shopping and bargaining in Korea…

Shopping and Bargaining

When shopping in Korea, it is important to know how to ask for prices, negotiate prices, and make purchases. To ask for prices, use the phrase “얼마예요?”(eolmayeyo?) which means “How much does it cost?”When negotiating prices, keep in mind that bargaining is not common practice in Korea and may be seen as impolite. Finally, when making a purchase be sure to say “감사합니다”(gamsahamnida) which means “Thank you.”

Asking for Prices

Want to know how much something costs? Just ask the vendor using simple Korean phrases like ‘이거 얼마예요?'(How much is this?) or ‘얼마에요?'(How much does it cost?). Here are some tips to help you when asking for prices:

• Be polite and respectful while asking for prices.
• Use the correct form of politeness based on your relationship with the seller.
• Pointing at the item you want can help convey your message more clearly.
• Ask if there is any discount available if you plan on buying multiple items.
• Comparing prices from different vendors before making a purchase can help you get a better deal.

Asking for prices is only one part of shopping in Korea. If you’re interested in negotiating deals and getting discounts, stay tuned for our next section where we’ll give you some tips on how to negotiate effectively.

Negotiating Prices

To effectively negotiate prices in Korea, it’s essential to understand the cultural differences and customs surrounding bargaining. Unlike Western cultures where haggling is often seen as confrontational, in Korea, it’s considered a way of building relationships and showing respect for the seller. Therefore, it’s important to approach negotiations with a friendly attitude, keeping in mind that maintaining harmony is crucial.

When negotiating prices in Korea, start by expressing interest in the item or service you want to purchase. Ask questions about its quality and features while showing appreciation for the seller’s workmanship. Then, politely inquire about the price and offer a lower amount while explaining your reasoning. Be open to counteroffers and don’t be afraid to walk away if you can’t reach an agreement. Remember that successful negotiations are based on mutual respect and understanding.

As you become more comfortable with negotiating prices in Korea, making purchases will become easier. Keep these techniques in mind as we move onto the next section about making transactions without any language barriers.

Making Purchases

You can easily make purchases in Korea by understanding the cultural customs and using friendly negotiation techniques. When shopping in Korea, haggling is common practice, especially in markets or small shops. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are certain local shopping customs to follow.

To successfully negotiate prices in Korea, try these haggling techniques:

• Start with a lower price than what you’re willing to pay.
• This allows for room to negotiate and reach a mutually beneficial price.
• Be friendly and polite.
• Building rapport with the seller can go a long way.

Additionally, it’s customary to remove your shoes when entering some Korean stores. You may also be expected to bow slightly when greeting the shopkeeper or thanking them for their service. By following these local customs, you can show respect and build trust with the seller.

Understanding these cultural nuances will help ensure successful transactions during your travels in Korea. In the next section about ‘numbers and money’, we’ll dive deeper into the specifics of making payments while abroad.

Numbers and Money

In this subtopic, you will learn about counting and basic math, currency exchange, and tipping. These three key points are essential for any traveler who wants to navigate the shopping scene smoothly. You will need to be familiar with numbers and basic math skills for bargaining, as well as knowing how to exchange your currency efficiently. Additionally, tipping is a cultural practice that varies from country to country, so it’s important to know what is expected of you in each place you visit.

Counting and Basic Math

Counting and doing basic math is essential for any traveler in Korea, so make sure to brush up on your skills before heading out! In addition to knowing numbers for currency exchange, it’s important to be able to count items when shopping or ordering food. Here are three mathematical skills you may need during your trip:

• Counting objects: When buying souvenirs or snacks at a market, you’ll want to know how many of an item you’re getting. Practice counting in Korean with small objects like candies or coins.
• Adding prices: Basic math for shopping is necessary when calculating the total cost of your purchases. Memorize common numbers like 10,000 won (about $9 USD) and practice adding them together.
• Telling time: Knowing how to tell time in Korean will help keep you on schedule during your trip. Learn the words for hours and minutes and practice saying different times throughout the day.

Now that you’ve mastered some basic counting and math skills, let’s move onto currency exchange.

Currency Exchange

Let’s delve into currency exchange and make sure to get the most out of our money while traveling in Korea! As a traveler, it is important to find the best exchange rate possible. Before exchanging your money, research the current exchange rates online or at a local bank. Keep in mind that many banks in Korea are closed on weekends, so plan accordingly.

When exchanging currency, be aware of any restrictions on foreign currency. In Korea, there are limits on how much foreign currency can be exchanged without proper documentation. Additionally, some places may not accept certain currencies such as coins or older bills. To avoid any complications, it is best to carry cash in larger denominations and convert them at reputable banks or exchange offices.

Now that we have covered the basics of currency exchange, let’s move on to tipping etiquette in Korea.

Now that you know how to exchange currency in Korea, let’s move on to another important aspect of Korean culture – tipping. In general, tipping is not a common practice in Korea and may even be considered rude or unnecessary in certain situations. However, there are some instances where it is appropriate to leave a tip.

When it comes to etiquette for tipping in Korea, it is important to understand the different types of tipping practices. For example, at restaurants or cafes, service charges are usually included in the bill so leaving an additional tip is not necessary. However, if you receive exceptional service or want to show appreciation for your server, leaving a small amount as a token of thanks is acceptable. On the other hand, when using services such as hair salons or spas, it is common to leave a small tip for your stylist or masseuse.

Moving forward from this topic of tipping etiquette , it’s crucial for travelers to also familiarize themselves with emergency situations while traveling in Korea.

Emergency Situations

In emergency situations, it is important to know how to ask for help in Korean. If you experience a medical emergency, it is crucial to be able to communicate your symptoms and condition accurately. In the unfortunate event of a crime, knowing how to report it properly can aid in resolving the situation quickly and efficiently.

Asking for Help

If you ever find yourself lost or in need of assistance during your travels in Korea, don’t hesitate to ask for help using these basic phrases. If you’re looking for directions, you can say “어디에 있나요?”(Eodie innayo?) which means “Where is it?”or “길을 잃었어요”(Gireul ilheosseoyo) which means “I’m lost.”You can also ask for general help by saying “도와주세요”(Dowajuseyo) which simply means “Please help me.”

Asking for emergency help or seeking medical assistance may require more specific language. In case of an emergency, dial 119 and say “화재입니다”(Hwajeoimnida) if there’s a fire or “도와주세요”(Dowajuseyo) if it’s another type of emergency. To seek medical assistance, say “의사를 부르세요”(Uisareul bureuseyo) which means “Call a doctor.”Remember that asking for help is always better than staying silent and potentially jeopardizing your safety.

In the event of a medical emergency, it’s important to know how to communicate your needs clearly. Let’s take a look at some useful phrases in the next section.

Medical Emergencies

Be prepared to communicate your medical needs clearly in case of an emergency by learning these useful phrases. If you have insurance coverage, make sure you know how to express this in Korean so that medical providers understand what treatments and services are covered. You may need to contact your embassy for further assistance if you require significant medical attention or hospitalization.

When seeking medical help, it’s important to be able to explain your symptoms and any medications you’re taking accurately. Useful phrases include “저는 아프다”(jeoneun apeuda) which means “I am sick,”and “의사를 불러주세요”(uisareul bulleo juseyo) which means “Please call a doctor.”If you need medication, ask for a prescription by saying “처방전이 필요해요”(cheobangjeoni piryohaeyo). Remember that clear communication is crucial in a medical emergency, so take the time now to learn these essential phrases.

Reporting a crime is another important aspect of staying safe during travel.

Reporting a Crime

To ensure your safety while abroad, it is important to know how to report a crime in case of an emergency. The following steps will help you understand the process of reporting a crime and assist you in getting the help that you need.

• Contact local authorities immediately: Dial 112 for police or 119 for ambulance/fire.
• Provide detailed information about the incident: Try to remember as many details as possible about what happened, when it occurred, who was involved, and any other relevant information.
• Contact your embassy or consulate: They can provide assistance with legal matters and communicate with local authorities on your behalf if necessary.
• Follow up with authorities and keep records: Make sure to follow up with local authorities regarding the status of your case. Keep copies of any reports or documentation related to the incident.

It is essential to have emergency contacts readily available at all times during your trip. In addition to knowing how to report a crime, make sure you have contact information for your embassy or consulate in case of other emergencies such as natural disasters or medical emergencies. Being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip.

Moving forward into cultural etiquette, understanding cultural differences can enhance your experience while traveling.

Cultural Etiquette

Understanding cultural etiquette in Korea can greatly enhance your travel experience and show respect for the local customs. One of the most important aspects of Korean culture is bowing. Bowing is used to show respect, gratitude, apologies, and greetings. The depth and length of the bow depends on the occasion and the status of the person you are addressing. Generally speaking, a slight nod or a shallow bow is enough for casual interactions while deeper bows are reserved for more formal occasions.

Another essential aspect of Korean culture is politeness levels. Koreans use different levels of honorifics based on age, status, and familiarity with each other. It’s crucial to use appropriate titles when addressing someone older or higher in rank than you are. Also, using polite language shows respect towards others and enhances your chances of receiving good service.

Showing respect in interactions goes beyond verbal communication; it also involves body language and gestures. For example, avoid pointing with your index finger as it’s considered rude; instead, use an open hand gesture to indicate direction or location. Furthermore, removing shoes indoors is customary in Korea as it helps keep floors clean from outside dirt and dust.

Lastly, table manners play a significant role in Korean culture. Before eating at a traditional restaurant or someone’s home, wait until everyone has received their food before starting to eat; this shows consideration towards others’ needs first. Additionally, slurping noodles or soup loudly is acceptable as it indicates enjoyment but burping at the table is not.

Understanding cultural etiquette in Korea can help you navigate social situations confidently while showing respect for local customs. As you explore this fascinating country further into its technology and communication realm where smartphones have become ubiquitous among locals…

Technology and Communication

When traveling to Korea, it is important to be aware of the country’s technological landscape. Wi-Fi and internet access are widely available in most areas, including hotels and cafes. To make phone calls, you may need to purchase a SIM card or use a rental phone service, but international calling apps such as Skype and WhatsApp can also be used over Wi-Fi. For messaging, popular apps include KakaoTalk and Line which allow for free texting, voice messages and video calls.

Wi-Fi and Internet

You can easily connect to Wi-Fi and stay connected to the internet throughout your travels in Korea. Most hotels, cafes, restaurants, and public places have free Wi-Fi available for customers. You can also find free Wi-Fi hotspots at major tourist attractions and subway stations.

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, there are many internet cafes in Korea where you can use a computer and pay by the hour. These cafes usually have fast internet speeds, so it’s a good option if you need to download large files or stream videos. Just make sure to bring your passport with you as it’s required for registration at most internet cafes.

Now that you know how to stay connected online during your trip, let’s move on to making phone calls.

Making Phone Calls

If staying in touch with loved ones is a priority for you while traveling in Korea, then making phone calls will be an essential part of your trip. To make local and international calls, there are several options available to you.

• Using public telephones may be the most economical choice, but it can also be the most challenging. You will need to purchase a T-money card or cash card from convenience stores or vending machines before using a payphone. Instructions on how to use these phones are typically in Korean only.
• Renting a mobile phone at the airport or purchasing a prepaid SIM card may be more convenient, especially if you plan on using data services during your stay.
• Calling through hotel phones is another option, but it can often come with extra fees added onto your bill.
• There are also many telephone booths scattered throughout major cities that allow you to make domestic and international calls with ease.
• Finally, consider using popular messaging apps such as Line or KakaoTalk which offer free voice and video calls over Wi-Fi.

When it comes to making international calls from Korea, dialing out can get confusing due to different country codes and area codes. However, most Korean telecommunications companies have English-speaking customer service lines that can assist you with any issues that arise. If calling back home isn’t urgent, we recommend taking advantage of Wi-Fi calling through messaging apps instead of paying high roaming charges. Speaking of messaging apps…

Sending Messages

To stay connected with your loved ones while traveling in Korea, try using messaging apps like Line or KakaoTalk which offer free voice and video calls over Wi-Fi. These apps are widely used in Korea and are available for download on both Android and iOS devices. With these apps, you can also send text messages to your friends and family back home.

When sending messages in Korean, it’s important to be familiar with common abbreviations used in texting. For example, “ㅇㅇ”is often used as a short form of “yes”or “I understand”, while “ㄴㄴ”means “no”. Additionally, Korean emojis are popular among locals and can help convey emotions that may be difficult to express through words alone. By adding a few simple Korean phrases to your vocabulary and utilizing these common texting methods, you can easily communicate with the people you care about while exploring all that Korea has to offer.

Moving on to useful phrases that will come in handy during your travels…

Useful Phrases

When traveling in a foreign country, it is important to be able to express gratitude, apologize, and ask for assistance when needed. You may find yourself in situations where you need help or want to show appreciation for someone’s kindness. Knowing key phrases such as “thank you,””I’m sorry,”and “can you help me?”can go a long way in making your travels smoother and more enjoyable. By mastering these basic expressions, you will be better equipped to navigate unfamiliar situations with confidence and courtesy.

Expressing Gratitude

Gratitude is a fundamental aspect of Korean culture, so it’s essential to learn how to express thanks in Korean. Here are some common phrases that you can use to show your appreciation:

• 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) – This is the most common way to say thank you in Korean. It’s polite and formal, so you can use it in any situation.
• 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) – This phrase is also used to express gratitude, but it’s a bit less formal than 감사합니다. You can use this with friends or people who are younger than you.
• 정말 감사합니다 (jeongmal gamsahamnida) – This phrase means “thank you very much.”Use this when someone has done something very kind for you.

Expressing gratitude is important because it shows that you appreciate what others have done for you. In Korean culture, showing gratitude is also a sign of respect and humility. When someone does something nice for you, take the time to thank them using one of these phrases.

Moving on from expressing gratitude, another important aspect of communication is apologizing.

Apologizing

If you accidentally offend someone, it is important to express your regret and apologize sincerely. In Korean culture, formal apologies are highly valued and can help to resolve conflicts quickly. You can use common phrases like ‘미안해요'(mianhaeyo) or ‘죄송합니다'(joesonghamnida) to convey your remorse.

When apologizing, it is important to use a polite tone and make eye contact with the person you are speaking to. Additionally, you should avoid making excuses or shifting blame onto others. Instead, take responsibility for your actions and offer a sincere apology. By doing so, you can demonstrate respect for Korean customs and show that you are committed to building positive relationships with those around you.

Asking for assistance in a foreign country can be daunting, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Asking for Assistance

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it while traveling in a foreign country, as locals are often happy to assist you. In South Korea, asking for assistance is not uncommon since the people are friendly and hospitable. If you’re lost or unsure about something, don’t be afraid to approach someone and ask for directions or clarification.

To make the most out of your trip to South Korea, it’s important to know how to ask for assistance in Korean. Here are three phrases that may come in handy:

• “숙소를 찾고 있어요.”(Sugso-reul chaj-go i-sseo-yo.) – This means “I’m looking for accommodations”and can be useful when asking locals for help finding a place to stay.
• “공항을 어떻게 가나요?”(Gong-hang-eul eo-ddeoh-ke ga-na-yo?) – This translates to “How do I get to the airport?”and is helpful when navigating through unfamiliar territory.
• “도와주세요.”(Do-wa-ju-se-yo.) – This is a simple yet effective phrase that means “Please help me.”You can use this whenever you need assistance with anything during your travels in Korea.

In conclusion, mastering basic Korean phrases can greatly enhance one’s travel experience in South Korea. From greetings and introductions to ordering food and navigating transportation, knowing how to communicate effectively can make a big difference in making connections with locals and getting around the country. Additionally, understanding cultural etiquette and emergency situations can be crucial for any traveler.

When it comes to technology and communication, knowing key phrases like “Wi-Fi password”or “Can you help me find my way?”can be extremely helpful when navigating unfamiliar territory. And of course, having a grasp on numbers and money is essential when shopping or bargaining.

Overall, taking the time to learn some basic Korean phrases before embarking on a trip to South Korea can not only make for a smoother journey but also show respect for the local culture. With these tools at your disposal, you’ll be able to confidently navigate through any situation that arises during your travels in this beautiful country.

James Yeong

Once a quaint dweller of the English countryside, James is now a vibrant voice narrating his adventures in the bustling heart of South Korea. Since relocating to Seoul in 2019, James has immersed himself in the dynamic tapestry of Korean culture, from the serene temples tucked away in mountainous terrains to the neon-lit streets of modern cities.

This blog has become a haven for those seeking an outsider's yet intimate perspective on South Korea, often shedding light on hidden gems and local favourites rather than just the typical tourist hotspots. With a keen eye for detail and a writing style dripping with wit and warmth, James has managed to amass a devoted readership from all corners of the globe.

Whether you're planning a trip to the Seoul, the surrounding cities or just vicariously traveling from the comfort of your couch, Jame's tales of exploration and discovery are sure to ignite a passion for the Land of the Morning Calm.

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How To Say “Travel” In Korean

Last modified: May 31, 2024 | 7 min read | By Laura Toyryla

Today we will go over how to say “travel” in Korean . Raise your hand if you also love to travel! It wouldn’t be a surprise if many of you did, in fact, raise your hands just now; even if, in general, you may not be the biggest friend of travel, you’ve likely got some fun travel plans for South Korea cooking up. 

And since you’re already learning Korean, it’s only natural to then learn how to say travel in Korean – as well as all the vocabulary that goes along with it!

In this article, we’ll also teach you other related vocabulary, from transportation words to anything having to do with culture, for example. Once you have a hold of this vocabulary, you can have an exciting conversation with your Korean friends about your upcoming trips, be that to South Korea or elsewhere!

Read on for explanations, associations, and usage examples. Or just get the 80/20 below! If you want to learn more great Korean vocabulary with us , we’re happy to help!

• 1.1 “Travel” in Korean (Noun)
• 1.2 “Travel” in Korean (Verb)
• 2 Association for “Travel” in Korean
• 3.1 Vocabulary for types of travelers and travels in Korean
• 3.2 Vocabulary list for types of travels and travelers
• 3.3 Vocabulary for modes of transportation in Korean
• 3.4 Vocabulary list for transportation in Korean
• 3.5 Miscellaneous words related to travel
• 3.6 How to say “Have a nice trip” in Korean
• 4 A word of caution about Romanization

How to Say “Travel” in Korean

There are two ways to say “travel” in Korean, depending if you’ll use it as a noun or a verb . You’ll also find some sample sentences that can be of aid in learning how to use this vocabulary in Korean sentences.

“Travel” in Korean (Noun)

The word for how to say “travel” in Korean, as a noun, is 여행 (yeohaeng) . 

일본에 벚꽃을 보러 가려면 여행하 기 위해 필요한 표와 호텔방 일찍 예약하세요. (ilbone beotkkocheul boreo garyeomyeon yeohaenghagi wihae pillyohan pyowa hotelbang iljjik yeyakaseyo.)

If you want to go see the cherry blossoms in Japan , you should book early everything you need for your trip.

여행  잘 다녀와요! (yeohaeng jal danyeowayo!)

Have a nice trip!

비행기에서 일등석을 타고 여행 을 다녀본 적 있어? (bihaenggieseo ildeungseogeul tago yeohaengeul danyeobon jeok isseo?)

Do you have experience traveling in the first class of an airplane?

다음에 언제 여행 떠나?  (daeume eonje yeohaeng tteona?)

When do you next go travel?

여행 일정을 어떻게 짰어? (yeohaeng iljeongeul eotteoke jjasseo?)

How did you plan your trip?

난 지난주에 여행 에서 돌아왔어. (nan jinanjue yeohaengeseo dorawasseo.)

I came back from my trip last week.

여행  잘 다녀왔어? (yeohaeng jal danyeowasseo?)

How was your trip?

“Travel” in Korean (Verb)

“Travel” in Korean is typically used in its verb form, either as 여행하다 (yeohaenghada) , which translates simply to “to travel,” or as 여행 가다 (yeohaeng gada) , which has a meaning closer to “to go on a trip.”

You may also replace 하다 (hada) and 가다 (gada) with 다니다 (danida) and 돌아다니다 (doradanida).

Sample sentences:

어디로 여행 가요? (eodiro yeohaenggayo?)

Where are you traveling to?

여행 가는 것을 좋아해요? (yeohaeng ganeun geoseul joahaeyo?)

Do you like to travel?

대학교를 졸업하자마자 취직하기 전에 1년 동안 여행했 어. (daehakgyoreul joreopajamaja chwijikagi jeone ilnyeon dongan yeohaenghaesseo.)

As soon as I graduated from university, I traveled for one year before finding a job .

제 꿈은 세계 여행하 는 것이에요. (je kkumeun segyeyeohaenghaneun geosieyo.)

My dream is to travel around the world.

내일 여행 가니까 오늘은 일찍 잡시다.  (naeil yeohaeng ganikka oneureun iljjik japsida.)

Since we’re traveling tomorrow, let’s sleep early today.

나는 국내 여행 갈 때마다 버스만 타요. (naneun gungnae yeohaeng gal ttaemada beoseuman tayo.)

I only travel by bus whenever I travel inside the country .

우리는 그 결혼식 위해 파리까지 여행 갔 어요. (urineun geu gyeolhonsik wihae parikkaji yeohaeng gasseoyo.)

We traveled all the way to Paris for that wedding.

Association for “Travel” in Korean

To remember how to say “travel” in Korean, we’ll create an English association for it. This can be any word, phrase, or image that helps you recall the Korean word and its meaning .

How to remember (association):

     When I travel , I tell my friends, “ Yo , let’s hang “ . ( 여행 | yeohaeng )

*80/20 Pareto Principle – The 20% you should learn that will give you 80% of the results.

Essential vocabulary related to travel in Korean

Right away, let’s look at some vocabulary in relation to travel. For your convenience, we’ve divided them into separate categories.

Vocabulary for types of travelers and travels in Korean

Here we have a section for different types of trips you can take and a different type of traveler you can be. These can be incredibly handy when describing the type of travel you like to do or plan to do.

“Backpacker” in Korean

The word for “backpacker” in Korean is 백패커 (baekpaekeo). As you know, the word for “backpack” in Korean is 백팩 (baekpaek), so just like in English, the term for backpacker is directly derived from it. The word for hiker in Korean, on the other hand, is 등산객 (deungsangaek).

“Cruise” in Korean

The word for “cruise” in Korean is 크루즈 여행 (keurujeu yeohaeng). There are at least half a dozen different types of travelers that may go on a cruise. For example, for some, the below-mentioned luxury travel can mean a cruise around the Caribbean islands.

나는 크루즈를 타본 적이 없어요. (naneun keurujeureol tabon jeogi eopseoyo.)

I have never been on a cruise.

“Luxury travel” in Korean

The word for “luxury travel” in Korean is 호화 여행 (hohwa yeohaeng). There is no specific term for luxury traveler, but you can perhaps say it as 호화 여행객 (hohwa yeohaenggaek), as 여행객 means “traveler.”

“Tourist” in Korean

The word for “tourist” in Korean is 관광객 (gwangwanggaek). Alternatively, you may also opt to describe yourself as a traveler as opposed to tourist. As mentioned above, the word 여행객 means traveler. Another word for traveler in Korean is 여행자 (yeohaengja).

어떤 종류의 여행자예요? (eotteon jongnyuui yeohaengjayeyo?)

What kind of traveler are you?

Vocabulary list for types of travels and travelers

Vocabulary for modes of transportation in korean.

Previously, we have already covered extensively the vocabulary for car in Korean and train in Korean. In addition, we also have an article that’ll teach you all about using the bus in Korea ! Thus, in this section, we will shortly highlight some other types of transportation, although they may not be as commonly used in comparison.

“Ship” in Korean

The most common word for “ship” in Korean is 배 (bae). However, in some cases, different words may apply. For example, a mail steamer, which is a boat carrying post and mail, is called 우편선 (upyeonseon) in Korean. Meanwhile, a cruise ship, which is the type of ship you’d use during your travels, is called 유람선 (yuramseon). And the word for “ferry” in Korean is 연락선 (yeollakseon).

“Airport” in Korean

You can say “airport” in Korean as 공항 (gonghang). Here, you’ll be able to ride an airplane which is called 비행기 (bihaenggi) in Korean.

The word for “flight” in Korean is 비행 (bihaeng). The word for “domestic flight” is 국내선 (gungnaeseon), and for “international flight,” it is 국제선 (gukjeseon).

하와이에 정말 가고 싶은데 비행기 타는 게 무서워요. (hawaie jeongmal gago sipeunde bihaenggi taneun ge museowoyo.)

I want to go to Hawaii, but I’m scared to go on an airplane.

Vocabulary list for transportation in Korean

Miscellaneous words related to travel.

Here’s one more list of travel-related vocabulary that you may find useful. They may consider any area of travel.

“Passport” in Korean

The word for “passport” in Korean is 여권 (yeogwon). Never leave for the airport without it!

여권이 만료돼서 새로 만들어야 할 것 같아요. (yeogwoni mallyodwaeseo saero mandeureoya hal geot gatayo.)

Seems like my passport has expired, and I need to make a new one.

How to say “Have a nice trip” in Korean

If you have a friend or family that will be traveling soon, here’s how you can wish them a nice trip. Listen carefully to learn how to say this phrase correctly!

A word of caution about Romanization

While it is possible for you to study the words in this article simply by reading their Romanized versions, it will come in handy for you to be able to read Hangeul if you ever wish to come to Korea . Hangeul is the Korean alphabet, and not difficult to learn. In fact, you can learn it in just 90 minutes .

After you’ve familiarized yourself with Hangeul, life in Korea will suddenly seem so much easier, and the country won’t appear so foreign to you. So, if you’re serious about learning Korean, why not learn Hangeul today?

Here’s how you can learn Hangeul before you eat your next meal.

So, do you like to travel? What kind of traveler are you? Let us know below in the comments with the newly learned vocabulary! Next, let’s learn about the weather and seasons in Korean !

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4 thoughts on “How To Say “Travel” In Korean”

What is the meaning of Yeohaengsa?

Hello! 여행사 means “travel agency.” ^^

How do you say ‘I was on tour’ since I’m a bit confused here. Also your website has been of so much help. 감사합니다! ????

Hi, It’s Me! You can say “저는 여행 중이었어요.” ^^

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8 phrases you'll rely on in Korea

So, you’ve booked your trip to South Korea and are excited for all the entertainment, food, nature, and city sights that await you. 

Before you flex your passport and head off on an epic vacation, here are eight phrases to help you once you land!

감사합니다 Romanization: gam-sa-ham-ni-da Translation: Thank you If you’re traveling to another country, thank people like your mother is watching. Respect is frequently shown through language in Korean, so it’s best to stick with this formal version while traveling. 

죄송합니다  Romanization: joe-song-ham-ni-da Translation: I am sorry Knowing how to say I’m sorry can help you out of a jam when traveling. You’ll want to use the formal version of this expression as well, and even add a small bow for extra politeness. (You can incorporate this body movement into saying hello and thank you , too.) 

당기세요  /  미세요  Romanization: dang-gi-se-yo / mi-se-yo  Translation: Push and pull Yes, you could figure out whether a door wants to be pushed or pulled by simply trying it. But do not underestimate the confidence that comes with knowing this in advance.

주세요 Romanization: Ju-se-yo Translation: Please give (or please may I have ) When ordering, say this phrase after the name of the item. Or if vocabulary escapes you, show a photo on your phone or point, and add 주세요. This utilitarian phrase is extremely helpful in both stores and cafes.  

매워요? Romanization: Mae-wo-yo? Translation: Is it spicy? Korea is home to buldak (fire chicken), tteok-bok-ki (rice cakes in chili sauce), and jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup), among other heat-bearing dishes. If that list of delicacies made your taste buds nervous, or spice just simply isn’t your bag, keep this phrase in your back pocket so you can ask before you bite.

잘 먹겠습니다 Romanization: Jal-meok-get-seum-ni-da Translation: Bon appétit The direct translation is “I will eat well.” (It’s Korea—you absolutely will.) But the more intangible meaning is along the lines of “Thank you for using your time and energy to cook for me, I will appreciate it with gratitude.” Generally, the phrase is used while dining with a group as a reminder of that gratitude, however you can also say it to the person who cooked your meal or if someone buys you a meal.

어떤 케이팝 그룹을 가장 좋아해요? Romanization: Eotteon keipap geurub-eul gajang joahaeyo? Translation: Which KPOP group do you like the most? Maybe Korea’s prolific entertainment industry inspired you to visit. Or maybe you’re just in the position of having to make small talk—but with no clue how to do it. Either way, asking about KPOP is usually a good way to start. The industry contributed an estimated 5 billion to Korea’s economy, so it’s an easy topic for many. Maybe you’ll even get some unexpected music recommendations! Being a fan of KPOP can even help you with your language lessons.

대박 Romanization: Dae-bak Translation: Awesome, cool, amazing, jackpot A slang way to express joy and excitement! This word also has elements of unexpected surprise. So, save it for moments when your amazement and joy bubbles over, and you simply can’t believe your good luck.

Pack a few Korean phrases for your trip!

It can feel intimidating to use your new Korean skills—but it doesn’t have to be! Start slowly incorporating a few phrases into your interactions, and enjoy creating new connections along the way.  

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A very cranky language blogger dishing out brutal language tips.

137 Basic Korean Phrases with Audio + PDF. For Beginners!

You’re about to get HIT 🤜 in the FACE 😩 with a TON of Korean Phrases. I mean, to put it nicely, you’re about to LEARN a whole ton and be able to speak Korean.

This guide will teach YOU 137+ Korean phrases with audio.

Wait! Don’t feel overwhelmed. I will talk about secrets of learning these phrases fast down below. There’s also a Free Korean Phrases PDF down below . But, to get you started… here are the most basic Korean phrases with audio you should know:

How to Learn These Phrases

So, this guide has over 100 Korean common phrases. A lot right?

Feeling frustrated that you’ll never learn them all?

Don’t worry, I’ll let you in on a secret to successful learning. The secret is… you DON’T need to memorize them all. You see, learning a language is a lot like riding a bike. The more you do it, the more you get used to it, the more natural it becomes. So, SUCCESSFUL language learning is about becoming USED to Korean, not memorizing.

How do you get used to it? Look, if you’re already learning, there’s  200% chance you will come across these phrases again and again over a span of time. And that natural repetition will solidify the phrases in your brain. No need for memorization. But there IS a need that you 1) be patient because it takes time and 2) keep learning.

But, if YOU DO want to master these phrases and the Korean language… I offer a FREE PDF worksheet for the phrases in this guide. Also, I offer my best Korean learning resource. But that’s at the bottom of this guide if you’re on not lazy to look.

Now, onto the 137 phrases.

Korean Greetings Phrases

First, let’s start with Korean phrases for greetings.

Learning to say hello in Korean and bye in Korean is one of the first things you should do. Well, after learning about the Korean alphabet .

So, here’s a list of the most common Korean greetings , from morning to evening, across various casual levels.

Also, be sure to press the play button to hear the Korean phrases audio pronunciation.

Korean Phrases for “How Are You”

Now, do you know how to say how are you in Korean ?

And how to answer that question?

Obviously, this question is used a whole ton in Korean, so you should know how to ask it. And of course, all the possible answers. Also, I am including formal and casual forms, but I figure you’re more interested in casual, right?

Korean Questions

While you’re learning phrases, it’s also important to learn Korean questions and how to ask them. Why? Well, because Korean questions are… phrases… groups of words that request a response. So, it counts.

Here are the most common Korean questions to know, including Korean question words.

You’ll learn important questions like “Where is the toilet? and “What’s your name?” in Korean.

Korean Phrases for Korean Learners

Now, as a learner, there are some specific phrases that you must know.

If you know these Korean phrases and questions, you can improve your Korean even more.

I am talking about phrases like “How do you say… in Korean” or “What does this word mean?”

If you can say these phrases, you are no longer learning in English. You are NOW learning in Korean… which is even better because you’re now spending more time in Korean and less in English. The goal is to switch over to Korean, if you want to be fluent.

So, check out the 20 phrases for Korean learners below.

Cute Phrases

Now, some of you are interested in cute Korean phrases . Maybe because you’re watching K-Dramas. Maybe because you’re listening to K-POP. Or maybe because you just want to use these with your friends.

So, you’ll learn to say things like I like you in Korean , I love you in Korean , and more.

Note,  these phrases will be casual.

Phrases About Yourself

Now, outside of the obvious phrases like “Hi” and “How are you,” you should also be able to talk about yourself. As in, introduce yourself in Korean and talk about your likes and interests.

Korean Travel Phrases

Finally, if you find  youself in Korea… there are some good Korean travel and survival phrases to know. Like “where is the bathroom” and “how much is this?”

Read This Last & FREE PDF

Now you know a whole bunch of phrases.

And if you don’t remember them all quite yet, no worries. Here is a Korean phrases PDF that lists all the phrases and their meanings on one page. That way, you can save and review.

You can also get more of my Korean PDF lessons by clicking the link.

Also, if you want to LEARN and SPEAK Korean and if you’re interested in a program or an app… I must recommend KoreanClass101 (click here to check ’em out) . Their step-by-step, lesson-by-lesson conversation focus is great to learn and speak every day Korean. Basically, you learn everyday conversations in every lesson and you actually listen to native speakers — not random robot A.I. voices.

If you’re interested, click the image below.

The Main Lingua Junkie.

IT HELPED ME, THANK YOU<3

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Top 10 Korean Phrases to Know when Traveling to Korea

• January 22, 2024

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Top 10 korean phrases to know, hello – ahn yeong haseyo, thank you – kam sa ham nida, how much is it – ol ma yeh yo, sorry – chway seong ham nida , yes/no – neh/ ahn ni ye yo, please give me ___ – ___ joo seh yo , do you have ___ – ___ iss seo yo.

• Where is ___? – ___ Oh Di Yeh Yo? 

I can’t speak Korean – Han Guk Mal Jal Mo Thae Yo

Excuse me – jeo gi yo, 10 key korean phrases.

Korean phrases are very easy to learn. The Korean language is surprisingly easy to learn, but for those looking for a quick guide to Korean phrases to know , SEOULSPACE has just the infographic for you. These ten phrases are pretty much all you need to know if you are traveling to Korea for a short period of time . It will only take about 1-2 hours to fully memorize these Korean phrases . Getting around Korea for tourists can be difficult without knowing the basic Korean phrases. So take some time to memorize these phrases and practice speaking them as quickly as possible. The faster you speak it, the more natural you will sound.

The list is based on the phrases you will use the most. If you are traveling to Korea, these are the Korean phrases to know that will help you in everyday situations. So start with #1 and work your way down. Koreans will give you extra service if you are a foreigner once they find out you have taken some time to learn the Korean language.

For a more detailed list, you can check out this article here . 

Used when meeting, greeting, arriving, seeing someone, entering a store, etc. You will be staying this constantly as you meet people.

Used the same way as the English would for the phrase “thank you.” Like Ahn Yeong Haseyo, try to say this as often as possible to show respect. 

Make sure you point to something and ask, “How much is it?”. Then the store owner will either respond in Korean or English or show you the price using a calculator. 

This can be used when accidentally bumping into someone or making a mistake. 

This will be the same context as in English. 

Remember to replace the ___ with what you want to ask for at a store, street food stand, or restaurant. For example, “Please give me water ” would be Mul Joo Seh Yo.

Remember to replace ___ with what you want to ask is available. For example, “Do you have kimchi ?” is Kimchi Iss Seo Yeo?

Where is ___? – ___ Oh Di Yeh Yo?  

Remember to replace the ___ with the place you are looking for. For example, “Where is the bathroom ?” is Hwa-jang-shil Oh Di Yeh Yo? 

If someone starts talking to you in Korean, saying this will let them know you’re not good at speaking Korean. 

This Korean phrase is used when you want to get someone’s attention or when you want to call a waiter at a restaurant.

These ten key Korean phrases will allow you to get through a week in Korea without issues. You will be fine if you know the bare minimum for simple conversations with people. These are the top 10 basic Korean phrases to ensure your time in Korea is as easy as possible!

There are many ways to say Korean phrases, such as “excuse me” and “thank you.” Also, there are specific phrases that you’ll use for certain situations. It’s important to know when to use these basic Korean phrases, especially in South Korea. These different situations make learning the Korean language fun and interesting. 

You can use Google Translate or Naver translate to hear the word in Hangul to hear the correct pronunciation. To learn more about the phrases in detail, click on the English equivalent of the phrase. 

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MLB's travel plans for '24: Seoul, Mexico City, London, D.R.

David Adler

The MLB World Tour is coming to four international destinations in 2024: London, Mexico City, Seoul and Santo Domingo. 

The Seoul Series will be the opener of the 2024 MLB regular season -- and will mark the first MLB regular-season games ever played in Korea. 

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association announced the full plans for the four series on Wednesday.

• Seoul Series: Dodgers vs. Padres, March 20-21 (MLB season opener) • Mexico City Series: Astros vs. Rockies, April 27-28 • London Series: Mets vs. Phillies, June 8-9 • Dominican Republic Series: Red Sox vs. Rays, March 9-10 (Spring Training)

• MLB international

"Major League Baseball is incredibly excited for this extensive slate of international games in 2024," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Our recent efforts have produced strong enthusiasm around the globe, and we look forward to building on that foundation with returns to Mexico City and London, while also opening the season in Korea for the first time. In addition, we can’t wait to celebrate the tradition of the sport in the Dominican Republic with our visit to Santo Domingo next March. We are thrilled that our fans across four different countries outside the United States and Canada will have the opportunity to see the game’s stars."

The MLB World Tour schedule for next year includes the return of games to the United Kingdom and Mexico for a second consecutive season, after the 2023 London Series between the Cubs and Cardinals and Mexico City Series between the Giants and Padres, in addition to new stops in Korea and the Dominican Republic.

“Players have a deep interest in growing baseball around the world. No matter where they come from, players are linked by a passion for our game that transcends different languages, cultures, and nationalities,” said Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLB Players Association. “The series announced today will allow fans around the globe to gain a first-hand appreciation for the unmatched skill and infectious enthusiasm players display every time they go to work. We are excited to expand our international presence in new communities and celebrate the game we all love.”

Here's a look at each of the four international series in 2024.

Seoul Series

The Dodgers and Padres will open up the 2024 season with two games in Korea from March 20-21.  

The Seoul Series will mark the ninth time that the MLB season has opened outside the 50 U.S. states and Canada, and the first time in five years. Previous international openers include:

• 1999 -- Monterrey, Mexico (Rockies vs. Padres) • 2000 -- Tokyo, Japan (Mets vs. Cubs) • 2001 -- San Juan, Puerto Rico (Rangers vs. Blue Jays) • 2004 -- Tokyo, Japan (Rays vs. Yankees) • 2008 -- Tokyo, Japan (Red Sox vs. A's) • 2012 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners) • 2014 -- Sydney, Australia (Dodgers vs. D-backs) • 2019 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners)

It will be the Dodgers' first international games since they played the Padres in Mexico in 2018, and their second Opening Day abroad after the 2014 season opener in Australia.

"The Dodgers have a long and proud history of helping to grow the game abroad, highlighted by our trips to Mexico, China and Australia. It's very exciting to add Korea to the list," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "I know our players are thrilled to put their talents on display in a country so rich with baseball tradition and talent, including former Dodgers Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi and Hyun Jin Ryu."

The Padres will be playing internationally for a second straight season, but in a new country, going from the 2023 Mexico City Series to the 2024 Seoul Series. Like the Dodgers, they've also played abroad on Opening Day before, in the inaugural international season opener back in 1999. 

"Korea is a great baseball country with a rich tradition, passionate fans, and talented players, including current Padre and San Diego fan favorite Ha-Seong Kim," Padres CEO Erik Greupner said. "The Padres are proud to serve alongside the Dodgers as global ambassadors for the game of baseball with our historic 2024 Korea Series."

Mexico City Series

The second Mexico City Series will feature the Astros and Rockies for a pair of games on April 27 and 28, almost exactly a year after this season's inaugural Mexico City Series.

Both Houston and Colorado last played internationally in Mexico, but in Monterrey, not Mexico City. The Astros played two regular-season games against the Angels there in 2019, and the Rockies played an exhibition series against the D-backs that same year.  

The Astros have played exhibition games in Mexico City before, in 2016 against the Padres and 2004 against the Marlins.

• 2023 Mexico City Series

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London Series

The London Series returns for its third edition overall, with the Mets and Phillies facing off at London Stadium on June 8 and 9.

The Mets will be playing abroad for the first time since 2010, when they faced the Marlins in Puerto Rico. But they're no stranger to international games, having participated in both MLB's first-ever international regular season games in 1996 in Mexico and MLB's first-ever regular-season games in Japan in 2000.

• 2024 London Series will feature NL East rivalry in Mets-Phils

"Interest in baseball is growing all over the world, and to bring the Mets' 'never-say-die' attitude to sports fans in London is a tremendous honor," Mets owner Steve Cohen said. "Our Queens family is ready to show London a great time with exciting baseball and amazing experiences that create new fans and build the Mets community throughout the United Kingdom." 

The Phillies have never played regular-season games internationally, and have left the U.S. and Canada only once, over 50 years ago, for a pair of exhibition games against the Pirates in San Juan in 1977.

"Major League Baseball has done an excellent job of expanding its footprint internationally, and we are honored to play a role in that effort as part of the 2024 London Series," Phillies managing partner John Middleton said. "This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our players' talents and highlight the excitement that comes with a Phillies-Mets matchup for our fans in the UK and for those who have never attended a baseball game."

Dominican Republic Series

In addition to the three international regular-season series planned for in 2024, the Red Sox and Rays will play a Spring Training series in Santo Domingo at Estadio Quisqueya from March 9-10.

"This unique opportunity builds on our long-standing connection to the Dominican Republic and allows us to celebrate the remarkable talents and rich cultural heritage of a country whose passion for the game has distinctly shaped our organization," Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said. "From the players who have passed through our Dominican Republic Academy to those who have helped us win championships, we have been fortunate to witness the profound impact of Dominican players within our game, and we are thrilled to be able to bring Red Sox baseball to such a vibrant baseball community next year."

Exhibition games are also a key part of the MLB World Tour, which includes up to 16 exhibition games being played internationally between 2023 and ‘26, as well as up to 24 regular-season games spanning Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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Tropical Storm Shanshan Drenches Southern Japan, Disrupting Train and Air Travel

The storm weakened after making landfall as a typhoon, still posed the risk of landslides and floods as it moved at a crawling speed.

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By Hisako Ueno Yan Zhuang and John Yoon

Hisako Ueno reported from Okayama, Japan.

Tropical storm Shanshan was drenching southern Japan with record rainfall early Friday, a day after making landfall as a typhoon and flooding towns, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting travel and forcing more than four million evacuations.

The storm, the strongest to hit Japan this year, had maximum sustained winds of up to 46 miles per hour and gusts of 51 m.p.h. early on Friday, according to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center , which downgraded Shanshan from a typhoon to a tropical storm Thursday evening.

Shanshan had peaked at a strength equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall as a typhoon around 8 a.m. Thursday on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It was forecast to move north through Kyushu before shifting east on Friday and Saturday, moving further inland and losing strength.

The storm was weakening as it moved slowly inland, but the authorities issued warnings for landslides and floods in many parts of southwestern Japan. More than 4.1 million people were under evacuation orders nationwide on Thursday, Japan’s Cabinet Office said.

“This is one of the biggest typhoons in recent years, for a prefecture that experiences many typhoons every year,” Kensei Tomisako, a disaster response official in Satsumasendai, said in an interview.

Shanshan has brought record rainfall. Some parts of Kyushu recorded 2.6 feet of rain in 48 hours, forecasters said. The storm, inching north at less than 4 m.p.h. early on Friday, lashed some areas with rain for hours.

Three people died after a landslide on Tuesday buried their home in Gamagori, a city in central Japan that was hit by heavy rain, the local government said early Thursday. Another person died after a roof collapsed in Kamiita Town, according to Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK .

More than 80 people were injured in the storm, and one person was missing, the news agency said. More than 107,000 households were without power early Friday in Kyushu, the service provider Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution said.

Japan Airlines , one of the country’s largest airlines, canceled all flights to and from Nagasaki and seven other cities in Shanshan’s path on Thursday and said that many flights to and from 20 cities across the country on Friday had already been canceled. All Nippon Airways also canceled all flights that had been scheduled at Kansai International Airport for Friday.

Shinkansen bullet-train service was suspended on Thursday for all of Kyushu , along with service between Tokyo and Osaka, because of heavy rain. Many of the train lines linking major cities in western Japan , including Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, were also suspended.

On Wednesday, the authorities issued rare emergency warnings for the storm in Kagoshima Prefecture, indicating that a large-scale disaster was possible, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The warnings were downgraded on Thursday morning.

Toyota announced that it would pause production at all 14 of its Japan factories starting Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, the carmaker said that it would extend the suspension until Friday for all but one of the factories.

Derrick Bryson Taylor , Amanda Holpuch and Orlando Mayorquín contributed reporting.

Hisako Ueno is a reporter and researcher based in Tokyo, writing on Japanese politics, business, labor, gender and culture. More about Hisako Ueno

Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news. More about Yan Zhuang

John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More about John Yoon