What is the most useful Korean phrase to know first?

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo, hello) and 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you) are the two most useful starters. Add 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?, how much is it?) and 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo, I'll take this) and you can already shop and get around.

Are these Korean phrases polite enough for strangers?

Yes. All 100 phrases here use the polite -요 / -습니다 endings, which are safe with strangers, elders, staff and new acquaintances in Korea.

How can I hear how these Korean phrases are pronounced?

The free Hannip app plays native audio for every phrase and lets you practice speaking them back, so romanization becomes real pronunciation.

100 Basic Korean Phrases for Beginners

Q: How do you say thank you in Korean?

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the polite, all-purpose 'thank you.' 고마워요 (gomawoyo) is softer and casual, and 고마워 (gomawo) is only for close friends.

The 100 phrases that actually get you through a day in Korea — greetings, food, shopping, travel, emergencies, and the K-drama lines you've been hearing. Each one with Hangul, romanization, and English.

Updated June 2026 · Reading time ~8 min

Every phrase below uses polite endings (-요 / -습니다), so they're safe to use with strangers, shop staff, and elders. Tap any line in the Hannip app to hear it spoken by a native and practice saying it back. Can't read Hangul yet? Start with our Korean alphabet chart first — it only takes a few days.

1. Greetings & politeness

Korean	Romanization	English
안녕하세요	annyeonghaseyo	Hello
안녕히 가세요	annyeonghi gaseyo	Goodbye (to someone leaving)
안녕히 계세요	annyeonghi gyeseyo	Goodbye (to someone staying)
감사합니다	gamsahamnida	Thank you
죄송합니다	joesonghamnida	I'm sorry
괜찮아요	gwaenchanayo	It's okay / I'm fine
실례합니다	sillyehamnida	Excuse me
잘 부탁드립니다	jal butakdeurimnida	Nice to work with you (set phrase)
오랜만이에요	oraenmanieyo	Long time no see
잘 지냈어요?	jal jinaesseoyo?	How have you been?

2. Introductions & small talk

Korean	Romanization	English
만나서 반가워요	mannaseo bangawoyo	Nice to meet you
이름이 뭐예요?	ireumi mwoyeyo?	What's your name?
저는 ___이에요	jeoneun ___ ieyo	I'm ___
어디에서 왔어요?	eodieseo wasseoyo?	Where are you from?
저는 미국에서 왔어요	jeoneun migugeseo wasseoyo	I'm from the US
한국어를 조금 해요	hangugeoreul jogeum haeyo	I speak a little Korean
직업이 뭐예요?	jigeobi mwoyeyo?	What do you do?
취미가 뭐예요?	chwimiga mwoyeyo?	What are your hobbies?
몇 살이에요?	myeot sarieyo?	How old are you?
연락처 좀 알려 주세요	yeollakcheo jom allyeo juseyo	Can I get your contact?

3. Yes, no & essential responses

Korean	Romanization	English
네	ne	Yes
아니요	aniyo	No
맞아요	majayo	That's right
몰라요	mollayo	I don't know
알겠어요	algesseoyo	I understand / Got it
잠깐만요	jamkkanmanyo	Just a moment
다시 말해 주세요	dasi malhae juseyo	Please say that again
천천히 말해 주세요	cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo	Please speak slowly
이해 못 했어요	ihae mot haesseoyo	I didn't understand
영어 할 수 있어요?	yeongeo hal su isseoyo?	Can you speak English?

4. Shopping & money

Korean	Romanization	English
얼마예요?	eolmayeyo?	How much is it?
이거 주세요	igeo juseyo	I'll take this one
너무 비싸요	neomu bissayo	It's too expensive
깎아 주세요	kkakka juseyo	Can you give me a discount?
카드 돼요?	kadeu dwaeyo?	Do you take card?
영수증 주세요	yeongsujeung juseyo	Receipt, please
다른 색 있어요?	dareun saek isseoyo?	Do you have another color?
입어 봐도 돼요?	ibeo bwado dwaeyo?	Can I try it on?
그냥 구경하는 거예요	geunyang gugyeonghaneun geoyeyo	I'm just looking
봉투 주세요	bongtu juseyo	A bag, please

5. Restaurant & cafe

Korean	Romanization	English
메뉴 주세요	menyu juseyo	Menu, please
주문할게요	jumunhalgeyo	I'd like to order
이거 뭐예요?	igeo mwoyeyo?	What is this?
맵지 않게 해 주세요	maepji anke hae juseyo	Please make it not spicy
물 좀 주세요	mul jom juseyo	Water, please
포장해 주세요	pojanghae juseyo	To go, please
계산서 주세요	gyesanseo juseyo	The bill, please
아이스 아메리카노 주세요	aiseu amerikano juseyo	An iced americano, please
맛있어요	masisseoyo	It's delicious
잘 먹겠습니다	jal meokgesseumnida	(before eating) Thanks for the meal

6. Directions & getting around

Korean	Romanization	English
화장실 어디예요?	hwajangsil eodiyeyo?	Where is the bathroom?
지하철역 어디예요?	jihacheoryeok eodiyeyo?	Where is the subway station?
여기로 가 주세요	yeogiro ga juseyo	Please take me here (taxi)
세워 주세요	sewo juseyo	Please stop here
얼마나 걸려요?	eolmana geollyeoyo?	How long does it take?
걸어서 갈 수 있어요?	georeoseo gal su isseoyo?	Can I walk there?
왼쪽 / 오른쪽	oenjjok / oreunjjok	Left / right
직진하세요	jikjinhaseyo	Go straight
여기가 어디예요?	yeogiga eodiyeyo?	Where am I?
길을 잃었어요	gireul ireosseoyo	I'm lost

7. Travel & hotel

Korean	Romanization	English
예약했어요	yeyakhaesseoyo	I have a reservation
체크인하고 싶어요	chekeuinhago sipeoyo	I'd like to check in
와이파이 비밀번호 뭐예요?	waipai bimilbeonho mwoyeyo?	What's the wifi password?
공항까지 얼마예요?	gonghangkkaji eolmayeyo?	How much to the airport?
사진 좀 찍어 주세요	sajin jom jjigeo juseyo	Please take a photo
추천해 주세요	chucheonhae juseyo	Please recommend something
표 한 장 주세요	pyo han jang juseyo	One ticket, please
몇 시에 열어요?	myeot sie yeoreoyo?	What time do you open?
몇 시에 닫아요?	myeot sie dadayo?	What time do you close?
도와주세요	dowajuseyo	Please help me

8. Feelings & reactions

Korean	Romanization	English
좋아요	joayo	I like it / It's good
정말요?	jeongmaryo?	Really?
대박	daebak	Awesome / No way
재미있어요	jaemiisseoyo	It's fun / interesting
피곤해요	pigonhaeyo	I'm tired
배고파요	baegopayo	I'm hungry
행복해요	haengbokhaeyo	I'm happy
슬퍼요	seulpeoyo	I'm sad
화났어요	hwanasseoyo	I'm angry
최고예요	choegoyeyo	It's the best

9. Emergencies & help

Korean	Romanization	English
도와주세요!	dowajuseyo!	Help!
병원이 어디예요?	byeongwoni eodiyeyo?	Where is the hospital?
아파요	apayo	I'm sick / in pain
경찰을 불러 주세요	gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo	Please call the police
약국이 어디예요?	yakgugi eodiyeyo?	Where is the pharmacy?
여권을 잃어버렸어요	yeogwoneul ireobeoryeosseoyo	I lost my passport
알레르기가 있어요	allereugiga isseoyo	I have an allergy
구급차를 불러 주세요	gugeupchareul bulleo juseyo	Please call an ambulance
괜찮으세요?	gwaenchaneuseyo?	Are you okay?
여기 아파요	yeogi apayo	It hurts here

10. K-drama & dating lines

Korean	Romanization	English
사랑해요	saranghaeyo	I love you
좋아해요	joahaeyo	I like you
보고 싶었어요	bogo sipeosseoyo	I missed you
우리 사귈래요?	uri sagwillaeyo?	Will you go out with me?
밥 먹었어요?	bap meogeosseoyo?	Have you eaten? (a caring "how are you")
조심히 가요	josimhi gayo	Get home safe
잘 자요	jal jayo	Good night
화이팅!	hwaiting!	You can do it! / Fighting!
믿어요	mideoyo	I trust you
진심이에요	jinsimieyo	I mean it / I'm sincere

Hear all 100 spoken by a native

Reading romanization isn't the same as sounding right. Hannip plays native audio for every phrase and lets you shadow them back — one minute a day, free to start.

Practice these phrases free →

Frequently asked questions

What's the most useful Korean phrase to learn first?

안녕하세요 (hello) and 감사합니다 (thank you), then 얼마예요? (how much is it?) and 이거 주세요 (I'll take this). With those four you can already greet people and shop.

How do you say thank you in Korean?

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the polite all-purpose version. 고마워요 is softer and casual; 고마워 is only for close friends.

Are these phrases polite enough for strangers?

Yes — every phrase here uses the polite -요 / -습니다 endings, which are safe with strangers, staff, and elders across Korea.

How do I hear the pronunciation?

Open the free Hannip app — every phrase has native audio, and you can record yourself to compare.