Korean Phrases: The Ultimate List for 2020

Last Updated on March 30, 2020

Here’s the comprehensive list of Korean phrases that you’ll need to join in on the fun and converse in Korean. This is the up-to-date modern version of how Koreans actually talk, so buckle up and get ready for some fun!

We’re going to get the best phrases out to you on this page, broken down by category.

Forget the dated guidebooks or confusing phrases that don’t make sense, this list will give you exactly what you need for your next adventure in Korea. We’ll provide the phrases with the Korean alphabet and romanization.

We highly recommend you learn the Korean Hangeul ASAP. It’s an essential first step to improve your Korean studies.

If you need this list to take with you on the go, we’ve got you covered! The PDF download is right here:

Read on and study the phrases section by section. Or, skip ahead to the phrases you are most interested in, and add them to your favorite flashcard deck.

Most important of all, have fun with them!

Below, we’ll give a brief into to formal vs. informal, then get right into with with the most important phrases. After those, the phrases are broken down by situation.

Formal vs Informal 

Korean has many levels of formality within the language. Because of this, saying simple things can seem extremely complex because of the social hierarchies.

If you’re learning Korean but you don’t have Korean ancestry in your family, then you’re in the clear! You can get by with the standard forms of the language and you’ll still be considered polite. That way you can learn some simple phrases without having to know all of the intricacies of the language.

Since there are different forms of Korean, you may occasionally hear more formal versions of the phrases below. However, we’ll give you the 20% of the phrases you’ll hear 80% of the time so you can learn Korean fast.

Let’s get to it!

The Basics

If you’ve only got a short time to learn some phrases, then best to stick with the basics. These expressions are the 80/20 of what you need to know (20% that will give you 80% of the results).

Essential Korean Phrases

Need the bare minimum for talking in Korean? These are the phrases you’ll want to get down to make sure your time in Korea is smooth sailing!

You might notice that there are a few ways of saying some common phrases, such as “excuse me” and “goodbye”. In English, these phrases are much more multi-purpose. In Korean, there are specific phrases that you’ll use for certain situations.

Everyday Korean Phrases

As you learn the lay of the land with your Korean learning, you’ll want to setup up from the essentials to phrases that you’ll need on a daily basis.

When you’re asking questions in Korean, make sure to direct your intonation upwards towards the end of the sentences, as if you’re unsure.

You’ve got the phrases necessary to have simple interactions, so now’s the time to put them to use!

Places

Use these phrases at various place. They’re broken up by different locations, so get your Korean skills up one spot at a time!

Restaurant Korean Phrases

If you’ve had Korean food before, then you know why Koreans can’t live without it when they go abroad. A Korean meal is not just any ordinary culinary experience. It’s a symphony of various side dishes, main dishes, drinks, appetizers, and desserts that will make you wonder how you’ve lived without it for so long.

Korean cuisine is not only strong on variety, but it also is strong on taste! You’ll experience meat, vegetables, noodles, rice, and other seasonings in a way that you might not have had before. But beware, some of these may catch you off guard! Koreans love to spice things up, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself reaching for the ice water more than normal.

Cafe & Coffee Shop Korean Phrases

If you’ve been to Seoul before, then you know you can go more than a few minutes in each direction without running into a cafe. Korea has a massive coffee-drinking culture, and it’s continuing to spread!

When you order at a cafe, there are some unique Korean cafe phrases that might be surprising to English speakers. For example, the way you ask for your order to go will be different depending on whether you order only a drink or if you order food with your drink. Although Koreans think this is normal, even they get surprised when they think about the intricacies of Korean!

Use these phrases to get the caffeine boost that will supercharge your day.

Shopping Korean Phrases

If you’re out in Dongadaemun, Garosul-gil, or Myeongdong, you are definitely going to need some phrases to help you shop!

Korea has it’s own specialized vocabulary terms when it comes to shopping, so make sure you know these before you head out for the next shopping spree. For example, did you know that some Korean credit cards give you the choice of paying for your purchase over one month or multiple month installments? The installment plans have interest fees, so plan accordingly! Be ready for this question, since some stores will ask you if you want your purchase to be put through as “일시불”.

Use these Korean phrases to add even more fun to your shopping experience.

Dry Cleaner Korean Phrases

Looking sharp and stylish doesn’t happen by accident. Koreans are extremely image-conscious, and go to great lengths to make sure their appearance is the best it can be at all times.

If you feel the same about your clothing, then you know the dry cleaners is your best friend! Ordinary shirts, trousers, skirts, and suits make your clothing look new again. Not only that, but you can save some of your clothing from certain doom. We all know what it feels like when you put your favorite sweater in the dryer and it comes out three sizes too small!
Best to leave the care of your finest threads to the professionals. The next time you stop by your friendly neighborhood dry cleaner in Korea, use these phrases to insure you get exactly what you want.

Bank Korean Phrases

Maybe you’re tired of fumbling around with hand gestures and sentence fragments at the bank. Or perhaps you want to get your banking done at the local branch instead of heading into the one across town that has English speakers.

We got you covered!

Grab your stacks of 오만원 bills, pack them in your briefcase, and head down to your friendly neighborhood bank. Hopefully they have a big enough vault for you!

Use these at the bank to confidently, quickly, and seamlessly get your banking biz taken care of.

Cha-Ching!

Hospital Korean Phrases

Nobody likes going to the hospital, but it sure it sure is a relief to see a doctor when you aren’t feeling well!

Use these phrases below to explain to the doctor what the problem is.

Even if the doctor speaks English, you may find these phrases handy to use with the nurse or the receptionist who takes your name down and asks what is bothering you.

If you get a prescription, they will usually be a pharmacy nearby. Sometimes, there will be pharmacy inside the hospital!

Pharmacy Korean Phrases

If you’re not feeling well and you don’t think it’s quite worth a doctor visit, then you might want to swing by your local pharmacy in Korea.

The pharmacists in Korea are very helpful. Explain what the problem is, and they’ll give you the recommended medicine to get you back to your former glorious self.

Or, maybe you went to the hospital and now you’ve got that piece of paper with the cure to your sickness. You’ll be on your way with your prescription filled in no time!

Dentist Korean Phrases

It’s about that time to take care of that movie star smile!

If you’re afraid of the dentist, you’re not alone. Not to worry, we’ve got some phrases you can use at the dentist office to make sure your visit is a smooth one.

In Korean, people use the term “scaling” (스케일링) for cleaning. If the dentist starts talking about scaling your teeth, don’t be surprised, it’s a good thing!

Most of the dentists in Korea speak English, so you likely won’t have to worry about a heavy langauge barrier. However, their assistants may not be as able to communicate, so having some Korean phrases may come in handy.

The dentists in Korea are really good, so sit back and relax, it should be a painless and carefree visit!

Hair Salon Korean Phrases

Use these phrases at the 미용실!

Ready to head out to the salon?

Or, the “미용실” as they call in it Korean?

You may be worried about the stylist chopping away at you gorgeous locks of hair. After all, it’s really easy to miscommunicate when you’re talking in a foreign language!

And nobody likes to be reassured with the phrase “don’t worry, it will grow back.”

Unlikely it will grow back in time for your big date on Saturday night!

Thankfully, there are hair salon phrases to help you get exactly the hairstyle that you want.

Study up, and get ready to show off that new hairdo!

Movie Theater & Cinema

No matter what time of year, what time of day, or what the weather is like, it’s always a good time to go see a movie in Korea!

There are a variety of movie theaters, some of the popular being CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox.

CGV Theater in Korea
Photo: TFurban

There are a few great things about going to the movies in Korea.

First of all, you can easily reserve tickets for a movie through smartphone apps. If some problem with your schedule comes up, many theaters have a refund policy if you cancel before the movie starts (depending on the movie theater).

Secondly, many of the theaters have movies that start well into midnight. You may find yourself going to a movie at 3:00am!

Thirdly, you can cuddle up with your significant other during your movie by reserving couple seats, often on the top row. CGV calls them “Sweetbox” seats, and they have a foldable armrest for a loveseat-style feeling at the movies.

Post Office Korean Phrases

Thinking about sending Mom a letter?

Or maybe you have to mail a birthday gift to a best friend.

Better head to the post office!

The post offices in Korea have a wide variety of services, from regular domestic shipments to international air mail. Most locations also have shipping supplies right at the post office, so you can do all of your packing and shipping in one spot!

Travel and Transportation

Pack your bags! We’re hitting the road and going to put some Korean phrases to the test. Use these expressions to help you communicate as you travel and take trips throughout Korea.

Asking for Directions Korean Phrases

Pack your bags, it’s time to do some traveling within Korea!

Of course we want to make this experience as smooth as possible, so we’ll give you some phrases you can use in case you get lost or need directions.

Whether you’re in the big city or quiet countryside, use these Korean phrases to ask the locals where something is.

Start things off with a simple “잠시만요”, and then get to chatting!

Hotel and Pension Korean Phrases

KAL Hotel in Jeju

Use these phrases to help you at hotels and pensions (B&Bs) in Korea!

Bus Korean Phrases

Sokcho Bus Station in Korea

The Korean bus system is one of the best systems in the world.

The buses are fast, clean, and on time. This goes for the smaller local buses (마을 버스), the regular city buses, and even the express buses (고속 버스).

At many bus stops in Seoul, there is a digital display that shows which buses are coming and what time they will arrive. It’s very accurate!

If you really want to dial in your schedule down to the minute, you can download applications to tell you which bus will arrive at at certain times. That way, you can check the bus arrival times before you get to the bus stop. This is especially useful when during the winter. You may want to stay in that warm cafe or restaurant as long as possible, and walk out to your bus right as it arrives.

The phrases below will help you with regular city buses. There are also phrases to help you book bus tickets from different parts of the country at the various terminals around Korea.

Charge up your T-Money card, and go for a ride!

Situations

Here are some fantastic phrases you can use for different social situations.

Dinner Table Korean Phrases

맛있게 드세요!
Photo: ebifry

Korea has a strong food culture. Along with that, comes a wide range of interesting phrases that will allow you to express your feelings in unique ways.

For example, you say “I will eat well” before eating your meal. This is the way that Koreans show gratitude toward the person who cooked the meal. Then, instead of saying “thank you”, you’d simply say “잘 먹었습니다”, which means “I ate well.”

Also, don’t be surprised if you get some shocked looks when telling Koreans that you’re vegetarian! For Koreans, barbecuing meat is almost a religion. It’s hard for them to imagine living without that tasty part of their cuisine.

Getting to Know You Korean Phrases

These phrases are great for getting to know someone!

Concerned about first impressions?

Well, that’s great news! Koreans are very image conscious, so it’s best to start things off on the right foot.

And what better way of doing that than to know some small talk phrases!

You’re on your way to breaking the ice in Korean.

Meeting Friends Korean Phrases

Use these phrases with your friends!

Imagine that you run into your long-time Korean friend:

“How long has it been?

Have you lost weight? You look great!

I don’t think we’ve seen each other since….well, it’s been way too long!

Are you free for a few minutes? Let’s catch up!”
If you study the phrases below, you’ll have a lot to talk about.

Special Occasion Korean Phrases

Use these to express yourself on special occasions

If you’ve been to or lived in Korea, then you know that Koreans love to celebrate!

The big cities stay open all night long, with people roaming the streets until the sun comes up—and  even after.

The next time you’re along for the celebration, use these phrases to fit in with the group.

As you go over the phrases, you’ll notice that some of them are Konglish and some are specific to the Korean language. For example, “Merry Christmas” is sounded out in Hangul. On the other hand, “Happy New Year” does not sound like the English phrase at all. Instead, it directly translates to “I hope you will receive a lot of good luck next year”.

If you’re looking for more phrases for special occasions, check out:

• Korean Valentine’s Day Phrases You Will Love.

Phone Call Korean Phrases

He’s about to use Korean phrases on his phone call

How often do you pick up the phone and hear Korean being spoken on the other end?

If you’re living in Korea, chance are quite often!

Speaking on the phone can be challenging, especially since you can’t rely on body language or visuals to help make out words. For many, it is the part of language learning that gives them the most trouble.

Well, today we will help you get a few steps ahead of the game by giving you some common expressions that people use on the phone. 

The phrases below are written in the common form. Not only is it polite, but you can use it comfortably with those older and younger than you. You may hear the other person using slightly more formal versions of these phrases, but it largely depends on who you are talking to. Most often this happens when you call into a office or company.

The next time you get or make a phone call with the other person speaking Korean, you can chat with confidence!

Mobile Phone Korean Phrases

Photo: Takashi Hososhima

“If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three items (besides food and clothing) would you take?”

When asked this question, most people reply with “cell phone!” as their first response. How could they ever live without it? It’s an important part of most people’s lives.

Whether or not you feel the same way, you’ll like come across times where you’ll need to take care of your mobile phone. Below are some common Korean expressions that you can use to help you keep your phone powered up and data-charged!

Korean Exclamations

깜짝이야!
Photo: Patrick Hoesly

Remember your art teacher back in elementary school? She always encouraged you to express yourself, but maybe you didn’t know exactly how.

Well, we have good news for you! Not only will you learn how to express your emotions, but you’ll also know how to express those emotions in Korean!

Use these exclamations to express your emotions in Korean. 아싸!

Impress the Locals

Native Koreans will love these!
Photo: Erich Ferdinand

Korea has a phrase called “빨리 빨리”, which means “quickly, quickly”. It’s ingrained into the personalities, activities, and mindsets of the people and the culture as a whole. Korea rapidly developed in a short time period. It has a massive economy compared to the size of it’s land and population thanks to their ability to change, adapt, and get things done quickly.

How did they do it so fast? Well, they certainly didn’t waste time with unnecessary vocabulary!

One thing you’ll notice while talking with Koreans is that they make efforts to shorten the way they speak. Abbreviations and word blending is common.

Below is a list of phrases that Koreans use commonly today but you won’t find in regular textbooks. They’re all rated “G”, so use them freely without worry. Don’t be surprised if you get some shocked looks from Koreans. Be prepared to explain how you know how to speak like a local!

Talking with the Landlord Korean Phrases

Who is it?
Photo: Pascal

Not matter if you found your apartment yourself or your employer set you up with housing, you’re going to have to talk with your landlord at some point.

In most cases, the landlords are from the older Korean generation and don’t speak English. Therefore, simple things like asking if a package arrived for you or asking for a repair can seem like a dreadful task. You either have to ask a Korean friend, you have to fumble around with basic Korean and body language.

But you don’t roll like that!

Instead, make life easier for everyone by using these handy landlord Korean phrases. Your landlord will appreciate the effort and you can get your housing business handled. Most importantly, you can spend your time talking to your Korean friend about the crazy day you had yesterday instead of the broken light in the hall. 

Everyone is a winner!

Apartment Search Korean Phrases

If you’ve have the pleasure of going out to find your own apartment in Korea, then you know what it’s like to be at the real estate office!

Highrise apartments in downtown Seoul

The 부동산 (real estate office) agents are hustlers. Most of them don’t speak English, but they will usually do their best with what they know to help you find a place.

You can help move the process along by using a few of these key expressions below. The real estate agents will appreciate your efforts, and you’ll have a better chance of finding exactly what you are looking for.

Make your house search a smooth and fun process so you can focus on your 집들이 (housewarming)!

Dating & Romance Korean Phrases

귀엽다!

Big date with a Korean coming up this weekend?

Or maybe you have a special someone in mind who you want to meet up with, but you’re not quite sure how to ask?

We’ve got you covered! Use the phrases below to set up your date, pay a compliment, or help move the relationship forward.

If you need more dating and relationship expressions, stop by our Korean Love Phrases page for a complete list of things to say.

화이팅!

Taxi Korean Phrases

Taxi in Seoul

If you’re living in Korea, then you know how great the taxi system is. The cars are clean, the fares are inexpensive, and it’s usually quite easy to find one.

If you’re not living in Korea and you’re planning a visit, then you can make your trip go even smoother by learning a few taxi phrases.

Although some areas have international taxis that speak foreign languages, the majority of the taxi drivers still mainly speak Korean. They may know a few words in English, Japanese, and Chinese, but it can sometimes be challenging to tell the driver where to go if you don’t speak the same language. This goes doubly if you live in an area with many twisty side streets—something that Korea is quite famous for!

Take a few minutes and get acquainted with some of the common taxi phrases. Not only will you make sure you get to your destination smoothly, but you’ll likely have a more interesting experience. Taxi drivers are usually friendly, so by showing that you speak a bit of Korean, you’ll often have an fun conversation on the ride there!

Emergency Korean Phrases

Korea is a very safe country, so hopefully you will have a safe and pleasant time here. However, emergencies do happen, and it’s always good to know a few key phrases to help make sure that you navigate through them smoothly!

Below are some important emergency Korean phrases. Memorize them so you have them ready in case of an emergency.

Encouragement Korean Phrases

Everyone faces challenges or gets down and out at times. In those situations, you may want to cheer up a freind or show encouragement to a loved one. Luckily, there are plenty of Korean phases of encouragement to do just that!

Here is a list of encouraging Korean phrases.

Special

These are super fun! We have onomatopoeia in English already, but mimetic words are something new. Give them a try and express yourself on another level!

Mimetic

쨍쨍

In Korean, there are a special kind of vocabulary words that are used to help paint vivid pictures of situations of moments. They’re called 의태어, or mimetic words in English.

These types of words are similar to onomatopoeia, except they take it a step further by describing movement instead of just a sound.

For example, you might want to talk about how hot the weather was outside. You can describing the hot sun with words such as “scorching” or “blazing”. Or in Korean, you can spice things up by saying the sun was 쨍쨍 blazing hot. Think of the 쨍쨍 as describing the movement of the suns rays on a hot summer day. That extra 쨍쨍 may help you get the tan you were looking for!

Onomatopoeia 

Raise your hand if you know what the word ‘onomatopoeia’ means!

It seems like a long word, but really it’s just a fancy name for a word that imitates common sounds that we hear.

In Korean, the word for onomatopoeia is 의성어. Here, we will go over some onomatopoeia Korean phrases.

Some of the most common onomatopoeia we hear from when we are kids are those of farm animals. Anyone know what sound a cow makes? How about a pig?

Well, Korean has these words, too! They’re really fun words to learn because you can compare them to the sounds of the animals from your native language and see if they’re the same.

In addition to animal sounds, there are also words for everyday sounds such as snoring, crying, and a doorbell ringing.

What is your favorite Korean phrase? Let us know in the comments below!