Common Korean Phrases: Greetings, Thank You and Everyday Expressions

If you’re starting to learn Korean, phrases are your fastest route to real communication. Not grammar rules, not verb conjugation tables – actual phrases you can use the moment you arrive in Seoul, start a K-drama without subtitles, or message a Korean friend.

I’ve learned five languages from scratch, and one thing is consistent across all of them: the first 50–100 phrases you internalize carry you further than months of passive vocabulary study. With Korean, this is especially true because the language uses politeness levels – knowing the right phrase for the right situation matters from day one.

This guide gives you the most useful Korean phrases organized by situation, with Hangul, romanization, and English meaning. No filler. No lists of 500 words you’ll never use.

Before You Use These Phrases – One Important Note on Politeness

Korean has multiple speech levels, and this trips up almost every beginner. The two you’ll use most as a learner are formal polite (합쇼체, habnida form) and informal polite (해요체, haeyo form). The phrases in this guide use the informal polite form – it’s appropriate for most everyday situations with strangers, shopkeepers, colleagues you don’t know well, and anyone older than you.

Using the completely casual form (반말, banmal) with someone you’ve just met is genuinely rude in Korean culture. Stick to the phrases below and you’ll be fine in 95% of situations.

Basic Korean Greetings – Hello, Goodbye, How Are You

Greetings in Korean go beyond a simple “hello.” They signal respect and set the tone for any interaction. These are the phrases I’d learn before anything else.

One thing that surprised me about Korean goodbyes: there are two different words depending on who is leaving. If you’re the one walking out, you say 안녕히 계세요 (stay well). If the other person is leaving and you’re staying, you say 안녕히 가세요 (go well). Getting this right earns you genuine appreciation from native speakers.

Thank You and Sorry in Korean – Expressions of Gratitude and Apology

Korean culture places high value on expressing gratitude and respect clearly. These phrases come up constantly – in shops, restaurants, with hosts, and in any formal interaction.

저기요 (Jeogiyo) is one of the most useful words you’ll learn. It’s how you get a waiter’s attention, stop someone on the street, or signal you need help – the Korean equivalent of “Excuse me!” in a crowded restaurant. I’ve used it dozens of times and it works every time.

Essential Korean Phrases for Everyday Conversation

These are the building blocks of actual conversation – the phrases that let you introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and keep a dialogue going even when your Korean is limited.

“저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요” (I’m learning Korean) is one of the most disarming phrases you can use. In my experience with other languages, telling someone you’re actively learning their language completely changes the dynamic – people become patient, encouraging, and often genuinely helpful. Korean speakers are no different.

OUR TIP: If you want to practice these phrases interactively with audio from native speakers, the free demo of 17-Minute-Languages lets you start today – no credit card needed.

*

Korean Phrases for Travel – At the Restaurant, Shop and Hotel

These are the phrases that matter the moment you land in Korea. Korean service culture is excellent – staff are attentive and genuinely appreciate when foreigners make an effort with the language.

At the Restaurant

잘 먹겠습니다 (Jal meokgesseumnida) is one of those phrases that makes a strong cultural impression. You say it before eating – it roughly translates as “I will eat well.” Saying it at a Korean dinner table, whether in a restaurant or someone’s home, shows cultural awareness and is always appreciated.

Shopping and Getting Around

Yes, No and Common Korean Expressions for Daily Life

Beyond yes and no, there’s a set of everyday expressions that native speakers use constantly. Learning these makes your Korean sound natural instead of textbook-formal.

Numbers in Korean – The Basics You Need

Korean has two number systems – native Korean and Sino-Korean (borrowed from Chinese). This confuses many beginners, but for everyday use you mostly need Sino-Korean for prices, phone numbers, and floors, and native Korean for counting objects and age.

What’s Next After Learning Phrases

Phrases give you a foundation, but they’ll only take you so far. The natural next step is building a real vocabulary systematically – that’s where a structured course becomes valuable. The phrases here are a starting point; a course builds the scaffolding that makes those phrases stick and grow into actual fluency.

If you want to go deeper, the full Korean language course guide covers courses, apps, and realistic timelines from beginner to intermediate level.

For learning vocabulary that actually stays in your memory, the vocabulary learning methods page covers the techniques that work across all languages – including Korean.

For pronunciation guidance and deeper grammar, Talk to Me in Korean (TTMIK) is the most respected free resource in the Korean learning community.

*

This phrase guide is also available in other languages:

• 🇩🇪 – Koreanisch lernen – Phrasen & Wortschatz
• 🇳🇴 – Vanlige fraser på koreansk