KOREAN FOR BEGINNERS

INTRODUCTION

For now, don't even think about words or grammar or anything until you can read and pronounce Korean letters and syllables. Without being able to read Korean, it is very difficult to continue studying other parts of the language.

I will provide the Romanized equivalents to the Korean alphabet. However, I highly suggest that once you know how to read the Korean alphabet, you should completely abandon the Romanizations. For example, in the future, instead of studying like this:

학교 (hak-kyo) = school
You should study like this:
학교 = school

At any rate, study these characters like crazy. Memorizing them at first is hard, but it needs to be done. Luckily, Korean has a fairly simple 'alphabet', although it seems strange to most English speakers at first because it is completely different than English.

SOME USEFUL KOREAN EXPRESSIONS

frm - formal
inf - informal

Welcome
환영합니다 (hwangyong-hamnida)

Hello! (General greeting)
안녕하십니까 (annyeong-hasimnikka) - frm
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) - inf
안녕 (annyeong) - inf

Hello! (on phone)
여보세요 (yeoboseyo)

How are you?
어떻게 지내세요? (eotteohke jinaeseyo?)
안녕하셨습니까? (an nyeong ha siut seum ni ka?)

I'm fine. (Reply to 'How are you?')
잘지내요 (jaljinaeyo)

Long time no see!
오랜만이다 (orenmanida)

What's your name?
이름은 무엇입니까?
(ireumeun mueosip nikka?) - inf
성함이 어떻게 되십니까?
(sungham ee uttoke daesipnika?) - frm

My name is ...
제 이름은 ... 입니다 (je ireum-eun ... imnida)

Where are you from?
어디서 오셨어요? (eodiseo osyeosseoyo)

I'm from ...
저는 ... 에서 왔어요 (jeoneun ... eseo wasseuyo)

Pleased to meet you.
만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida) - frm
만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo) - inf

Good morning!
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)
좋은 아침 (joheun achim)

Good afternoon!
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)

Good evening!
안녕하십니까 (annyeong hashimnikka)
좋은 저녁 (joheun jeonyeok)

Goodnight!
안녕히 주무십시요 (annyeong-hi jumusipsio) - frm
잘자 (jal jja) - inf

Goodbye!
안녕 (annyeong)
안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) - you are leaving
안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) - you are staying

Good luck!
행운을 빌어요 (haeng un eul bil eo yo) - frm
행운을 빈다 (haeng un eul bin da) - inf

Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
건배 [乾杯] (geonbae) - lit. "dry glass"
위하여 (wihayeo)

Have a nice day!
좋은 하루 되세요 (joeun haru dweseyo)

Bon appetit! / Have a nice meal!
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokkesseumnida) - before a meal
잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida) - after a meal
맛있게 드세요 (masitkke deuseyo)

Bon voyage! / Have a good journey!
잘다녀오십시오! (jalda nyeoo sip sio!)

I don't know.
나도 몰라 (nado molla)

I understand.
아랐어 (araso)
아랐어요 (arasoyo)

I don't understand.
모르겠습니다 (moreugesseumnida)

Please speak more slowly.
천천히 말씀해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malssuemhae juseyo)

Please say that again.
다시 한번 말씀해주시겠어요? (tashi hanbŏn malssŭmaejushigessŏyo?)

Please write it down.
적어 주세요! (cheogeo juseyo!)

Do you speak Korean?
한국말 하실 줄 아세요? (hangukmal hasil jul aseyo?) - frm
한국말 할 줄 아니? (hangukmal hal jul ani?) - inf

Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
예, 조금요 (ye, jogeumyo) - frm
응, 조금 (eung, jogeum) - inf

How do you say ... in Korean?...
를 한국말로 어떻게 말해요?
(... reul hangukmal-lo eotteoh-ge maraeyo?)

Excuse me!
실례하겠습니다! (shillehagessumnida)

How much is this?
이게 얼마예요? (ige eolmayeyo?)

Sorry!
미안합니다! (mianhamnida) - frm
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) - vfrm
미안(해) (mian(hae)) - inf

Please!
부탁합니다 (butakamnida)

Thank you!
감사합니다 (kamsahamnida) - frm
고맙습니다 (komapsumnida) - frm
고마워 (komawo) - inf

You're welcome! (reply to thank you)
아니에요 (anieyo)

I miss you!
보고싶다 (bogoshipda)

I love you!
사랑해 (sarang hae)

Go away!
저리 가세요! (juri gaseyo)

Leave me alone!
혼자 내버려 두십시오! (honja naebeoryeo dushipshio)

Christmas and New Year greetings
즐거운 성탄절 보내시고 새해 복 많이 받으세요
(jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaesigo saehae bok manhi bateusaeyo)

Birthday greetings
생일 축하합니다 (saeng-il chukha hamnida) - frm
생일 축하드립니다 (saeng-il chukha deurimnida) - frm
생신 축하드립니다 (saengsin chukha deurimnida) - frm
생일 축하해 (saeng-il chukha hae) - inf