Learning Korean- A helpful list of words and dialogues of Korean

Simple Expressions 4 - Asking way
The relationship between senior and junior is a very important factor to determine how people address each other in Korea. So juniors say more polite greeting expression when they greet a senior. You can see various examples of lost your way situation.

< Asking where you are >

• A: Yeo gi ga eo di ji yo?-------Where am I now?
• B: Jongro ye yo.----------------You are in Jongro.


• A: Dae sa gwani eo di ji yo?----Where is the embassy?
• B: Jeo jjok im ni da.-----------It is over there.


• A: Meon ga yo?------------------Is it far?
• B: Anio, ga gga wo yo.----------No. It is nearby.


• B: Eol ma na geol ri ji yo?-----How long does it take?
• B: Obun jeong do yo.------------It takes about 5 minutes.

We quote this content from Ministry of culture and tourism.

Learning Korean- A helpful list of words and dialogues of Korean

Simple Expressions 3 - Buying
The relationship between senior and junior is a very important factor to determine how people address each other in Korea. So juniors say more polite greeting expression when they greet a senior. You can see various examples of buying situation.

< Buying newspaper >

• A: Sin mun ju se yo.------------Give me a newspaper, please.
• B: Eo neu sin mun yo?.----------Which newspaper?
• A: Korea Herald yo.-------------The Korea Herald, please.
• B: Yeo gi it seum ni da.--------Here you are.


• A: Eol ma ye yo?----------------How much is it?
• B: Sa baek won im ni da.--------It is 400 won.
• A: Yeo gi it seum ni da.--------Here you are.


• B: Go mab seum ni da.-----------Thank you.
• B: An nyeong hi ga se yo.-------Good bye.

We quote this content from Ministry of culture and tourism.

Learning Korean- A helpful list of words and dialogues of Korean

Simple Expressions 2 - Meeting

The relationship between senior and junior is a very important factor to determine how people address each other in Korea. So juniors say more polite greeting expression when they greet a senior. You can see various examples of greetings in different relationships.

< To friend and peer >

• B: Nu gu ya?-----------------Who are you?
• A: Nan, Robert ya. Neon?-----I'm Robert. And you?
• B: Nan, Peter ya.------------I'm Peter.


• A: Man na seo ban ga wo.--------It's nice to meet you.
• B: Na do ban ga wo.-------------Nice to me you, too.

< To neighbor and senior >

• A: Nu gu se yo?----------------Who are you?
• B: Jeon, Robert im ni da.-------I'm Robert.


• A: Man na seo ban gab seum ni da.-----------It's nice to meet you.
• B: Jeo do ban gab seum ni da.-----------Nice to me you, too.


• A: An jeu se yo.------------Have a seat.
• B: Go mab seum ni da.-----------Thank you.

We quote this content from Ministry of culture and tourism.

Learning Korean- A helpful list of words and dialogues of Korean

Simple Expressions 1 - Greeting

The relationship between senior and junior is a very important factor to determine how people address each other in Korea. So juniors say more polite greeting expression when they greet a senior. You can see various examples of greetings in different relationships.

< To friend and peer >

• A: An nyeong!-----------Hi!
• B: An nyeong!-----------Hi!


• A: Jal ga!-----------Bye!
• B: Jal ga!-----------Bye!


• A: DDo man na.-----------See you again.
• B: DDo man na.-----------See you again.

< To neighbor and senior >

• A: An nyeong ha se yo?-----------Hello?
• B: An nyeong ha se yo?-----------Hello?


• A: An nyeong hi ga se yo.-----------Good bye.
• B: An nyeong hi ga se yo.-----------Good bye.


• A: DDo man na yo.-----------See you again.
• B: DDo man na yo.-----------See you again.

We quote this content from Ministry of culture and tourism.

Learning Korean- A helpful list of words and dialogues of Korean

What is Hangeul--
 Koreans use their own unique alphabet called Hangeul. It is considered to be

one of the most efficient alphabets in the world and has garnered unanimous praise from language experts for its scientific design and excellence. Hangeul was created under King Sejong during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1446, the first Korean alphabet was proclaimed under the original name Hunmin jeongeum, which literally meant "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people." Hangeul (the Korean alphabet) consists of forty letters. Twenty-one of these represent vowels (including thirteen diphthongs), and nineteen represent consonants. Twenty-four are basic while the others are compounds of the basic letters.

< consonants and vowels >
The reason consonants and vowels were separated was due to their differing functions when two letters were combined to form a syllable. Hunmin jeongeum is basically a form of hieroglyph. Consonants, the initial sound letters, resemble a person's speech organs. The shape of each letter is based on the form of different sound articulation units. Other consonants, excluding by adding additional strokes to the basic forms, based on the strength of the sounds.

< Learning Korean >
The Korean language has a well-developed and expansive vocabulary, and therefore, it is very difficult to express fully in a foreign letter. However, due to its scientific design, it is quite easy to approximate the sounds of foreign words in the Korean alphabet. In particular, because of its simplicity and the rather small number of letters, Han-geul is very easy to learn even for children and foreigners. It is no coincidence that by the time they reach the ages of two or three, most Korean children are already capable of expressing their feelings and thoughts, albeit in primitive form. By the time, they reach school age, most exhibit mastery of Han-geul, which is indeed a rare phenomenon throughout the world. This fact clearly attests to the easy learnability and accessibility of the Korean alphabet.

We quote this content from Ministry of culture and tourism.