Korean · South Korea
Korean travel phrases
These Korean travel phrases use the polite -yo and formal -nida endings, which suit shops, taxis and anyone older or new to you. Korean is written in Hangul, an alphabet whose letters are grouped into syllable blocks, and each phrase also shows the Revised Romanization used on road signs. To call a server, say jeogiyo; to ask for something, name it and add juseyo. In many restaurants you pay at the counter by the door, and water is usually free and often self-service. Close friends drop the polite endings, but visitors rarely should.
Each phrase shows the English, the Korean, a romanization and, in bold, a pronunciation guide written for English speakers.
Essentials
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Yes
네
Ne
neh
You will also hear "예" (ye), a slightly more formal yes.
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No
아니요
Aniyo
ah-nee-yoh
To turn down an offer politely, Koreans often say "괜찮아요" (gwaenchanayo), "I'm fine".
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Please
부탁합니다
Butakamnida
boo-tah-kahm-nee-dah
To ask for a thing, say the item plus "주세요" (juseyo), as in "물 주세요" (mul juseyo).
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Thank you
감사합니다
Gamsahamnida
gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah
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Do you speak English?
영어 할 줄 아세요?
Yeongeo hal jul aseyo?
yuhng-uh hahl jjool ah-seh-yoh
-
I don't understand
못 알아듣겠어요
Mot aradeutgesseoyo
moht ah-rah-deut-kkeh-ssuh-yoh
-
Please speak slowly
천천히 말씀해 주세요
Cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo
chuhn-chuhn-hee mahl-sseum-heh joo-seh-yoh
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How much does it cost?
얼마예요?
Eolmayeyo?
uhl-mah-yeh-yoh
When pointing at something, say "이거 얼마예요?" (igeo eolmayeyo?).
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Where is the bathroom?
화장실이 어디예요?
Hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?
hwah-jahng-shee-ree uh-dee-yeh-yoh
Greetings
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Hello
안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo
ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh
Works at any time of day. Staff may greet you with the more formal "안녕하십니까" (annyeonghasimnikka).
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Good morning
안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo
ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh
Koreans use this same greeting all day, including in the morning.
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Goodbye
안녕히 계세요
Annyeonghi gyeseyo
ahn-nyuhng-hee gyeh-seh-yoh
Say this when you are leaving and the other person stays.
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How are you?
잘 지내세요?
Jal jinaeseyo?
jahl jee-neh-seh-yoh
Used with people you know; as a quick hello, "안녕하세요" (annyeonghaseyo) is enough. The usual reply is "네, 잘 지내요" (ne, jal jinaeyo).
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Nice to meet you
만나서 반갑습니다
Mannaseo bangapseumnida
mahn-nah-suh bahn-gahp-sseum-nee-dah
Courtesy
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Excuse me
저기요
Jeogiyo
juh-gee-yoh
The everyday way to get someone's attention, including a waiter's.
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I'm sorry
죄송합니다
Joesonghamnida
jweh-sohng-hahm-nee-dah
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You're welcome.
아니에요.
Anieyo.
ah-nee-eh-yoh
The everyday reply to thanks; it literally means "no, not at all".
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Cheers!
건배!
Geonbae!
guhn-beh
With older people, hold your glass with both hands and turn slightly away as you drink.
Restaurants
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A table for two, please.
두 명이요.
Du myeongiyo.
doo myuhng-ee-yoh
Literally: “Two people.”
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Do you have a menu in English?
영어 메뉴판 있어요?
Yeongeo menyupan isseoyo?
yuhng-uh meh-nyoo-pahn ee-ssuh-yoh
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I'll have this, please.
이거 주세요.
Igeo juseyo.
ee-guh joo-seh-yoh
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Water, please
물 주세요
Mul juseyo
mool joo-seh-yoh
Water is usually free in restaurants and is often self-service.
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The check, please
계산해 주세요
Gyesanhae juseyo
gyeh-sahn-heh joo-seh-yoh
In many Korean restaurants you pay at the counter by the door, not at the table.
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Can I pay by card?
카드로 결제할 수 있어요?
Kadeuro gyeoljehal su isseoyo?
kah-deu-roh gyuhl-jjeh-hahl ssoo ee-ssuh-yoh
Directions
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How do I get to the station?
역에 어떻게 가요?
Yeoge eotteoke gayo?
yuh-geh uh-ttuh-keh gah-yoh
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Is it far from here?
여기서 멀어요?
Yeogiseo meoreoyo?
yuh-gee-suh muh-ruh-yoh
-
Can I walk there?
걸어서 갈 수 있어요?
Georeoseo gal su isseoyo?
guh-ruh-suh gahl ssoo ee-ssuh-yoh
Getting Understood
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I only speak a little.
한국어는 조금밖에 못해요.
Hangugeoneun jogeumbakke motaeyo.
hahn-goo-guh-neun joh-geum-bah-kkeh moh-teh-yoh
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Could you say that again, please?
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Dasi hanbeon malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?
dah-shee hahn-buhn mahl-sseum-heh joo-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh
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Could you write it down, please?
좀 적어 주시겠어요?
Jom jeogeo jusigesseoyo?
johm juh-guh joo-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh
Time & Opening Hours
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What time do you open?
몇 시에 문 열어요?
Myeot sie mun yeoreoyo?
myuht sshee-eh moon yuh-ruh-yoh
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What time do you close?
몇 시에 문 닫아요?
Myeot sie mun dadayo?
myuht sshee-eh moon dah-dah-yoh
Transport & Tickets
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One ticket, please.
표 한 장 주세요.
Pyo han jang juseyo.
pyoh hahn jahng joo-seh-yoh
On the subway and buses most people tap a rechargeable transport card, "교통카드" (gyotongkadeu).
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Which platform?
몇 번 승강장이에요?
Myeot beon seunggangjangieyo?
myuht ppuhn seung-gahng-jahng-ee-eh-yoh
Station signs often say "타는 곳" (taneun got), "boarding point", followed by the number.
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Does this go to the airport?
이거 공항 가요?
Igeo gonghang gayo?
ee-guh gohng-hahng gah-yoh
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Stop here, please.
여기서 세워 주세요.
Yeogiseo sewo juseyo.
yuh-gee-suh seh-wuh joo-seh-yoh
Also common: "여기서 내릴게요" (yeogiseo naerilgeyo), "I'll get out here".
Hotels & Lodging
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I have a reservation.
예약했어요.
Yeyakaesseoyo.
yeh-yah-keh-ssuh-yoh
To add your name, say it first and then "이름으로 예약했어요" (ireumeuro yeyakaesseoyo).
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What time is check-out?
체크아웃은 몇 시예요?
Chekeuauseun myeot siyeyo?
cheh-keu-ah-oo-seun myuht sshee-yeh-yoh
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Could I leave my bags here?
여기에 짐 좀 맡겨도 될까요?
Yeogie jim jom matgyeodo doelkkayo?
yuh-gee-eh jeem johm maht-kkyuh-doh dwel-kkah-yoh
Airport & Border
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I'm here on holiday.
여행하러 왔어요.
Yeohaenghareo wasseoyo.
yuh-hehng-hah-ruh wah-ssuh-yoh
At immigration, "관광이요" (gwangwangiyo), "tourism", is also a common short answer.
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Where is baggage claim?
짐 찾는 곳이 어디예요?
Jim channeun gosi eodiyeyo?
jeem chahn-neun goh-shee uh-dee-yeh-yoh
Airport signs say "수하물 찾는 곳" (suhamul channeun got).
Shopping & Money
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I'm just looking, thank you.
그냥 구경하는 거예요. 감사합니다.
Geunyang gugyeonghaneun geoyeyo. Gamsahamnida.
geu-nyahng goo-gyuhng-hah-neun guh-yeh-yoh. gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah
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That's too expensive.
너무 비싸요.
Neomu bissayo.
nuh-moo bee-ssah-yoh
-
Could I have a receipt, please?
영수증 주시겠어요?
Yeongsujeung jusigesseoyo?
yuhng-soo-jeung joo-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh
Staff often ask first: "영수증 드릴까요?" (yeongsujeung deurilkkayo?), "Would you like a receipt?".
Wi-Fi & Phone
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Is there Wi-Fi here?
여기 와이파이 있어요?
Yeogi waipai isseoyo?
yuh-gee wah-ee-pah-ee ee-ssuh-yoh
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I'd like a SIM card with data.
데이터 되는 유심 하나 주세요.
Deiteo doeneun yusim hana juseyo.
deh-ee-tuh dweh-neun yoo-sheem hah-nah joo-seh-yoh
Koreans call a SIM card "유심" (yusim); an eSIM is "이심" (isim).
What you'll hear
Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.
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Passport, please.
여권 부탁드립니다.
Yeogwon butakdeurimnida.
yuh-kkwuhn boo-tahk-tteu-reem-nee-dah
You may also hear "여권 주세요" (yeogwon juseyo).
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How long will you be staying?
얼마나 머무르실 예정입니까?
Eolmana meomureusil yejeongimnikka?
uhl-mah-nah muh-moo-reu-sheel yeh-juhng-eem-nee-kkah
It may be shorter: "며칠 계실 거예요?" (myeochil gyesil geoyeyo?), "How many days?".
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For how many people?
몇 분이세요?
Myeot buniseyo?
myuht ppoo-nee-seh-yoh
Answer with the number and "명이요" (myeongiyo), as in "두 명이요" (du myeongiyo).
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Are you ready to order?
주문하시겠어요?
Jumunhasigesseoyo?
joo-moon-hah-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh
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Cash or card?
현금으로 하시겠어요, 카드로 하시겠어요?
Hyeongeumeuro hasigesseoyo, kadeuro hasigesseoyo?
hyuhn-geu-meu-roh hah-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh, kah-deu-roh hah-shee-geh-ssuh-yoh
You will often hear it shortened to "카드세요?" (kadeuseyo?), "By card?".
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Go straight ahead.
앞으로 쭉 가세요.
Apeuro jjuk gaseyo.
ah-peu-roh jjook kkah-seh-yoh
You may also hear "직진하세요" (jikjinhaseyo), "go straight".
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Turn left.
왼쪽으로 도세요.
Oenjjogeuro doseyo.
wehn-jjoh-geu-roh doh-seh-yoh
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Turn right.
오른쪽으로 도세요.
Oreunjjogeuro doseyo.
oh-reun-jjoh-geu-roh doh-seh-yoh
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Meeting People
My name is…
저는 …입니다
Jeoneun …imnida
juh-neun … eem-nee-dah
Formal
Your name goes in the gap, as in "저는 아나입니다" (Jeoneun Ana-imnida).
Where are you from?
어디에서 오셨어요?
Eodieseo osyeosseoyo?
uh-dee-eh-suh oh-shuh-ssuh-yoh
Formal