Common Korean phrases in conversations

“How do you say thank you in Korea?”

“How do you say you’re welcome in Korea?”

If you’re living, studying, or working in South Korea as a non-local who’s still trying to learn the Korean language, you might encounter some language barriers when having a conversation with some locals. This situation might confuse one or both sides or it might end up having problems understanding each other. Ziptoss has made a list of common and practical conversational words and phrases to say or ask in different kinds of situations.

1. Rental terms

• eotteon jib-eul chaj-euseyo?(What kind of house are you looking for?)
• jeonsel eul chaj-eusibnikka? wonlim-eul chaj-eusibnikka?(Are you looking for full rent or monthly rent?)
• issneun-eonje ganeung haseyo? (When will you move in?)
• gagyeog-e daehae eotteohge saeng-gag haseyo?(What would the ideal price be?)
• eon eujiyeog-eul wonhase-yo? jubyeon-ejihacheol-iiss-eoyadwaeyo? (Which area do you prefer? Is there a subway nearby?)
• cheung-go-e daehae teugbyeolhan yoguga iss-eusinayo? banjihado ganeunghaseyo? (Can I request for other floor levels? Can it be semi-underground?)
• beoseujeonglyujang/yeogkkajigakkawoyo? (Is it close to a bus station/subway?)
• gujoga eotteohge doeyo? (What is the structure made of?)
• wolse/bojeung-geum-eun eolma ingayo? (How much is the monthly rent and security deposit?)
• gwanlibineun issnayo? (Is there a management fee?)
• jeongi, gaseu, sudo, inteones biyong-eun eotteohge haeyo? (How do I pay for electricity, gas, water, and internet?)
• obsyeon-eun mwoga issnayo? (What is the layout of the room?)
• jigeum jib-eul boleogado doenayo? (Can I inspect the house now?)
• bang-eum-i jal doeneun bang-eul chajgo sip-eoyo. (I want to find a good soundproof house)
• gang-ajileul kiul su issnayo? (Can I keep a dog?)
• wolsega bissande jom kkakk-a jusimyeon andoelkkayo?(Is the rent a bit high, can you lower it a little?)
• daleun jib-eul bogo sip-eoyo. (I want to see other houses.)
• eolmayeyo? Susulyoneun-yo? (How much is the deposit and the handling fee?)
• i jib-eulo gyeyag halgeyo. (I want to sign the contract for this house)

Common words used in real estate:

• Jeonse (Full rent)
• Wolse (Monthly rent)
• Gosiwon (Dormitory)
• Hasugjib (Boarding House)
• Wonlum (Single bedroom)
• Ogtabbang (Rooftop apartment)
• Apateu (Apartment)
• Byeoljang (Villa, single house)
• Sinbaljang (Shoe cabinet)
• Singkeudae (Sink)
• Deuleseulum (Dressing room)
• Sunabjang (Closet)
• chaegwang (Lighting)
• Obsyeon (Furnishing options, such as bed, table, chair, air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.)
• Gaseuleinji (Gas stove)
• Imdae (Lease)
• Maemul (For sale)

2. Restaurants

For reservations

• Myeochsie yoseyo? (What time will you open?)
• Myeochsikkaji haseyo? (What time do you close?)
• Wichiga eodiseyo?/ jusoleul bulleo jusil su issnayo? (Where is the restaurant’s location? Can you give me the address?)
• jucha doenayo? (Can I park nearby?)
• myeochsie myeochbun-iseyo? (What time will you be there?)
• seonghamgwa jeonhwabeonholeul allyeojusigess-eoyo? (Can you tell me your name and phone number?)
• yeyag eobs-i baloosyeododoebnida. (You can come directly without a reservation)

For entrances

• eoseo-oseyo! (welcome!)
• Myeochbun iseyo? (How many are there?)
• magam haess-eoyo. (We are closed.)
• jigeum beuleikeu taim-ieyo. (It’s our break time now.)
• eolmana gidaryeo yadoenayo? (How long do you have to wait?)
• gidalisyeoya dwaeyo. 30 bun-eseo 40 bun jeongdo geollineyo (You will have to wait. It takes about 30-40 minutes.)
• ilhaeng-iiss-eoyo (Someone is already inside.)
• ijjog-eulooseyo. yeogianj-euseyo. (Please come over, please sit here.)
• mul-eunselpeuyeyo (Water is self-service)
• daleunpil-yohasingeoiss-euseyo? (Do you need anything else?)

Taking orders/ordering food

• yeogiyo! (Here you go!)
• (Please give me the menu.)
• eoneugejeilmas-iss-eoyo? (Which one tastes the best?)
• maeun geo mwo iss-eoyo? (Do you have anything spicy?)
• haemdochugahaejuseyo. (Please give me two kimchi stews and one pork belly. Plus luncheon meat.)
• (Please make it less spicy)
• yangpa ppaejuseyo. (Onions, please.)
• joesonghandegimchijjigaeleuldoenjangjjigaelobakkulsu-iss-eulkkayo? (Excuse me, can I exchange kimchi soup for soybean paste soup?)
• gong-gibabhanajuseyo. (Please give me a meal.)
• igeojegajumunhan-eumsig-ianieyo (This is not what I ordered.)
• jeohui geos-eonjenawayo? (When will it be served?)
• jigeummeog-eododwaeyo? (Can I eat it now?)
• nam-eungeopojanghaejusilsu-iss-euseyo? (Can you pack the rest for me?)
• jeoneun samgyeobsal hanayo. (Please check it out separately. I had the pork belly.)
• gat-igyesanhaejuseyo. (Please check it out together.)
• hyeongeumdodoenayo? (Can cash also work?)
• kadeubakk-eeobs-eoyo. (I only brought my card.)

In cafes

• (Please give me a green tea latte)
• ttatteushangeollodeulilkkayo? animyeon-aiseulodeulilkkayo? (Do you want it hot? Or do you want it cold?)
• eotteonsaijeulodeulilkkayo? (What size would you want?)
• (Please give me a tall cup.)
• deusigogaseyo? (Are you going to eat?)
• teikeuaushalgeyo. (No, I’ll have it for takeaway.)
• (Please add some syrup too)

3. Shopping terms

• gabang-eul bolyeogo haneundeyo. (I want to buy a bag.)
• nalssiga deowoseo yalb-eun os-eul sagosip-eoyo. (The weather is hot, so I want to buy thin clothes.)
• chingu ege seonmul-eul sajulyeogoyo. (I’m going to buy a present for a friend)
• geunyang gugyeonghaeyo. (Just take a look)
• ige keunsaijeuga eobsnayo? (Isn’t this a big size?)
• daleun saegkkal-i eobsnayo? (Are there no other colors?)
• ib-eodo dwaeyo? (Can I try it on?)
• mom-e jalmaj-ji anh-ayo. (It doesn’t fit me well.)
• hwajangpum koneoga eodie iss-eoyo? (Where is the cosmetics section?)
• ige jigeum-eolmayeyo? (How much is this now?)
• hal-in-i iss-eoyo? (Are there any discounts?)
• sin-yongkadeulogyesanhaedodwaeyo? (Can I pay by credit card?)
• halbulohasigess-eoyo? ilsibullohasigess-eoyo? (Is it a one-time payment or installment payment?)
• (Please sign here.)
• eojesassneundehwanbulhaejusilsu-issnayo? (I bought it yesterday, can I return it?)
• yeongsujeung-gajigogyeseyo? (Do you have a receipt?)

4. Hair Salon

• yeyaghasyeoss-eoyo? (Have you made a reservation?)
• eotteonseobiseuleulbad-eusigess-eoyo? (What services do you like?)
• keoteu, yeomsaeg, pamahalyeogoyo. (I want to cut/color/perm my hair.)
• meolileul eotteohgehaedeulilkkayo? (How do you want to style it?)
• kkeut-eman saljjag jeonglihaejuseyo. (Help me fix my hair ends a bit.)
• yeogikkaji jallajuseyo. (Please cut your hair till here.)
• jom jjalbge kkakk-ajuseyo. (Cut it a bit shorter)
• meolileul gamgyeodeulilgeyo. (I’ll help wash your hair.)
• jogeumman sonjilhasimyeon dwaeyo. (You just need to clean it up a bit.)
• gwimitmeolineun kkakkjimaseyo. (Please don’t cut the hair under the ears)

Hair salon nouns

• Apmeoli (Bangs)
• Pulbaeg (Full bangs)
• Siseulubaeng (Fringe bangs)
• Maejig (Straighten)
• Weibeu:C-keol/S-keol (Perm: C-curls, S-curls)
• Keulinig (Clinic)
• Yeomsaegppuli (Dyed hair roots),
• Jeoncheyeomsaeg (Full hair dyeing)
• Saegsangpyo (Color palette)
• Ilbandeulai (Hair drying)

Weibeudeulai (Use curling irons for styling)