Essential Korean Phrases for Beginners

Question words that unlock everything

Seven little words turn pointing and guessing into actual conversation. Ask them anywhere — Koreans are famously patient with learners who ask.

1. 1 뭐 mwo — What
2. 2 어디 eodi — Where
3. 3 언제 eonje — When
4. 4 누구 nugu — Who
5. 5 왜 wae — Why
6. 6 어떻게 eotteoke — How
7. 7 얼마 eolma — How much

Yes, no, and 'this one, please'

With 이거 (this) and 주세요 (please give me) you can order food, buy souvenirs and survive any counter in Korea before you've learned a single noun.

1. 8 네 ne — Yes
2. 9 아니요 aniyo — No
3. 10 주세요 juseyo — Please give me
4. 11 이거 igeo — This one
5. 12 그거 geugeo — That one
6. 13 이거 주세요. igeo juseyo — This one, please

Verbs you'll use every day

Korean verbs arrive politely dressed in -요: 가다 becomes 가요, 먹다 becomes 먹어요. Learn the dictionary form here and you'll recognize both on the street.

1. 14 가다 gada — To go
2. 15 오다 oda — To come
3. 16 먹다 meokda — To eat
4. 17 마시다 masida — To drink
5. 18 원하다 wonhada — To want
6. 19 한국어를 할 수 있어요. hangugeoreul hal su isseoyo — I can speak Korean

Now, later, here, there

Orient yourself in time and space — the words taxi drivers, new friends and street-food vendors all expect you to know.

1. 20 지금 jigeum — Now
2. 21 나중에 najunge — Later
3. 22 여기 yeogi — Here
4. 23 거기 geogi — There
5. 24 왼쪽 oenjjok — Left
6. 25 오른쪽 oreunjjok — Right

Hungry, thirsty, hot, cold

States and feelings are verbs in Korean — 배고프다 literally means 'stomach is empty.' Say it politely as 배고파요 and someone will feed you.

1. 26 배고프다 baegopeuda — Hungry
2. 27 목마르다 mongmareuda — Thirsty
3. 28 덥다 deopda — Hot (weather)
4. 29 춥다 chupda — Cold (weather)
5. 30 좋다 jotda — Good

   Also the everyday way to like things: 한국이 좋아요 — I like Korea.

In real life: getting what you want