10 Basic Korean Phrases You'll Actually Need in Korea (Free Guide)

10 Basic Korean Phrases (Free Guide / Lead Magnet)

Why "Textbook Korean" Isn't Quite Enough

(This section reflects our own editorial take, not a linguistic claim.)

Most phrasebooks throw a wall of vocabulary at you. In our experience, tourists don't need 200 words — they need the 10 or so phrases that actually come up, in the polite form that works everywhere, with a plain English translation attached.

That's what this guide is: a free, practical starting point. It's also a preview — these 10 phrases come from a chapter-by-chapter Korean survival guide we've been building, and there's a lot more where this came from.

One rule before you start: all the phrases below use Korean's standard polite speech level. That's the safe, respectful default with strangers, staff, and anyone older than you — you don't need to think about when to switch to a more casual form as a visitor.

Greetings & Basics

안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — Hello Works at any time of day, to anyone. This is your default "hello."

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) — Thank you The safe, polite version. You'll hear a shorter, more casual "고마워요" (gomawoyo) between friends — stick with 감사합니다 as a visitor.

죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) — I'm sorry / Excuse me Use it to apologize, but also to politely get someone's attention — tapping a shoulder and saying this before asking for directions is completely normal.

Getting Around

이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) — How much is this? "이거" (igeo) means "this" — point at whatever you're asking about and this phrase covers markets, taxis, convenience stores, everywhere.

여기서 내려주세요 (yeogiseo naeryeojuseyo) — Please let me off here Your go-to phrase in a taxi when you want to stop before the meter says so, or the app's drop-off pin isn't quite right.

At a Restaurant or Cafe

이거 하나 주세요 (igeo hana juseyo) — One of this, please Point at the menu (or a dish at the next table) and this does the ordering for you.

물 좀 주세요 (mul jom juseyo) — Water, please Most Korean restaurants bring water automatically, but if yours doesn't — or you want a refill — this is the line.

포장이에요 (pojang-ieyo) — It's to go (takeout) Cafe staff will often ask "여기서 드시겠어요, 포장이세요?" (dine in, or to go?) — this is your answer if you're taking it with you. (Exact phrasing can vary slightly by shop.)

When You Need Help

도와주세요 (dowajuseyo) — Please help me Simple, direct, and understood everywhere — save this one for when you actually need it.

병원이 어디예요? (byeongwon-i eodiyeyo?) — Where is the hospital? Swap "병원" for other places — "화장실" (hwajangsil, restroom), "약국" (yakguk, pharmacy) — and the sentence structure still works.

Want the Other 15?

These 10 phrases are the tip of the iceberg. We've built a complete 25-phrase Korea Survival Kit — covering airports, accommodation, shopping, meeting people, and more — with the full "what you'll say → what you'll hear back → how to answer" breakdown for each one, not just the phrase itself.

The full Korea Survival Kit guide is coming soon — keep an eye on this blog for the launch.

Try It Yourself

Before your next trip, pick three phrases from this list and actually say them out loud once. 안녕하세요 and 감사합니다 alone will take you further than you'd expect — everything else here is backup for the moments in between.