If you’re traveling to Korea and don’t yet speak any of the Korean language, then fear not, as we’ve compiled a list of 20 essential Korean phrases for tourists, as well as expressions, and words to help you get by during your visit!
So whether you’re looking to impress native speakers by ordering Korean food in their native language, or simply looking to learn some key phrases that may be helpful during your visit, then this is the list for you. Read on to discover 20 essential Korean phrases for tourists.
Tips Before You Start Learning Korean Phrases
If you’re planning on learning some basics of the Korean language, It’s first a good idea to get a grasp on some of the things outside of just the words, including pronunciation, the Korean alphabet, and different levels of formality. Don’t worry too much though, as you only need a basic understanding of these to be able to get by in Korea.
The Korean Alphabet & Pronunciation
Whilst we’ve done our best to make the pronunciation as easy as possible for you using Romanized Korean, we recommend learning the Korean alphabet (hangeul) first. This can help ensure that your pronunciation is perfect!
Don’t worry if that sounds scary – it was originally created to be super simple to learn so that the general public could learn to read, and not just scholars. When I started learning the language, it took just an hour to get a grasp on the basics, and two days to feel confident in being able to read new words.
Polite Language & Formal Endings
When you start learning these korean phrases for tourists, you’ll notice that a lot of them on this list end with “-m-ni-da” (-입니다) or “-yo” (-요)
To put it simply these are two of the most common endings of Korean sentences, and phrases beginning with “-m-ni-da” (-입니다) are the more formal version of the two.
Generally speaking, you don’t need to change the ending on any of the phrases we have provided if you are visiting as a tourist, however, if you’re practicing Korean with a Korean friend, or someone younger than you, then you should change to a less formal ending.
This is something that every Korean learner would cover in a Korean lesson or see in their textbook and it’s not something we really need to go into detail about if you’re planning on just visiting for a short vacation, as the majority of people you will use these phrases with will most likely be strangers in convenience stores, bars, restaurants, cafes, and perhaps even on the street. For this reason, all of our Korean phrases for tourists will be polite expressions that you’re able to use with a stranger. We will not be including any impolite language or Korean slang terms.
Basic Korean Words and Phrases
Before we jump into our list of the 20 essential Korean phrases for tourists, let’s first take a look at some of the must-have words, and basic phrases, that every budding Korean speaker needs when they’re an absolute beginner.
What is the easiest thing to say in Korean?
Arguably, the easiest thing to say in Korean is the word for yes, which also makes it extremely useful to learn! This word is 네 (ne) and is especially useful when making purchases or ordering at a cafe, etc.
It’s probably the most essential term to learn, as it was one of the most common phrases I used in my everyday life in Korea.
Must have Korean words and phrases:
- Yes – 네 (ne)
- No – 아니요 (a-ni-yo)
- Hello – 안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo)
- Thank you – 감사합니다 (gam-sa-hap-ni-da)
- Sorry – 미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da)
- Goodbye – 안녕히 가세요 (an-nyeon-ghi ga-se-yo)
- Excuse me – 저기요 (jeo-gi-yo) : This is the version used to get someone’s attention
Phrases For Shopping in Korea
For our first 5 key Korean phrases for tourists, let’s take a look at some of the keywords that are useful when shopping in Korea, aside from the basics listed above. We selected versatile phrases to include that would be useful no matter where you’re doing your shopping, be it in a clothes store, convenience store, or even a cafe.
1. Is there…? – …있어요? “… is-seo-yeo?”
Similar to the phrase “do you have…?” or “do you sell…?” this is a great phrase to use after the word for the item you’re looking for.
Simply use a translator to find out what you’re looking for, and then add this phrase to the end of the word in order to ask the staff if the store sells it. For example, if you’re looking for a wallet ‘지갑’ / ‘ji-gap’, you can say “지갑 있어요?” or “ji-gap is-seo-yeo?”
2. How much is this? – 이것 얼마예요? “i-geot eol-ma-ye-yo?”
When asking how much something costs in a store you can simply point to the item and ask this question. It’s a good idea to combine it with the aforementioned “excuse me” phrase, so you can say “저기요, 이것 얼마예요?” or “jeo-gi-yo, i-geot eol-ma-ye-yo?”
3. Please give me this – 이것 주세요 “i-geot ju-se-yo”
If you’re ready to buy something in a store where there is no counter to leave your item at, for example at a market, then you can simply hold up the item or point to it, and say “이것 주세요” or “i-geot ju-se-yo”.
The end part of this sentence can also be used when ordering in a restaurant or cafe, just replace the ‘이것’ / ‘i-geot’ with the item, for example, if you want to order an iced latte, you can simply say “아이스 라떼 주세요” or “ai-i-seu la-tte ju-se-yo”.
4. Can I pay by card? – 카드 돼요? “ka-deu dwae-yo?”
If you’re not planning on taking cash, almost everywhere in South Korea accepts credit or debit cards as a form of payment. That said, if you’re buying something at a market, for example, it’s worth asking if they accept card payments. You can do this by asking “카드 돼요?” or “ka-deu dwae-yo?
5. Please put it in a bag – 봉투에 넣어 주세요”bong-tu neoh-wo ju-se-yo”
These days not every store in Korea will give you a carrier bag to take your goods away. If you don’t have a bag to keep your purchases in and would like to get one at the store, simply say to the staff at the checkout, “봉투에 넣어 주세요” or “bong-tu neoh-wo ju-se-yo”.
Phrases For Dining Out in Korea
For our next 5 key Korean phrases for tourists, let’s take a look at some of the keywords that are useful when dining out in Korea. We selected essential phrases that would be useful when dining at a restaurant, but some of these can come in useful in bars and cafes too, it all just depends on the type of establishment you’re visiting!
1. Table for two! – 두 명이요 “du myeong-i-ye-yo”
As soon as you enter a restaurant, the staff will likely need to know how many people to seat.
For this example, we used two people, with the word for two being ‘두’ or ‘du’. Simply look up the word for the number of people in your party and say this instead of ‘두’ or ‘du’ at the beginning of the sentence.
You can say this before the staff even asks how many people there are, simply catch the attention of a member of staff, to say with a smile, “두 명이요!” or “du myeong-i-ye-yo!”
2. Do you have an English menu? – 영어 메뉴 있어요? “yeong-eo menu is-seo-yeo?”
This one takes one of the elements from our first shopping section, so whilst it may seem long, the end of this sentence is something we’ve already covered.
If you don’t have a translation app to hand, and you’re not provided with one when you enter, you can always try to ask for a menu in English (this is a great tip for anyone who is ethnically East Asian, as sometimes a restaurant may simply assume that you are Korean).
As you’re being seated, or if you’re not given a menu with any English on it, then you can simply ask “영어 메뉴 있어요?” or “yeong-eo menu is-seo-yeo?”
Note: This does not apply to restaurants that have the menu written on the walls. If you enter an establishment and their menu is simply written on the walls, then this is likely the only version they have. That said, these restaurants often boast some of the most delicious foods, so try to be brave and order from their Korean menu!
3. I’m ready to order! – 주문 할게요! “ju-mun hal-kay-yo”
In many establishments in Korea, there will be a bell at the table to press when you’re ready to order. Should you enter a restaurant with table service where there is no bell, then you can simply put your hand up and shout “주문 할게요!” or “ju-mun hal-kay-yo!” to call over a member of staff.
4. Let’s Eat! – 잘 먹겠습니다! “jal meok-gye-sseum-ni-da!”
Whilst this is not a direct translation (instead it literally translates to, “I will eat this well!”) it’s a common phrase said by Koreans before digging into a meal. Whilst not essential to know as a tourist, you’ll definitely impress your friends, or any Koreans you’re dining with if you know how to say this!
When everyone has received their food, and you’re all ready to eat, simply say “잘 먹겠습니다!” or “jal meok-gye-sseum-ni-da!”
5. Please split the bill – 반반해 주세요 “ban-ban-hae ju-se-yo”
A good one for those of you feeling particularly confident in your Korean abilities, asking to split the bill is a great way of showing off your Korean language skills to your friends. It must be noted though that this phrase is used if you want to split the bill equally, or directly in half.
It’s the most simple way of splitting the bill, as not only is it sometimes difficult to understand a foreign currency, but also most meals in Korea are shared! Once you’ve finished eating, simply head to the counter and ask the staff “반반해 주세요” or “ban-ban-hae ju-se-yo”.
Korean Phrases For Travel and Getting Around
If you’re traveling to South Korea, then asking for directions and help getting around is one of the most common situations in which understanding some basic Korean phrases would be beneficial.
Although there are plenty of English speakers in Seoul and some of the more popular tourist destinations in other cities, if you’re planning on traveling off the beaten path to one of the country’s more remote locations, then these phrases could come in extremely handy.
For this reason, our next 5 words and Korean phrases for tourists that you should know will all revolve around travel, directions, and getting from place to place, but could come in useful in other ways too.
1. Excuse me – 실례합니다 “sil-lye-ham-nida”
If you have a keen eye, you may notice that we already covered the phrase for excuse me in our ‘Basic Korean Words and Phrases’ section of this article. And those of you with an even keener eye may also have spotted that this phrase is a different one!
That’s because the previous version is the more basic one, it’s used to catch someone’s attention in a quick, less formal way. For example, if someone has dropped their wallet, you can shout “저기요” or “jeo-gi-yo”. Similarly, you can shout the same thing if you need to quickly grab the attention of a staff member in a restaurant, etc.
Alternatively, this version is better used as a gentle conversation starter when you need to approach someone for help. If you need to ask for directions or require assistance with something, then you can approach someone and gently say “실례합니다” or “sil-lye-ham-nida” to catch their attention.
2. Do you speak English? – 영어를 할 수 있으세요? “yeong-eo-reul hal su is-seu-se-yo?”
One good way of getting somebody to assist you with precisely what you need is by asking them in English, but first, you need to establish whether or not they can speak English.
Simply ask them “영어를 할 수 있으세요?” or “yeong-eo-reul hal su is-seu-se-yo?”.
Going back to our ‘Basic Korean Words and Phrases’ section of this article, we can use some of those keywords and phrases to determine our next steps.
If the person you asked responds with “네” or “ne” this means yes, and you can ask them for help with what you need in English.
If the person you asked responds with “아니요” or “a-ni-yo” then we can simply thank them for their time by saying “감사합니다” or “gam-sa-hap-ni-da” and move on to ask someone else (unless, of course, you feel confident asking them in Korean!)
3. Do you know where Myeongdong station is? – 명동역 어디인지 아세요 “myeong-dong-yeok eo-di-in-ji a-se-yo?”
This is a great phrase to use when asking for directions, and if you’re asking for directions to anywhere else, you can simply look up the name, and swap out the part of this sentence that is underlined.
For example, if you’ve arrived in Jamsil and are looking for Lotte Word, you can ask a passerby “롯데월드 어디인지 아세요?” or “lot-te-woul-deu eo-di-in-ji a-se-yo?”
4. Can you show me on the map? – 지도로 보여 주시겠어요? “ji-do-ro bo-yeo ju-si-gess-eo-yo?”
Once you’ve asked for directions, you may not necessarily understand if they try to help you in Korean. The best alternative is to get them to help you by showing you on a map. This can be incredibly helpful if you don’t have wifi or mobile data to be able to use Naver or Kakao maps.
Simply ask “지도로 보여 주시겠어요?” or “ji-do-ro bo-yeo ju-si-gess-eo-yo?”
5. I can’t speak Korean – 한국어 못해요 “han-guk-eo mot-hae-yo”
One of the most commonly used phrases among tourists and foreigners in Korea is often “I can’t speak Korean”. A great time to use this phrase is when asking for help, even if you’re asking in Korean. This way people will be able to help you in other ways, by either bringing out a translation application or using hand gestures and body language for directions.
If you don’t feel uber confident in your Korean Language abilities, you can simply say “한국어 못해요” or “han-guk-eo mot-hae-yo.”
Korean Phrases for Small Talk
Whilst you may not plan on making much small talk in Korea, sometimes it just happens! The last time I was in Korea visiting with my friend, many people in the streets were asking us questions, making small talk and involving us in everyday conversation. This is far more common outside of Seoul, so don’t worry about being perfect, people will just appreciate the fact that you tried.
1. What is your name? – 이름이 뭐예요? “i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?”
Though this isn’t especially common, it’s a good starting point if you’ve also made brief conversation and are hoping to practice some of your language skills. It’s a simple enough question to ask, just by saying “이름이 뭐예요?” or “i-reum-i mwo-ye-yo?”
2. My name is – 제 이름은 ***이에요 “je i-reum-eun ***-i-e-yo”
On the other hand, if someone asks you what your name is you’ll want to be able to answer. To do this simply say “제 이름은 ***이에요” or “je i-reum-eun ***-i-e-yo”, replacing the *** with your name.
3. Where are you from? – 어디에서 왔어요? “eo-di-e-seo wa-sseo-yo?”
In my experience, this is one of the most common questions to ask a tourist in Korea. Almost every interaction I had with a Korean native involved them asking me this question at some point, to the extent that this was more than a daily conversation. So rather than being one to ask someone else, It’s an important question to understand if someone asks you.
They will likely say “어디에서 왔어요?” or “eo-di-e-seo wa-sseo-yo?”
4. I’m from America – 저는 미국에서 왔어요 “jeo-neun mi-guk-e-seo wass-eo-yo”
In order to respond to their question appropriately, be sure to switch out the word ‘미국’ or ‘mi-guk’ for your country (this should also end in ‘국’ or ‘guk’).
For example, if you were from England, you would say “저는 영국 미국에서 왔어요” or “”jeo-neun yong-guk-e-seo wass-eo-yo”.
5. Nice to meet you! – 만나서 반가워요! “man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo!”
Another great phrase to use when making small talk is a simple “Nice to meet you!” No matter if you’re eating in a restaurant, or just finished asking someone for directions, it’s always friendly to say it was nice meeting them when they’ve gone to the effort of making casual conversation with you.
It also comes in incredibly useful when meeting your airbnb host, or a tour guide!
You can simply say “만나서 반가워요!” or “man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yo!”
Tags: alphabet, communication, korean language, korean phrases, phrases