---
title: Korean phrases
---

<status>Status: 🌿 </status>

### Thank you

from most to least formal

- 감사합니다
- 고맙습니다
- 감사해요
- 고마워요
-  _casual territory_
- 고마워
- 감사 (texting)
- ㄱㅅ (= thx)

### Please give me

주세요

### Here you go

여기요

### Goodbye

안녕히 계세요 - literally "stay in peace". Used when person you're saying "bye" to is staying and you're leaving

안녕히 가세요 - literally "go in peace". Used when other person is leaving (regardless if you're staying or going as well).

### Sorry (apology)

those are used as an apology, not "I'm sorry to hear that"

Phrases below mean "I am sorry I did X".

from most to least formal
- 죄송합니다
- 미안합니다
- 죄송해요
- 미안해요
- _casual territory_
- 미안해
- 미안
- ㅁㅇ (for textchat, but can be used as "sorry not sorry")

### Sorry (I'm sorry to hear that)

괜찮아질 거에요 = it's gonna be okay

너무 걱정 말아요 = don't worry too much

건강 관리 잘 해요 = take care of your health

### It's okay/I'm okay

괜찮아요

### Excuse me
죄송합니다 - "excuse me"/"I'm sorry" - often used when passing through the crows of people or when bumping into someone

실례합니다 - excuse me

### Here you go

여기요

### To like

좋아하다 = to like

### See you next time

- 다음에 봐요
- 봐요 - see you
- 다음 - next time
- 에 - time marker

### Time

- 몆시 = what time
- 지금 = now
- 내일 = tomorrow
- 오늘 = today
- 어제 = yesterday
- 정오 = midday
- 자정 = midnight
- 아까 = earlier
- 이따가 / 나중에 = later
	- 이따가 집에 가고 싶어요 = I want to go home soon
	- 나중에 집에 가고 싶어요 = I don't want to go home/go as late as possible
- 오래 전에 = long time ago
- -번 = -times (몇 번 = how many times)
- 자주 = often
- 얼마나 자주 = how often
- 얼마나 오래 = how long
- 항상 = always

### Days of the week

1. 월요일
2. 화요일
3. 수요일
4. 목요일
5. 금요일
6. 토요일
7. 일요일

### 계절 Season

- 봄 - spring
- 여름 - summer
- 가을 - fall, autumn
- 겨울 - winter

### This/that

#### 이 (this)
- 이 - this
- 이 물 - this water
- 이거 - this/this thing

#### 저 (that)
- 저 - that
- 저 커피 - that coffee
- 커거 - that/that thing

#### 그 (the)
- 그 - the
- 그 가방 - the bag
- 그거 - it/the one

### 날씨 Weather

- 날씨 어때요? - how is the weather?
- 하늘 - sky
- 기상예보 - weather forecast
- 첫눈 - first snow
- 화창하다 - sunny
- 흐리다 - cloudy
- 이슬비(가) 내리다/오다 - drizzle
- 바람(이) 불다 - wind/windy
- 덥다 - hot
- 따뜻하다 - warm
- 춥다 - cold
- 시원하다 - cool
- 비(가) 오다/내리다 - to rain
- 번개(가) 치다 - lightning
- 일출 - sunrise
- 일몰 - sunset
- 도 - degrees
- 13.9도 = 십삼 쩜 구 도 = 13.9C
- 저온 - low temperature
- 고온 - high temperature
- 영하 - below zero (for C)
- 습도 - humidity
- 건조하다 - dry
- 습하다 - humid
- 쌀쌀하다 - chilly
- 비가 그치다 - to stop raining

### Questions
- X + -은/는 요? - How about X?
- 누구 - who
- 누가 - which person
- 누구 예요? - who is it?
- 누가 했어요? - who did it?
- 언제 - when
- 알다 -to know
- 모르다 - to not know
- 어디 - where
- 어디 예요? - where is it?
- 네? - what?
- 뭐 - what
- 왜? - why?
- 어떻게 + verb = how + verb
- 얼마 = how much
- 얼마나 + adj = how + adj

### Really

- 조금 - a little, a bit
- 정말 - really, truly
- 진짜 - real(ly)
- 아주 - very, truly
- 별로 - (not) really (only with neg sentences)
- 전혀 - (not) at all (only with neg sentences)

### In front of/Behind/etc

- 앞 = front
- 뒤 = back
- 옆 = side
- 위 = top
- 밑, 아래 = bottom

### to be alike/the same

같다 = to be like

noun + (이)랑 = to be the same

_(with verbs)_
-(으)ㄴ/는/(으)ㄹ 것 같다

### 색, 색깔 - Colour

| colour       | option1     | option2            |
| ------------ | ----------- | ------------------ |
| black        | **검정**색     | 블랙                 |
| blue         | 파란색, 파랑     | 블루                 |
| navy blue    | 남색          | 네이비                |
| sky blue     | 하늘색         | 연(light) 블루        |
| brown        | 갈색          | 브라운                |
| dark brown   | 진 갈색, 밤색    | 진 (deep, dark) 브라운 |
| gold         | 금색          | 골드                 |
| silver       | 은색          | 실버                 |
| gray         | 회색          | 그레이                |
| purple       | 보라색         | 퍼플                 |
| green        | 초록색         | 그린                 |
| light green  | 연두색         |                    |
| blue-green   | 청록색, 민트색    |                    |
| orange       | 주황색         | 오렌지                |
| pink         | 분홍색         | 핑크                 |
| red          | 빨간색, 빨강     | 레드                 |
| white        | 하얀색, 흰색, 백색 | 화이트                |
| yellow       | 노란색, 노랑     | 옐로우                |
| light yellow | 연노란색        |                    |

### Korean words similar to English

 (word - 단어)

| Korean      | English                        |
| ----------- | ------------------------------ |
| 크로와상        | croissant                      |
| 카페          | cafe                           |
| 카페 라떼       | cafe latte                     |
| 바닐라 라떼      | vanilla latte                  |
| 카라멜 라떼      | caramel latte                  |
| 스트로베리 프라프치노 | strawberry frappuccino         |
| 카푸치노        | cappuccino                     |
| 아메리카노       | americano                      |
| 에스프레소       | espresso                       |
| 시나몬 롤       | cinammon roll                  |
| 콩글리쉬        | Konglish (Korean + English)    |
| 아이쇼핑        | window shopping (eye shopping) |
| 아르바이트       | part-time job (Arbeit)         |
| 모닝콜         | wake-up call (morning call)    |
| 서비스         | one the house (service)        |
| 린스          | har conditioner (rinse)        |

### Exchanging Numbers

번호교환

- to be glad (to meet) = 반갑다
- to let (someone) know = 알려 주다 (알리다 + -아/어/여 주다)
- to let (someone) know (honorific) = 알려 드리다
- business card = 명함
- number = 번호 (specific number ex. phone, house, bus number), 숫자 (any number, ex. number 4)
- mobile phone = 핸드폰, 휴대폰, 스마트폰
- contact information = 연락처
- to save = 저장하다
- to see, to meet (honorific) = 뷥다


### 당신 (you)

Use with caution in real life conversations - "you" is rarely used, especially when speaking 존댓말 or more format language.

Uses of `당신`

1. you are **angry at someone** and do not mind fighting or arguing with that person
	1. 당신 뭐야? / 너 뭐야? = who do you think you are? what are you?
	2. 당신 뭐가 문제야? / 너 뭐가 문제야? = what is your problem?
2. you are **translating a foreign language** and you absolutely must have *a word for "you"*
3. you are **writing or singing a song**, or using indirect language in general
	1. (both 2 and 3)
	2. 당신의 눈은 참 아름다워요 = your eyes are so beautiful
	3. 당신에게 이 노래를 바칩니다 = I dedicate this song to you
4. you are addressing your spouse (commonly used among middle-aged or older people)[^1]
	1. 당신 지금 어디예요? = honey, where are you?
	2. 당신 지금 어디야? = honey, where are you?
5. (rare case) you are talking about someone (**who is not present**) in an honorific way and *want to say "he" or "she"*

### 괜찮아요

1. Present tense = 괜찮아요
2. Past tense = 괜찮았어요
3. Future tense = 괜찮을 거예요

uses:

1. I am okay / I am alright / Everything is fine [^4]
2. Do not worry [^5]
3. It is good [^6]
4. I'm good / I'm cool/  No, thanks [^7]

### Slang

- 맞을래? - do you want to be hit? [^8]
- 죽을래? - do you want to die? [^8]

### Sometimes, Often, Always, Seldom, Never, Almost

Usually they go right before the verb, but their position is very flexible. As long as the meaning of the sentence is clear, it does not matter where they are placed, **but** certain part of a sentence can be emphasized.

- 가끔 - sometimes
- 자주 - often

- 항상 - always
- 맨날 - (lit. every day) all the time, always[^13]
- 매일 - every day

- 별로 - seldom, rarely, not much
- 전혀 = not at all
- 거의 = almost (but) not at all[^14]

### Word contractions

Used to make speech faster. If used in text - very informal

#### -은/-는

- 저는 -> 전[^15]
- 나는 -> 난
- 우리는 -> 우린
- 이것은 (v formal) -> 이거는 (casual) -> 이건 (casual)
- 서울에는 -> 서울엔
- 어제는 -> 어젠

#### 것이

- 이것이 -> 이게
- 저것이 -> 저게
- 그것ㅣ -> 그게

### Word builder

#### 학

**학** is related to "learning", "studying", "school"

- 학 + 생 (person, member, participant) = 학생 = student
- 학 + 교 (school) = 학교 = school
- 학 + 원 (house, garden) = 학원 = private academy
- 수 (number) + 학 = 수학 = mathematics
- 과 (subject, class, species) + 학 = 과학 = science
- 어 (word) + 학 = 어학 = language learning
- 언어 (word + word) + 학 = 언어학 = linguistics
- 경제 (economy) + 학 = 경제학 = economics
- 학 + 년 (year) = 학년 = school year (grade)
- 학 + 기 (period) = 학기 = semester
- 방 (to release, let go) + 학 = 방학 = school vacation
- 장학금 = scholarship
- 장학생 = student on a scholarship
- 복학생 = student who has returned to school (usually) after a long break, returning student
- 독학 = self-study, studying by oneself

#### 실

**실** is related to "room"

- 교 (school, teach) + 실 = 교실 = classroom
- 연습 (practice) + 실 = 연습실 = practice room
- 사무 (office work, desk job) + 실 = 사무실 = office
- 병 (disease) + 실 = 병실 = hospital room, patient's room
- 대기 (wait) + 실 = 대기실 = waiting room
- 화장 (makeup) + 실 = 화장실 = toilet, bathroom
- 분장 ((stage/theatre)makeup) + 실 = 분장실 = dressing room, backstage room (specific to stage/theatre makeup)
- 회의 (meet) + 실 = 회의실 = meeting room, conference room
- 실 + 장 (head, leader) = 실장 = head of the office
- 실 + 내 (inside) = 실내 = indoors
- 실 + 외 (outside) = 실외 = outdoors, outside

[^1]: other words that can replace 당신 in this usage are 여보 (most common) and 자기 (more common among young couples)

#### 동

동 is related to movement, move, to move

- 운 (to tranport) + 동 = 운동 = exercise, workout
- 작 (to make) + 동 = 작동 = operation (of a device)
- 활 (to flow, to be alive) + 동 = 활동 = activity[^2]
- 연 (to connect) + 동 = 연동 = linkage, interlocking[^3]
- 동 + 영(to project) + 상(image) = 동영상 = video

#### 중

중 means "center" or "middle"

- 중 + 학교 (school) = 중학교 (middle school)
- 중 + 식 (eat) = 중식 (format name for "lunch")
- 회의 (meeting, conference) + 중 = 회의중 (meeting in progress)
- 공사 (construction) + 중 = 공사중 (under construction)

[^2]: 온라인 활동 = online activities

[^3]: ex: 페이스복 연동

[^4]: ex You slip and fall and someone asks you if you are alright

[^5]: ex: your friend is worrying about something and you want to tell them to not worry

[^6]: you refer to something as "cool", "good" or "recommendable"

[^7]: your friend offers you a drink and you want to politely refuse it

[^8]: not literally, used to express annoyance or "don't" in informal way


#### 불

`부/불` means "not"

- 불 (not) + 안 (comfortable) = 불안 = anxiety, anxious[^12]
	- 불안하다 >> action >> 불안하 + 아/어/여하다 = 불안해하다
	- 불안해하지 마세요 = Don't be anxious
- 불 (not) + 편 (comfortable, convenient) = 불편 = inconvenient, uncomfortable
- 불 (not) + 완전 (complete) = 불완전 = incomplete
- 불 (not) + 균형 (balance) = 불균형 = imbalance
- 불 (not) + 만 (full) = 불만 = complaint[^9][^10]
- 부 (not) + 정확 (correct) = 부정확[^11] = incorrect/inaccurate
- 부 (not) + 주의 (attention) = 부주의[^11] = carelessness
	- 제 부주의로 사고가 났어요 = I was careless, so it caused an accident
- 부 (not) + 당 (correct, right) = 부당[^11] = wrong, unfair, unjust
- 부 (not) + 적절 (proper) = 부적걸 = inappropriate, improper

#### 가

`가` means "family"

- 가족 = family
- 가구 = furniture
- 외가 = one's mother's paretns' home
- 가전제품 = hosehold electrical appliance

#### 장

`장` means "first" or "head"

- 부장 = department head
- 사장 = president
- 장녀 = the oldest daughter
- 회장 = chairman

#### 인

`인` means "person"

- 부인 - wife
- 연예인 - celebrity
- 인형 - doll
- 애인 - lover

#### 심

`심` means "heart"

- 관심 = interest
- 조심 = caution
- 의심 = doubt
- 자전심 = self-esteem

#### 외

`외` means "outside"

- 시외 = countryside
- 외국 = foreign country
- 외출 = go out
- 해외 = foreign country

#### 력

`력` means "power"

- 능력 = ability
- 경력 = career
- 노력 = effort
- 실력 = skill

[^9]: 저한테 불만 있어요? = Do you have any complaints against me?/Do you have a problem with me?

[^10]: 만죽 = satisfaction/be pleased

[^11]: 불 is pronounced and written as 부 when the consonant that follis is ㄷ or ㅈ

[^12]: can also mean `unstable` for example 불안해요 = It doesn't look stable

[^13]: more common in spoken

[^14]: can join other words for different meanings, e.g.: 거의 맨날 = almost every day

[^15]: warning! also a pancake
