Must-Know Korean Expressions for Your Korea Trip

You can get around Korea with English and a translation app. Still, a few Korean lines make cafe counters, shops, restaurants, and taxis smoother. Below is a pocket list — Hangul, romanization, and an English pronunciation guide in /slashes/ so you can say it out loud right away. Short cultural notes and sample exchanges sit under each section; photos are real travel scenes from Wikimedia Commons.

travelmate2021 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

At a Glance

• For: First-time and short-stay visitors
• Format: English meaning → Hangul → romanization → /say it like this/
• Sections: Basics & politeness · Shopping & paying · Dining & cafes · Transport & directions
• Tone: With staff and strangers, polite forms (-yo / -seumnida) are safest
• Tip: Speak slowly. If someone says “Ne?”, repeat once, a little clearer
• Also pack: Phone map pin, hotel address in Hangul, and a translation app for longer answers
• Note: Sound guides are learner-friendly approximations — not laboratory IPA

1. Basics & Politeness

Michaela den / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hello / Goodbye
안녕하세요 · annyeonghaseyo · /ahn-nyung-hah-seh-yo/
Default greeting when you enter a shop or start a short chat.

Thank you
감사합니다 · gamsahamnida · /gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah/
After help, payment, or service.

Excuse me / Sorry
죄송합니다 · joesonghamnida · /jweh-song-hahm-nee-dah/
For apologies. To get someone’s attention first, also learn:
저기요 · jeogiyo · /juh-gee-yo/

Yes / No
네 · ne · /neh/
아니요 · aniyo · /ah-nee-yo/
“Ne” can mean yes or “I’m listening.”

Help me, please
도와주세요 · dowajuseyo · /doh-wah-joo-seh-yo/
Show a map pin or hotel address on your phone.

Excuse me / One moment
잠시만요 · jamsimanyo · /jahm-shee-mahn-yo/
Squeeze past someone in a crowd, or ask staff to wait a second while you find a phrase.

Do you speak English?
영어 하세요? · yeongeo haseyo? · /yung-uh hah-seh-yo?/
Polite and common. Even a partial “yes” usually leads to phone translation or simple English.

Please say that again
다시 한번 말해 주세요 · dasi hanbeon malhae juseyo · /dah-shee hahn-bun mahl-hae joo-seh-yo/
Useful when directions come fast.

When you’ll hear this
Staff often greet you first at the door. A short Korean reply — even just annyeonghaseyo — softens the exchange. Use 저기요 to call someone over; save 죄송합니다 for bumping into people or real apologies.

Mini dialogue
You: 저기요… 영어 하세요?
Staff: 네, 조금요. / 잠시만요.
You: 다시 한번 말해 주세요. 감사합니다.

2. Shopping & Paying

Bgag / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

How much is this?
이거 얼마예요? · igeo eolmayeyo? · /ee-guh ul-mah-yeh-yo?/
Point at the item while you ask.

Can I pay by card?
카드 돼요? · kadeu dwaeyo? · /kah-deu dweh-yo?/
Ask before you queue. Some tiny shops prefer cash.

Please give me this
이거 주세요 · igeo juseyo · /ee-guh joo-seh-yo/
Simple “I’ll take this” at the counter.

Is there a discount?
할인해요? · halinhaeyo? · /hah-leen-hae-yo?/
Worth asking at markets or when buying several items — answers vary; don’t assume a bargain.

Receipt, please
영수증 주세요 · yeongsujeung juseyo · /yung-soo-jung joo-seh-yo/
Handy for tax refund counters and expense tracking.

Do you have a bag?
봉투 있어요? · bongtu isseoyo? · /bong-too ee-ssuh-yo?/
Many places charge for plastic bags or offer paper/reusable options — policies differ by shop.

When you’ll hear this
Traditional markets and small stores set their own rules for cards, discounts, and bags. Big retail often uses kiosks or self-checkout; pointing plus these lines still helps at human counters.

Mini dialogue
You: 이거 얼마예요?
Staff: 만 원이에요.
You: 카드 돼요? 영수증 주세요. 봉투 있어요?

3. Dining & Cafes

Richy! / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Water, please
물 좀 주세요 · mul jom juseyo · /mool johm joo-seh-yo/
“Jom” softens the request.

Is it spicy?
매워요? · maewoyo? · /mae-woh-yo?/
Point at the dish or menu photo.

Please make it less spicy
안 매운 걸로 주세요 · an maeun geollo juseyo · /ahn mae-oon gul-loh joo-seh-yo/
Not every kitchen can adjust heat — asking still helps.

I’ll take this to go
포장해 주세요 · pojanghae juseyo · /poh-jahng-hae joo-seh-yo/
Works for cafes, snacks, and many takeout meals.

Menu, please
메뉴 주세요 · menyu juseyo · /meh-nyoo joo-seh-yo/
Ask as you sit down, or if the menu isn’t already on the table.

Check, please / Please ring me up
계산해 주세요 · gyesanhae juseyo · /gyeh-sahn-hae joo-seh-yo/
In many restaurants you pay at the counter rather than at the table.

It’s delicious
맛있어요 · masisseoyo · /mah-shee-ssuh-yo/
A short compliment staff hear often — easy and sincere.

Ice / Hot
아이스 · aiseu · /eye-seu/
핫 · hat · /hat/
Cafe staple words; say them with the drink name (“아메리카노 아이스”).

When you’ll hear this
Cafes often confirm ice vs. hot first. Restaurants may bring water without asking; still, mul jom juseyo never hurts. Expect “pay at the counter” more often than a tableside check ritual.

Mini dialogue
You: 메뉴 주세요. 아이스로 주세요.
Staff: 네.
You: 맛있어요! 계산해 주세요. 포장해 주세요.

4. Transportation & Directions

LERK / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Where is the restroom?
화장실 어디예요? · hwajangsil eodiyeyo? · /hwah-jahng-shil uh-dee-yeh-yo?/

Where is the subway station?
지하철역 어디예요? · jihacheollyeok eodiyeyo? · /jee-hah-chul-yuk uh-dee-yeh-yo?/
Show the station name in Hangul if you can.

Please go to [Location]
[장소]로 가주세요 · [jangso]-ro gajuseyo · /[place]-roh gah-joo-seh-yo/
For taxis: show the destination pin. Depending on the word ending, -euro may sound more natural — clear place + pin beats perfect grammar.

Please let me off here
여기서 내려 주세요 · yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo · /yuh-gee-suh nae-ryuh joo-seh-yo/
Taxi / ride-hail stop request when you see your landmark.

How much is it? (taxi / fare)
얼마예요? · eolmayeyo? · /ul-mah-yeh-yo?/
Confirm the meter or app total before you pay.

To the left / To the right
왼쪽으로 · oenjjogeuro · /wen-jjoh-geu-roh/
오른쪽으로 · oreunjjogeuro · /oh-reun-jjoh-geu-roh/
Pair with pointing when someone gives walking directions.

When you’ll hear this
Subway signs usually show Hangul plus romanization — matching the Hangul on your map reduces wrong exits. For taxis, the pin does most of the work; these lines cover start, stop, fare, and left/right nudges.

Mini dialogue
You: 명동으로 가주세요.
Driver: 네.
You: 여기서 내려 주세요. 얼마예요? 감사합니다.

Quick practice tips

1. Use the /slash guide/ to speak first; use Hangul to check the menu or sign later.
2. Combine these lines with a translation app for longer answers.
3. Starting in Korean often gets warmer help, even if the reply comes in English.
4. Separate 저기요 (calling someone) from 죄송합니다 (sorry).
5. Five minutes a day: pick one section and say each line aloud twice before you go out.
6. Keep hotel / Airbnb address in Hangul on your phone lock screen or notes.

Sources

• Traveler phrase set curated for Korea Insight Now (K-LANGUAGE)
• Hangul spellings follow common standard forms; romanization + English sound guides are for learners (approximate, not strict IPA)
• Photos (Wikimedia Commons): travelmate2021 (CC BY 2.0); Michaela den (CC BY-SA 3.0); Bgag (CC0); Richy! (CC BY-SA 2.0); LERK (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• For deeper study, cross-check with official tourism/language primers (e.g. VisitKorea)