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🇰🇷Essential Korean phrases for beginners

If you're starting Korean from zero, these are the phrases to learn first. They cover the moments you'll hit on day one — saying hello, being polite, asking for help, ordering food and finding your way. Each one is native-checked, with romanization to help you say it, and a tap through to usage and related phrases.

How to use this list: don't try to memorize all of them at once. Learn the greetings and the courtesy phrases first — they're the ones you'll use every single day — then add a few situational ones (directions, food, emergencies) before a trip. Say each out loud; reading silently won't build the muscle. When you're ready, practice them with a real Korean speaker.
  1. 1
    뭐 하러?

    What for?
  2. 2
    그것은 무엇입니까?

    What is it?
  3. 3
    이름은 무엇입니까?

    What's your name?
  4. 4
    톰은 어디에 숨어 있어?

    Where's Tom hiding?
  5. 5
    어디에요? yeo-de-e-yo?

    Where is it?
  6. 6
    그 거리는 어디에요? Geu geuri neui eyo?

    Where is that place?
  7. 7
    어디로 갑니까? eoreori gangnikka?

    Where are you going?
  8. 8
    그를 알아?

    Do you know him?
  9. 9
    무엇을 공부합니까?

    What do you study?
  10. 10
    어디에 사세요?

    Where do you live?
  11. 11
    아니야, 아니야.

    No, no.
  12. 12
    네, 안녕히 가요. Ne, Annyeonghi gaseyo.

    Bye for now
  13. 13
    오늘은 어떤 날인가요?

    What day is it today?
  14. 14
    그 차는 어디로 가나요?

    Where is that car going?
  15. 15
    약국은 어디에 있나요?

    Where is the pharmacy, please?
  16. 16
    라이터 있으세요?

    Do you have a lighter?
  17. 17
    무슨 일이야?

    Do you know what happened?
  18. 18
    어디서 프랑스어를 배울 수 있어?

    Where can I learn French?
  19. 19
    톰 머리는 어떤 색깔이야?

    What color is Tom's hair?
  20. 20
    문의사항이 있으신가요? Moonyeosaengam-i hasseuneunhaeyo?

    Do you have any questions?
  21. 21
    네, 맞아요. Ne, maetaeyo.

    Yes, I understand.
  22. 22
    반갑습니다. Banhapsimnida.

    Nice to meet you
  23. 23
    네, 안녕하세요. 저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요.

    Hello, I'm learning Korean.
  24. 24
    그거 이해 못해요. Geu-gue i-hee-mo chae-yo.

    I don't understand that.

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These essentials get you started. To actually speak Korean, practice them out loud — free with native-speaker peers, or 1-1 with a vetted tutor.

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