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50 Essential Korean Phrases Cheat Sheet [Free PDF]
Level
A1
Type
Guide
Theme
Travel
작성자
- YanghwaY
작성시각
Resource File
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50 Essential Korean Phrases Cheat Sheet [Free PDF]
Going to Korea soon? Just starting Korean? Or maybe you've been studying for a while and want a quick reference you can pull up on your phone?
This cheat sheet has 50 phrases that cover the situations you'll actually find yourself in—ordering food, asking for directions, shopping, and those moments when you really need the bathroom and can't remember the word.
Every phrase includes Korean, pronunciation, and a natural English translation. No textbook stiffness—just how people actually talk.
Part 1: Greetings and Basics (10 phrases)
These are the foundation. Use them constantly—every single day.
# | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
1 | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
2 | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you |
3 | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry (formal) |
4 | 네 | ne | Yes |
5 | 아니요 | aniyo | No |
6 | 괜찮아요 | gwaenchanayo | It's okay / I'm fine |
7 | 안녕히 가세요 | annyeonghi gaseyo | Goodbye (to someone leaving) |
8 | 안녕히 계세요 | annyeonghi gyeseyo | Goodbye (to someone staying) |
9 | 잠시만요 | jamsimanyo | One moment please |
10 | 실례합니다 | sillyehamnida | Excuse me (polite) |
A note on goodbye: Korean has two "goodbye" phrases depending on who's leaving. If YOU'RE leaving and the other person stays, say 안녕히 계세요 (please stay well). If THEY'RE leaving and you stay, say 안녕히 가세요 (please go well). If you're both leaving, either works—most people say 안녕히 가세요.
Real moment: You walk into any Korean shop, restaurant, or building, and someone will greet you with "안녕하세요!" When you respond with the same phrase, you'll see a small smile—it means a lot when a visitor tries. And when you leave with "감사합니다," you've just had a complete, polite interaction in Korean. Those two phrases alone make a real impression.
Part 2: At Restaurants (10 phrases)
You will use these DAILY in Korea. Food is central to Korean culture, and eating out is extremely common.
# | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
11 | 여기요! | yeogiyo! | Excuse me! (calling staff) |
12 | 메뉴 주세요 | menyu juseyo | Menu please |
13 | 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one please |
14 | 이거 뭐예요? | igeo mwoyeyo? | What is this? |
15 | 맛있어요! | masisseoyo! | It's delicious! |
16 | 물 좀 주세요 | mul jom juseyo | Water please |
17 | 더 주세요 | deo juseyo | More please |
18 | 계산이요 | gyesaniyo | Check please |
19 | 카드 돼요? | kadeu dwaeyo? | Can I pay by card? |
20 | 잘 먹겠습니다 | jal meokgesseumnida | I'll eat well (said before eating) |
Cultural note: 잘 먹겠습니다 (I'll eat well) is said before a meal—it's like Korean grace. It expresses gratitude to whoever prepared or is paying for the food. After eating, you can say 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida, I ate well). These aren't optional niceties in Korea—they're basic manners that everyone uses.
The 주세요 (juseyo) hack: 주세요 means "please give me." Combine it with ANY noun and you can ask for anything:
•
물 주세요 (water please)
•
커피 주세요 (coffee please)
•
영수증 주세요 (receipt please)
•
이거 주세요 (this one please)
This single word might be the most useful word in Korean for daily life.
Part 3: Shopping (10 phrases)
Markets, department stores, convenience stores—Korea is a shopping paradise.
# | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
21 | 얼마예요? | eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
22 | 너무 비싸요 | neomu bissayo | It's too expensive |
23 | 좀 깎아 주세요 | jom kkakka juseyo | Please give me a discount |
24 | 카드 돼요? | kadeu dwaeyo? | Can I use a card? |
25 | 현금만 돼요? | hyeongeumman dwaeyo? | Cash only? |
26 | 큰 거 있어요? | keun geo isseoyo? | Do you have a bigger one? |
27 | 작은 거 있어요? | jageun geo isseoyo? | Do you have a smaller one? |
28 | 다른 색 있어요? | dareun saek isseoyo? | Do you have another color? |
29 | 이거 살게요 | igeo salgeyo | I'll buy this one |
30 | 봉투 주세요 | bongtu juseyo | Bag please |
Bargaining tip: 좀 깎아 주세요 (please give a discount) works at traditional markets and some small shops, but NOT at department stores, chain stores, or convenience stores. In those places, prices are fixed. At markets, bargaining is expected and even fun—start with a smile and use this phrase.
Part 4: Getting Around (10 phrases)
For when you need to find places, use transportation, or figure out where on earth you are.
# | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
31 | 여기 어디예요? | yeogi eodiyeyo? | Where is this? |
32 | 화장실 어디예요? | hwajangsil eodiyeyo? | Where's the restroom? |
33 | 이거 어떻게 가요? | igeo eotteoke gayo? | How do I get here? (showing map) |
34 | 왼쪽 | oenjjok | Left |
35 | 오른쪽 | oreunjjok | Right |
36 | 직진 | jikjin | Straight ahead |
37 | 여기서 내려 주세요 | yeogiseo naeryeo juseyo | Please let me off here (taxi) |
38 | 얼마나 걸려요? | eolmana geollyeoyo? | How long does it take? |
39 | 지하철 역 어디예요? | jihacheol yeok eodiyeyo? | Where's the subway station? |
40 | 택시 불러 주세요 | taeksi bulleo juseyo | Please call a taxi |
Real moment: The phrase 화장실 어디예요? (where's the restroom?) will save you at least once a day in Korea. I've seen tourists desperately pointing and miming, when these four syllables would solve the problem instantly. Practice this one until it's automatic.
For taxis, 여기서 내려 주세요 (please let me off here) is essential. Korean taxis don't always know exactly where you want to stop, so when you see your destination, say this phrase and they'll pull over.
Part 5: Emergency and Useful Phrases (10 phrases)
For those moments when something goes wrong, or you just need to slow things down.
# | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
41 | 도와주세요! | dowajuseyo! | Help! / Please help me! |
42 | 한국어 못해요 | hangugeo mothaeyo | I can't speak Korean |
43 | 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo | Please speak slowly |
44 | 다시 한번 말해 주세요 | dasi hanbeon malhae juseyo | Please say it one more time |
45 | 영어 할 수 있어요? | yeongeo hal su isseoyo? | Can you speak English? |
46 | 모르겠어요 | moreugessseoyo | I don't understand / I don't know |
47 | 여기 와이파이 있어요? | yeogi waipai isseoyo? | Is there WiFi here? |
48 | 이거 한국어로 뭐예요? | igeo hangugeollo mwoyeyo? | What's this in Korean? |
49 | 사진 찍어 주세요 | sajin jjigeo juseyo | Please take my photo |
50 | 전화 좀 빌려 주세요 | jeonhwa jom billyeo juseyo | May I borrow your phone? |
The power phrase: 천천히 말해 주세요 (please speak slowly). This one phrase will transform your Korean interactions. When someone speaks too fast and you look confused, they might switch to English or give up. But if you say this, they'll slow down and try again in simpler Korean. It keeps the conversation going in Korean, which is exactly what you want as a learner.
How to Use This Cheat Sheet
Before your trip:
•
Pick 10 phrases and practice them until they're automatic
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Start with Part 1 (basics) and Part 2 (restaurants)—you'll use these most
During your trip:
•
Keep the PDF on your phone for quick reference
•
Try one new phrase per situation
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Don't worry about perfect pronunciation—effort counts
At home studying:
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Use these as starter sentences, then build on them
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Practice with a language partner or tutor
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Watch K-dramas and listen for these exact phrases
Pro Tips for Using These Phrases
Point and say "이거" (igeo, this): Combined with 주세요 (please give me), you can handle any ordering situation without knowing the menu. Point at what you want and say "이거 주세요." Done.
Smile always: Koreans appreciate effort. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, a genuine attempt with a smile goes incredibly far.
Learn the numbers 1-10: Combined with these phrases, you can handle money, ordering quantities, and telling taxi drivers addresses. Native Korean numbers for counting (하나, 둘, 셋...) and Sino-Korean for prices (일, 이, 삼...).
Download Your Free Cheat Sheet
📥 [Download the 50 Essential Korean Phrases PDF]
EKC_50_Korean_Phrases.pdf67.09KB
The PDF includes:
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All 50 phrases with Korean, pronunciation, and English
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Organized by situation for quick lookup
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Pocket-sized format—print and fold for your wallet
Print it, save it to your phone, tape it to your fridge—whatever keeps it within reach.
