Survival Phrases

Use these essential everyday phrases to introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and navigate your very first conversations in Korean.

Use these essential phrases to confidently introduce yourself, ask questions, and make polite small talk when meeting someone new.

These phrases are used for meeting someone for the first time, introducing yourself, and making polite small talk in Korean work or social settings.

These phrases will help you start, maintain, and naturally conclude everyday conversations in Korean without sounding like a textbook.

These phrases will help you comfortably make small talk about the weekend, weather, and daily life, and end conversations naturally.

These phrases cover everyday departures, whether you are leaving the office, parting ways with friends, or saying goodbye to service staff.

Learn how to naturally say goodbye in Korean, whether you are leaving, someone else is leaving, or you are finishing your day.

These phrases are used to say goodbye naturally depending on who is leaving, who is staying, and how close you are to the person.

These essential phrases will help you navigate everyday social interactions in Korean, from expressing sincere gratitude to gracefully apologizing for mistakes.

Learn how to express thanks, apologize, and politely get someone's attention in everyday situations.

Learn how to politely express gratitude, apologize, and get someone's attention in everyday situations.

Use these practical phrases to check if someone is free, make plans to meet, and smoothly navigate scheduling conflicts.

Use these phrases to naturally invite someone out, agree on the details, or politely decline if you are busy.

Learn natural, everyday phrases to break the ice, find common ground, and exchange contact information when making new friends in Korea.

Learn how to warmly congratulate people in Korean for birthdays, passing exams, and getting a new job, from casual cheers to polite well wishes.

Use these phrases to naturally celebrate achievements, wish happy birthdays, and toast to good news in everyday Korean.

Use these phrases to naturally ask about and describe family size, marital status, and living situations when making small talk with acquaintances or colleagues.

These phrases will help you ask and answer everyday questions about family size, siblings, and marital status in Korean.

Use these phrases to talk about your family, living situation, and ask others about theirs in everyday conversations.

Use these phrases to politely decline invitations, explain that you are busy, and suggest meeting another time.

Use these phrases to politely decline invitations or offers, give a soft reason, and suggest alternatives without hurting feelings.

Essential Korean phrases for making, changing, and confirming a restaurant reservation over the phone or in person.

Essential phrases for calling a restaurant to book a table, giving your details, and mentioning dietary needs.

These everyday phrases will help you get a waiter's attention, read the menu, order food and drinks, and pay at a Korean restaurant.

Master these essential phrases to confidently read the menu, order your food, and handle special requests in a Korean restaurant.

These essential phrases will help you naturally order coffee, choose sizes, and ask for the Wi-Fi password in any Korean cafe.

Use these phrases to safely and clearly communicate your dietary restrictions and allergies when eating out in Korea.

Use these phrases to safely communicate your allergies and dietary needs to restaurant staff or friends.

Use these phrases to politely point out a problem with your order and ask the staff for a solution.

Use these phrases when you are ready to settle the bill, split the cost with friends, or choose a payment method at a restaurant or cafe.

These everyday phrases will help you ask for the bill, split the cost, and pay smoothly at Korean restaurants and cafes.

Use these phrases when you are ready to pay the bill at a restaurant, want to split the cost with friends, or need a receipt.

Essential phrases for ordering drinks, starting a tab, and enjoying a night out at a Korean bar.

These phrases will help you confidently order drinks, ask for recommendations, handle ID checks, and settle the tab at a Korean bar.

Learn how to confidently order food for takeaway or delivery, ask about fees, and sort out missing items.

Learn how to order food for takeaway or delivery, ask about fees, and sort out order mistakes using simple, everyday Korean.

Essential phrases for ordering takeaway, arranging food delivery, handling payments, and fixing order mistakes in Korean.

Use these everyday phrases to confidently order bread, pastries, and deli items like sliced meat and cheese at a Korean bakery.

Use these phrases when buying food from a Korean street stall or pojangmacha.

Use these phrases when checking in for a flight, dropping off bags, and confirming your seat and gate at the airport.

These phrases will help you smoothly navigate the airport check-in counter, from providing your documents and dropping off bags to choosing a seat and receiving your boarding pass.

Essential phrases for navigating airport security smoothly and communicating with officials.

Use these phrases when navigating airport security checks, following officer instructions, and asking about prohibited items.

Essential phrases for navigating immigration control, stating your travel purpose, and clearing customs smoothly upon arrival in Korea.

Use these phrases to report a missing suitcase, describe its appearance, and arrange for delivery at the airport baggage claim.

Use these phrases when purchasing train tickets, inquiring about schedules, and navigating the station in Korea.

Learn these essential Korean phrases to buy tickets, find your platform, and ask about the train schedule.

Use these essential phrases to buy train tickets, check departure times, and find your platform at a Korean station.

These phrases will help you navigate buses and the metro smoothly, ask for directions, handle transit cards, and politely deal with crowds.

Essential everyday phrases for navigating buses and the metro, checking your stops, and politely moving through crowds.

Navigate Korean public transport like a local with these essential phrases for buses and the metro.

Use these phrases to tell a taxi driver your destination, give basic directions, and pay for your ride in Korean.

Essential everyday phrases for directing a taxi and paying the fare in Korea.

These phrases will help you navigate taxi or rideshare trips in Korea smoothly, from giving clear directions to handling payment.

Use these phrases to ask for directions, understand simple instructions, and confirm you are going the right way.

Use these phrases to ask strangers on the street for directions to places like a convenience store or a subway station.

Use these phrases to navigate, ask locals for directions, and confirm you are going the right way.

Learn the essential Korean phrases you need to pick up a rental car, handle insurance options, and return the vehicle smoothly.

Use these phrases when boarding, settling in, and talking to flight crew during a Korean domestic or international flight.

Use these phrases on a plane to find your seat, ask crew for help, and say when you feel unwell.

Use these phrases at an airport or train station when your flight or train is delayed, cancelled, or you have missed a connection.

These phrases will help you navigate a Korean tourist information office, from asking for recommendations and directions to purchasing tickets.

These essential phrases will help you navigate a Korean tourist office, ask for maps, get recommendations, and find your way around.

These phrases will help you navigate the process of renting, riding, and returning a shared bike or electric scooter in Korea.

Essential phrases for renting a bicycle or electric scooter, understanding pricing and app rules, and handling the return.

Essential phrases for checking into a Korean hotel using simple, polite language.

Essential phrases for communicating clearly with hotel staff during your stay.

Essential phrases for checking into a Korean hotel, handling your reservation, and requesting room features or amenities.

These phrases will help you clearly report problems to hotel staff and request solutions when your room is not up to standard.

Use these phrases when you need practical information about hotel facilities, services, and checkout procedures during your stay, ensuring you communicate clearly with staff and travel companions.

Use these phrases at a hotel front desk to ask about breakfast times, wifi, the gym or pool, luggage storage, late checkout, and taxis.

Use these phrases to smoothly handle checking out, confirming your bill, and asking for a favor like luggage storage before you head to the airport.

Use these phrases when checking out of a hotel — settling the bill, returning the key, and handling any last questions.

Here are the essential Korean phrases you need to confidently book a room, specify your needs, and interact with hotel staff naturally.

Essential phrases for communicating with your Airbnb host and navigating your short-term rental.

Essential phrases for arriving, accessing your rental, and sorting out any issues with your host.

Essential phrases for checking in, asking about facilities, and making friends at a hostel in Korea.

Use these essential phrases to check in, find your way around, and meet fellow travelers when staying at a hostel in Korea.

These phrases will help you navigate hostel life in Korea, from checking in and asking about the rules to making friends in the dorms.

These phrases will help you check room availability and adjust your booking when you decide to extend your stay at a hotel.

Use these essential phrases to confidently navigate clothing stores in Korea, from finding the fitting room to asking for different sizes or colors.

Use these practical phrases to confidently ask for items, check prices, and pay when shopping for groceries or visiting a local Korean market.

Use these essential phrases when navigating Korean markets and grocery stores, from asking about prices and freshness to requesting specific quantities.

Use these essential phrases to ask about prices, negotiate politely, and make purchases while shopping in Korea.

Master these essential phrases and polite negotiation tactics for shopping at Korean traditional markets and underground malls.

Use these phrases when you need to return or exchange an item, discuss store policies, or handle issues with a receipt.

These essential phrases will help you handle bags, payments, receipts, and self-checkout machines at a Korean supermarket.

Use these phrases to compare electronics, check compatibility, ask about warranties, and make a confident purchase.

Use these phrases when shopping for electronics to compare models, ask about specs and warranties, and make a confident purchase.

Use these phrases when shopping for souvenirs, finding the perfect gift for a friend, and asking for wrapping in Korea.

Use these phrases when browsing shops, asking for gift recommendations, and paying for souvenirs in Korea.

Use these simple phrases to ask for recommendations, check prices, and get your gifts wrapped when shopping for souvenirs in Korea.

Use these phrases to ask shop staff about sizes, colors, and stock availability, or to discuss shopping with a friend.

Use these essential phrases to ask store staff if an item is in stock, request specific sizes or colors, and find what you are looking for.

These essential phrases will help you comfortably try on and buy shoes in Korea, from finding the perfect size to picking your favorite color.

These essential phrases will help you explain your symptoms, ask for the right medicine, and understand dosage instructions at a Korean pharmacy.

Essential Korean phrases for describing your symptoms and buying medicine at a local pharmacy.

These phrases will help you explain your symptoms, buy the right medicine, and understand dosage instructions at a Korean pharmacy.

Use these essential phrases to confidently book a medical appointment, explain exactly how urgently you need to see a doctor, discuss available times, and register as a new patient at a local Korean clinic, ensuring you get the care you need without relying on complex grammar.

Use these phrases to confidently book, change, or confirm doctor appointments and handle basic clinic registration in Korean.

Use these phrases at a pharmacy or clinic to describe your symptoms, ask about medication, and understand a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions.

These phrases will help you explain your dental issues clearly and understand the dentist's instructions and treatment options.

Use these practical phrases to explain your symptoms, register as a patient, and get the medical help you need at a Korean hospital.

These phrases will help you navigate a hospital or emergency room visit in Korea, from registering at the front desk to explaining your symptoms and understanding wait times.

Use these phrases to explain your vision problems, choose frames, and request specific lenses when visiting an optician in Korea.

These phrases will help you book a test or vaccine, describe your symptoms, and ask about results or certificates at a Korean clinic.

These phrases will help you navigate the process of opening a Korean bank account, from providing your ID to asking about mobile banking features.

Essential Korean phrases for finding an ATM, dealing with fees, and solving problems if your card gets stuck.

Essential phrases for finding an ATM, asking about fees, and dealing with card problems in Korea.

Use these essential phrases to confidently exchange money, ask about rates and commissions, and specify exactly which bills you need.

These phrases will help you navigate currency exchange counters and banks in Korea, covering everything from asking about rates and commissions to requesting specific bills.

Use these phrases to navigate the post office smoothly, from choosing your shipping method to handling customs forms.

Essential phrases for navigating the post office, from mailing parcels to tracking them.

Essential Korean phrases for buying a prepaid SIM card, choosing a data plan, and getting connected.

These phrases will help you navigate a mobile store in Korea to purchase, activate, and top up a prepaid SIM card.

Use these phrases to confidently explain a problem, request a refund, or politely escalate an issue when dealing with bank staff or administrators.

Use these phrases when registering for a library card, borrowing materials, and navigating the rules at a Korean public library.

These essential phrases will help you navigate a Korean library, from registering for a card to understanding borrowing rules and using the facilities.

These essential phrases will help you ask about rent, check utility conditions, and discuss moving dates when viewing an apartment in Korea.

These essential phrases will help you navigate setting up utilities, scheduling technician visits, and handling bills when moving into a new home in Korea.

Essential phrases for reporting broken items and scheduling repairs with your landlord or a handy friend.

Use these phrases when something is broken in your home and you need to communicate with your landlord about getting it fixed.

Use these phrases to build good relationships with your neighbors, from introducing yourself to handling common apartment living situations like deliveries and noise.

Useful phrases for talking to your neighbors in Korea, from making introductions to asking for small favors.

Essential phrases for figuring out where, when, and how to dispose of trash and recycling in your Korean home.

Essential phrases for navigating South Korea's strict trash and recycling rules when renting an apartment.

When you finally find a new apartment, you'll need these essential phrases to buy furniture, arrange delivery, and ask about assembly.

Use these phrases to confidently navigate furniture stores, ask about dimensions, and arrange delivery in Korea.

These essential phrases will help you explain the haircut, style, and color you want when visiting a Korean hair salon.

Visiting a hair salon in Korea can be intimidating, but these essential B1-level survival phrases will help you get exactly the style you want. You will learn how to discuss hair length, ask for specific treatments like coloring or layering, confirm prices, and effectively use reference photos. Master these expressions to communicate confidently with your stylist and avoid any unwanted surprises during your appointment.

Essential phrases for dropping off and picking up your dry cleaning and laundry in Korea.

Use these phrases to easily drop off your clothes, point out stains, and pick up your laundry in Korea.

Here are the essential phrases you need to navigate joining a gym in Korea, from asking about membership plans and free trials to checking opening hours and cancellation policies.

Essential phrases for joining a gym in Korea, from asking about prices to checking the class schedule and trial options.

These phrases will help you request, adjust, and confirm appointments naturally in everyday Korean.

Use these phrases to confidently book, change, or cancel an appointment at a Korean clinic, salon, or service desk.

Essential phrases for explaining car trouble, requesting a repair estimate, and discussing timelines with a mechanic in Korean.

Essential phrases for explaining phone issues, asking about repair times, and protecting your data at a repair shop.

Use these essential phrases to book a treatment, specify your preferences, and handle payments at a Korean spa or massage salon.

Learn how to confidently book an appointment, specify your treatment preferences, and handle payments at a Korean spa or nail salon.

Essential phrases for getting your clothes shortened, taken in, or hemmed at a Korean tailor or alteration shop.

Learn the most critical phrases for calling the police, fire department, or an ambulance in Korea, including how to explain your situation and location clearly.

These phrases will help you clearly communicate the situation, ask for medical help, and follow instructions during an emergency in Korea.

Use these phrases to report lost or stolen belongings, ask for help in an emergency, and navigate the process at the police station or embassy.

These essential phrases will help you get someone's attention, ask for help, and navigate communication when you are lost or do not understand.

Essential phrases for staying safe, communicating with other drivers, and getting help during a car accident or breakdown.

Use these phrases to clearly report an incident, describe what happened, and request necessary documentation when speaking with the Korean police.

Use these phrases to alert others, navigate to safety, and communicate with emergency personnel during a fire or building evacuation.

Use these essential phrases to alert others, ask for help, and find your way to safety during a fire or emergency evacuation.

These phrases will help you navigate your first day at a Korean workplace, from introducing yourself to asking for help and small talk.

These phrases will help you introduce yourself, navigate the office, and connect with your colleagues on your first day.

Use these phrases to inquire about course options, fees, and to register for a language class at an academy.

These phrases will help you ask about class schedules, understand fees, and register for a course at a language school or academy.

Here is how to request days off, explain an absence, or call in sick at work or school.

Here are the essential phrases you need to ask for time off, call in sick, or arrange cover for your work or studies.

Use these essential phrases to navigate university administration, from registering for classes and changing courses to getting official documents.