Topic guide
Korean Greetings & Everyday Politeness β The Survival Set
Every Korean interaction runs on a small set of ritual phrases β and almost all of them come in a polite version and a casual version. Learn the phrase AND its level, and you sound like you get it.
This set covers arriving, thanking, apologizing, agreeing, calling for help, and the meal-table rituals β the complete survival kit for your first conversations.
Work through these roughly in order before a trip or your first real conversations β they're short individually, and together they cover more real ground than a much longer phrasebook chapter.
- 01
What Does μλ νμΈμ (Annyeonghaseyo) Mean in Korean?
Annyeonghaseyo (μλ νμΈμ) means hello in Korean, literally 'are you at peace?' Who to say it to, when to bow,β¦
- 02
What Does μλ (Annyeong) Mean in Korean?
μλ (annyeong) is the casual Korean hi that also means bye.
- 03
μλ ν κ°μΈμ vs μλ ν κ³μΈμ: The Goodbye Pair
Learn the difference between μλ ν κ°μΈμ and μλ ν κ³μΈμ β Korean's two polite goodbyes β and which one to sayβ¦
- 04
What Does κ°μ¬ν©λλ€ (Kamsahamnida) Mean in Korean?
Kamsahamnida (κ°μ¬ν©λλ€, often typed kamsamida or gamsahamnida) is the polite 'thank you' in Korean.
- 05
κ°μ¬ν©λλ€ vs κ³ λ§μ: Which 'Thank You' Should You Use?
κ°μ¬ν©λλ€, κ³ λ§μμ, or κ³ λ§μ?
- 06
What Does μ£μ‘ν©λλ€ (Joesonghamnida) Mean in Korean?
Joesonghamnida (μ£μ‘ν©λλ€) is the formal 'I'm sorry' in Korean.
- 07
What Does λ―Έμν΄ (Mianhae) Mean in Korean?
Mianhae (λ―Έμν΄) is the casual 'I'm sorry' in Korean.
- 08
λ€ (Ne) vs μ (Eung): How to Say Yes in Korean
λ€ (ne) and μ (eung) both mean yes β but one is polite and one is casual.
- 09
How to Say No in Korean (μλμ/μλ)
Learn how to say 'no' in Korean β μλμ (polite) and μλ (casual) β plus how Korean 'no' answers workβ¦
- 10
What Does μ κΈ°μ (Jeogiyo) Mean in Korean?
μ κΈ°μ (jeogiyo) is the all-purpose Korean 'excuse me' for calling staff and strangers β plus how it differsβ¦
- 11
What Does μ΄μ μ€μΈμ (Eoseo Oseyo) Mean in Korean?
μ΄μ μ€μΈμ (eoseo oseyo) is the 'welcome!' you hear entering every Korean shop β and whether you're expectedβ¦
- 12
Why Do Koreans Ask λ°₯ λ¨Ήμμ΄? (Did You Eat?)
λ°₯ λ¨Ήμμ΄?
- 13
What Does μ λ¨Ήκ² μ΅λλ€ (Jal Meokgetseumnida) Mean?
μ λ¨Ήκ² μ΅λλ€ (jal meokgetseumnida) literally means 'I will eat well' β when to say it, and its after-mealβ¦
- 14
What Does μκ³ νμ΄ (Sugohaesseo) Mean in Korean?
Sugohaesseo (μκ³ νμ΄) means 'you worked hard / good job' in Korean.
- 15
λ vs μ¨: Korean Titles Explained
λ (nim) and μ¨ (ssi) are the two most common Korean title suffixes β the difference, and when each one fits.
- 16
What Do μλ§ and μλΉ Mean? Mom and Dad in Korean
Learn μλ§ (mom) and μλΉ (dad) in Korean, the more formal μ΄λ¨Έλ/μλ²μ§, and why kids (and grown adults) keep usingβ¦
- 17
How to Say Good Night in Korean
Learn how to say good night in Korean β μ μμ (polite) and μ μ (casual) β plus the sweet-dreams variant μ’μ κΏ κΏ.
- 18
How to Say Happy Birthday in Korean
Happy birthday in Korean and birthday wishes, formal and informal: saengil chukhahae (μμΌ μΆνν΄),β¦
- 19
How to Introduce Yourself in Korean
How to introduce yourself in Korean: μλ νμΈμ, μ λ β¦ μ΄μμ, your country and job, then μ λΆνλ립λλ€.
- 20
10 Ways to Say Thank You in Korean
Thank you in Korean, from formal to informal: kamsahamnida (κ°μ¬ν©λλ€), gomawoyo, gomawo and more β 10 phrasesβ¦
- 21
10 Ways to Say Goodbye in Korean
Goodbye in Korean depends on who's leaving: μλ ν κ°μΈμ vs μλ ν κ³μΈμ.
- 22
8 Ways to Say "I Love You" in Korean
μ¬λν΄ isn't the only way to express love in Korean β from a formal μ¬λν©λλ€ to a lighter μ’μν΄, here are 8β¦
- 23
6 Ways to Say Good Morning in Korean
Good morning in Korean, formal to informal: from μλ ν μ£Όλ¬΄μ ¨μ΄μ?
- 24
5 Ways to Say I Miss You in Korean
I miss you in Korean: bogo sipeo (λ³΄κ³ μΆμ΄), bogo sipeoyo, bogo sipseumnida and the deeper 그리μμ β 5 phrasesβ¦
- 25
6 Ways to Say Congratulations in Korean
From formal μΆνλ립λλ€ to a casual μΆνν΄, here are 6 ways to say congratulations in Korean, organized byβ¦
- 26
6 Ways to Say You're Welcome in Korean
μ²λ§μμ is the textbook you're welcome in Korean, but Koreans mostly say μλμμ (anieyo).
- 27
6 Ways to Say See You Later in Korean
See you later in Korean: μ΄λ° λ΄ is for later today, λμ€μ λ΄ and λ€μμ λ΄ for an open date, and humble λ΅κ²μ formsβ¦
- 28
5 Ways to Say Good Luck in Korean
From formal νμ΄μ λΉλλ€ to the iconic νμ΄ν , here are 5 ways to say good luck in Korean, organized by formalityβ¦
- 29
How to Say Good Afternoon in Korean (5 Real Options)
Korean has no everyday 'good afternoon.' Here are the greetings Koreans really use after lunch, from μλ νμΈμβ¦
- 30
6 Ways to Say Take Care in Korean
'Take care' in Korean depends on the moment: μ‘°μ¬ν κ°μΈμ for someone leaving, λͺΈμ‘°μ¬νμΈμ for health, μ μ§λ΄μ for aβ¦
- 31
How to Say Welcome in Korean (5 Situations, Not One Word)
'Welcome' in Korean depends on where you are: μ΄μ μ€μΈμ in a shop, νμν©λλ€ at a formal event, μ μμ΄ for a guestβ¦
- 32
How to Say Cheers in Korean (5 Toasts, Not Just 건배)
'Cheers' in Korean isn't just 건배 β μνμ¬, μ§ , and full toast speeches (건배μ¬) all show up depending on the setting.
- 33
λ§μ΄ λ¨Ήμ΄ vs μ λ¨Ήμ΄ vs λ§μκ² λ¨Ήμ΄: Three Ways to Say "Enjoy Your Meal"
"Eat a lot," "eat well," "eat deliciously": three Korean phrases that all mean "enjoy your meal." Who saysβ¦
Want these to stick?
Quiz yourself in today's study session β