Planning a trip to Korea? Learn 25 basic korean words and travel-friendly korean phrases so you can order food, get around, and connect with locals.
If you're coming to Korea soon, learning a few basic korean words and everyday korean phrases can make your whole trip feel easier and more fun. You don't need to be fluent in the korean language – just 25 simple travel phrases can completely change your travel experience.
Of course, you can always go deeper! You might learn the korean alphabet (Hangul), or use language learning applications and a language study app like Teuida's learn korean app. But here at Teuida we want to make sure that tourists traveling to Korea can have the best experience as soon as possible.
In this guide, we will focus on the must-know travel expressions: from how to say hello in korean to how to say thank you in korean, plus phrases for directions, food, shopping, and emergencies.
You are doing great already by being here. Let's walk through these together.
1. First contact: greetings you will actually use
These are the phrases you will use every day, many times.
1) 안녕하세요
- Romanization: annyeonghaseyo
- Meaning: Hello / Hi
You can say this to staff in shops, cafes, restaurants, and hotel front desks. It is polite and safe in almost every situation.
Tip: Make eye contact, small smile, and say it clearly: ahn-nyung-ha-se-yo.
2) 감사합니다
- Romanization: gamsahamnida
- Meaning: Thank you
You will say this constantly – whenever someone helps you, gives you change, serves food, or holds a door.
Real-life example:
Staff: (hands you coffee)
You: 감사합니다! (gamsahamnida!)
If this feels hard to pronounce at first, that is completely normal. Just practice a few times out loud.
3) 죄송합니다 / 미안해요
- Romanization: joesonghamnida / mianhaeyo
- Meaning: I am sorry / Excuse me
Use 죄송합니다 in crowded places when you bump into someone or need to pass. Use 미안해요 with people who feel a bit closer or more casual.
On the subway:
You gently touch someone's arm to pass and say, 죄송합니다.
2. Getting help in English
Sometimes you will need English support, and that is ok.
4) 영어 하세요?
- Romanization: yeongeo haseyo?
- Meaning: Do you speak English?
This is polite and gentle. If they do not speak English, they will still appreciate that you asked in Korean.
5) 천천히 말해 주세요
- Romanization: cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo
- Meaning: Please speak slowly
Great for hotel staff, ticket counters, or when someone is giving directions.
Example:
You: 영어 조금만 해요. 천천히 말해 주세요.
(I only speak a little English. Please speak slowly.)
Even if your grammar is not perfect, this shows effort and people will usually respond kindly.
3. Transportation and directions
These phrases will help you move around safely.
6) ~어디에 있어요?
- Romanization: ~eodie isseoyo?
- Meaning: Where is it~?
Just put the place name in front.
- 화장실 어디에 있어요?
- hwajangsil eodie isseoyo?
- Where is the bathroom?
- 버스 정류장 어디에 있어요?
- beoseu jeongnyujang eodie isseoyo?
- Where is the bus stop?
7) 여기로 가 주세요
- Romanization: yeogiro ga juseyo
- Meaning: Please go here
Show the taxi driver your map on your phone and say this. Very simple and very useful.
8) 교통카드 있어요? / 충전해 주세요
- Romanization: gyotong kadeu isseoyo? / chungjeon hae juseyo
- Meaning: Do you have a transport card? / Please recharge it
Use at convenience stores or subway stations when dealing with your T-money or other cards.
4. Ordering food and drinks
This is where Korean trips become fun. Let's make ordering less scary.
9) 이거 주세요
- Romanization: igeo juseyo
- Meaning: This one, please
Just point to the menu or the display and say this. It is one of the easiest and most powerful phrases.
Example in a cafe:
You: 아메리카노 이거 주세요.
(americano igeo juseyo.)
Staff understands: "One Americano, please."
10) 추천해 주세요
- Romanization: chucheon hae juseyo
- Meaning: Please recommend something
Perfect when you want to try something local but do not know what to pick.
- 매운 거 추천해 주세요.
- Please recommend something spicy.
- 안 매운 거 추천해 주세요.
- Please recommend something not spicy.
11) 안 매운 거 있어요?
- Romanization: an maeun geo isseoyo?
- Meaning: Do you have anything not spicy?
If you are worried about spice level, this sentence can save you.
12) 포장 돼요?
- Romanization: pojang dwaeyo?
- Meaning: Can I get this to go? / Take-out?
Useful for street food, bakeries, and cafes when you want to eat later.
5. Shopping and money
13) 이거 얼마예요?
- Romanization: igeo eolmayeyo?
- Meaning: How much is this?
You can use this anywhere: street markets, shops, even some smaller restaurants with no visible price.
14) 카드 돼요?
- Romanization: kadeu dwaeyo?
- Meaning: Do you take card?
Most places in Korea accept cards, but this phrase is still good to know.
15) 조금만 깎아 주세요
- Romanization: jogeumman kkakka juseyo
- Meaning: Please give me a small discount
Use carefully and kindly, especially in traditional markets, not in big brand stores. Smile when you say it.
6. Small talk and connection
These phrases help you connect beyond just buying things.
16) 어디서 오셨어요?
- Romanization: eodiseo osyeosseoyo?
- Meaning: Where are you from?
You might hear this from locals. You can answer with your country name plus 에서 왔어요 (eseo wasseoyo).
Example:
Staff: 어디서 오셨어요?
You: 미국에서 왔어요. / 베트남에서 왔어요.
17) 한국 좋아요
- Romanization: hanguk joayo
- Meaning: I like Korea
Simple, sweet, and makes people smile.
18) 사진 같이 찍어도 돼요?
- Romanization: sajin gachi jjigeodo dwaeyo?
- Meaning: Can we take a photo together?
Useful at tourist spots or events when you want a friendly memory.
7. Emergencies and tricky moments
You probably will not need these often, but it is calming to know them.
19) 도와주세요
- Romanization: dowajuseyo
- Meaning: Please help me
Say this in a strong, clear voice if you really need help.
20) 경찰 불러 주세요
- Romanization: gyeongchal bulleo juseyo
- Meaning: Please call the police
Use only in serious situations like safety issues or accidents.
21) 병원 어디에 있어요?
- Romanization: byeongwon eodie isseoyo?
- Meaning: Where is the hospital?
Even if you never use it, it is good to know.
8. How to practice these phrases before you fly
Here are some gentle ways to make these phrases stick before your trip:
- Choose 5 phrases that feel most useful for your first day (hello, thank you, this please, how much, where is the bathroom).
- Write them on your phone notes with romanization and meaning.
- Practice saying them while imagining the real situation – at a cafe, in the subway, in a shop.
- Record yourself and compare with native audio from an app or video.
Apps like Teuida focus on real-life speaking practice, not just reading. Instead of only memorizing words, you practice conversations that feel like what you will actually say when you arrive.
If some phrases feel hard at first, that is completely normal. Your mouth and ears are getting used to new sounds. Be kind to yourself. Every attempt is progress.
9. Quick phrase checklist for your Korea trip
You do not have to memorize everything in this article. Here is a simple starter set you can focus on:
- 안녕하세요 – Hello
- 감사합니다 – Thank you
- 죄송합니다 – Sorry / Excuse me
- 영어 하세요? – Do you speak English?
- 천천히 말해 주세요 – Please speak slowly
- 화장실 어디에 있어요? – Where is the bathroom?
- 이거 주세요 – This one, please
- 이거 얼마예요? – How much is this?
- 카드 돼요? – Do you take card?
- 도와주세요 – Please help me
If you feel comfortable with these 10, you are already in a great place for your first days in Korea.