Learn how to say hello in korean and introduce your name, country, and job in natural korean language. A friendly step-by-step guide for korean for beginners.
Introducing Yourself In Korean – Simple Step By Step
Introducing yourself is one of the first real things you do when you learn korean.
The good news: you only need a few simple sentences to sound confident and polite.
In this guide, we will build a basic self introduction together.
We will use easy patterns that work in class, at work, or when meeting Korean friends.
If it feels like a lot at first, that is completely normal.
You are doing great already by reading this. Let's walk through it slowly.
Step 1. Start with a polite "hello"
Most of the time, you can start with:
안녕하세요.
annyeonghaseyo.
"Hello."
This is the most common hello in korean in everyday life.
It is polite and safe to use with:
- People older than you
- Teachers in korean classes
- New friends you just met
- Co-workers and strangers
If you want to sound very formal (for example, in a big company meeting), you might hear 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka), but for korean for beginners, 안녕하세요 is perfect.
Step 2. Say your name – "My name is…"
There are two very useful patterns.
1) Super common and friendly
저는 [name]이에요 / 예요.
jeoneun [name]-iyeyo / yeyo.
"I am [name]."
- Use 이에요 (iyeyo) after a name that ends in a consonant
- 예: 저는 민수이에요.
- Use 예요 (yeyo) after a name that ends in a vowel
- 예: 저는 수아예요.
Examples:
- 저는 민수예요.
jeoneun minsuyeyo. – I am Minsu. - 저는 사라예요.
jeoneun sarayeyo. – I am Sarah.
저는 literally means "as for me". For now, just remember:
저는 + name + 이에요/예요 = "I am [name]."
2) More textbook style
제 이름은 [name]이에요 / 예요.
je ireumeun [name]-iyeyo / yeyo.
"My name is [name]."
Example:
- 제 이름은 다니엘이에요.
je ireumeun daniel-iyeyo. – My name is Daniel.
You can use either pattern. Both are correct in real korean language conversations, but the first is most common.
Step 3. Add your country or hometown
A simple pattern is:
저는 [country] 사람이에요.
jeoneun [country] saram-ieyo.
"I am [country] person."
→ "I am from [country]."
Examples:
- 저는 미국 사람이에요.
jeoneun miguk saram-ieyo. – I am American. - 저는 일본 사람이에요.
jeoneun ilbon saram-ieyo. – I am Japanese. - 저는 베트남 사람이에요.
jeoneun beteunam saram-ieyo. – I am Vietnamese.
You can also say your city:
저는 서울에서 왔어요.
jeoneun seoureseo wasseoyo.
"I came from Seoul."
저는 파리에서 왔어요.
jeoneun parieseo wasseoyo.
"I came from Paris."
Choose one that feels easier and use it again and again until your mouth remembers it.
That is one of the best way to learn korean patterns – repeat simple sentences often.
Step 4. Add your job or what you do
You can use this very useful pattern:
저는 [job / role]이에요 / 예요.
jeoneun [job / role]-iyeyo / yeyo.
"I am a [job / role]."
Examples:
- 저는 학생이에요.
jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo. – I am a student. - 저는 선생님이에요.
jeoneun seonsaengnim-ieyo. – I am a teacher. - 저는 엔지니어예요.
jeoneun enjinieo-yeyo. – I am an engineer. - 저는 디자이너예요.
jeoneun dijainoeo-yeyo. – I am a designer.
If you are not working yet or do many things, you can say:
- 저는 대학생이에요. – I am a university student.
- 저는 회사원이에요. – I am an office worker.
- 저는 프리랜서예요. – I am a freelancer.
You do not need to be perfect. Even "저는 학생이에요" is enough in many situations.
Step 5. End with "Nice to meet you"
Two very common expressions:
만나서 반가워요.
mannaseo bangawoyo.
"Nice to meet you." (polite, friendly)
만나서 반갑습니다.
mannaseo bangapseumnida.
"Nice to meet you." (more formal)
For korean for beginners, 만나서 반가워요 is soft and friendly.
In very formal settings, 만나서 반갑습니다 is safer.
You can always use one of these after your name and country.
Putting it all together – full self introduction
Here are some complete examples you can copy and practice.
Try to say them out loud. That is how you learn to speak korean more naturally.
Example 1 – Simple and polite
안녕하세요.
저는 마리아예요.
저는 스페인 사람이에요.
만나서 반가워요.
annyeonghaseyo.
jeoneun maria-yeyo.
jeoneun seupein saram-ieyo.
mannaseo bangawoyo.
Hello.
I am Maria.
I am Spanish.
Nice to meet you.
Example 2 – With job
안녕하세요.
제 이름은 준호예요.
저는 한국 사람이에요.
저는 개발자예요.
만나서 반갑습니다.
annyeonghaseyo.
je ireumeun junho-yeyo.
jeoneun hanguk saram-ieyo.
jeoneun gaebaljja-yeyo.
mannaseo bangapseumnida.
Hello.
My name is Junho.
I am Korean.
I am a developer.
Nice to meet you.
Example 3 – For exchange student or traveler
안녕하세요.
저는 엠마예요.
저는 캐나다에서 왔어요.
저는 교환학생이에요.
만나서 반가워요.
annyeonghaseyo.
jeoneun emma-yeyo.
jeoneun kaenada-eseo wasseoyo.
jeoneun gyohwanhaksaeng-ieyo.
mannaseo bangawoyo.
Hello.
I am Emma.
I came from Canada.
I am an exchange student.
Nice to meet you.
Casual self introduction with friends
With close friends or people your age, you can sound more casual.
You often drop 저는 and use 반말 (casual speech).
For example:
안녕. 난 수지야. 프랑스에서 왔어. 만나서 반가워.
annyeong. nan suji-ya. peurangseu-eseo wasseo. mannaseo bangawo.
Hi. I'm Suzy. I came from France. Nice to meet you.
Key differences:
- 안녕하세요 → 안녕
- 저는 → 난 (from 나는)
- 왔어요 → 왔어
- 만나서 반가워요 → 만나서 반가워
If you are not sure about the level, start polite first.
You can switch to casual later when the other person suggests it.
This is something korean language lessons and real conversation practice often show step by step.
How to practice your self introduction
Here are some simple ways to build confidence, even if you are shy.
1. Write your script
Take the patterns above and write your own version:
- 안녕하세요.
- 저는 [your name]이에요 / 예요.
- 저는 [your country] 사람이에요.
- 저는 [your job or role]이에요 / 예요.
- 만나서 반가워요.
Keep it somewhere you can see: phone, notebook, desk.
Reading it once a day already helps you learn korean more deeply.
2. Say it in front of a mirror
Stand in front of a mirror and speak:
- Slowly first
- Then at natural speed
- With a small smile
If this feels strange, that is okay. Many students in korean speaking classes do this in the beginning. It really helps with confidence and mouth memory.
3. Record yourself
Use your phone to record:
- Version 1: reading your script
- Version 2: saying it without looking
Listen and notice:
- Which word feels hard to say
- Where you stop or pause too long
Do not judge yourself. Just notice. Then repeat once or twice more.
This simple loop is one of the most powerful ways to learn to speak korean.
4. Practice with real people or apps
If you can, try:
- Saying your self intro in korean classes or study groups
- Using it in a language exchange
- Practicing inside a korean learning app that has speaking missions and dialogues
Short, repeated speaking practice like this is often the best way to learn korean for real life, not just for tests.
Small extras you can add later
When the basic version feels easy, you can add more lines like:
- 취미는 영화 보는 거예요.
chwimineun yeonghwa boneun geoyeyo.
My hobby is watching movies. - 한국어 공부한 지 6개월 됐어요.
hangugeo gongbuhan ji yuggaewol dwaesseoyo.
I have studied Korean for 6 months. - 앞으로 잘 부탁드립니다.
apeuro jal butak-deurimnida.
I look forward to your kind help. (very polite)
You do not need these on day one.
Build your self introduction slowly, like adding pieces to a Lego model.
Remember
Introducing yourself in Korean does not have to be perfect.
Even if you only say:
안녕하세요. 저는 [name]이에요. 만나서 반가워요.
you are already doing real Korean communication.
You are not just studying the korean language.
You are connecting with people. That is the heart of language learning.
You are doing great. Keep your sentences short, repeat them often, and let your confidence grow one word at a time.