Traveling to Korea is an exciting adventure filled with vibrant culture, breath taking landscapes, and delicious cuisine. However, experiencing the country to the fullest often involves interacting with locals and immersing yourself in the Korean language. To help you make the most of your Korean journey, we’re introducing a Korean Travel Survival Course that’s tailored to your needs and let you make the most of your journey.
The Korean Language Advantage
While it’s possible to navigate Korea with minimal Korean language skills, learning some basics can greatly enhance your travel experience. Koreans are appreciative when foreigners make an effort to speak their language, even if it’s just a few phrases. Here’s how the Korean Travel Survival Course can benefit you:
- Effective Communication: Knowing essential Korean phrases will help you communicate with locals, ask for directions, order food, and make inquiries.
- Cultural Respect: Learning basic Korean demonstrates respect for the local culture and goes a long way in building positive interactions with Koreans.
- Enhanced Experience: By understanding the language, you can appreciate local nuances, engage with the culture, and navigate the country more confidently.
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In our Travel Survival guide, we are going to teach you all the essential survival phrases and words so you can communicate with the locals easily. No matter you are traveling to Korea anytime soon or not, these are certainly useful to learn. Let’s start with basic greetings!
Greetings
🇰🇷An-nyeung-ha-se-yo 안녕하세요.(formal) / An-nyeung 안녕 (casual)
🇬🇧Hello.
🇰🇷An-nyeung-hee Ga-se-yo. 안녕히 가세요.(host)/
An-nyeong-hee Gye-se-yo. 안녕히 계세요. (guest)/
🇬🇧Goodbye
🇰🇷An-nyeung 안녕 (casual)
🇬🇧Bye-bye
Being thankful and expressing it to others is good for our health and happiness. Not only does it feel good, it also helps us build trust and closer bonds with the people around us. That’s specially useful when you are traveling and trying to connect with the local people. Let’s learn how to say thank you and response when someone say it to you.
🇬🇧Thank you
🇰🇷Gam-sa-ham-ni-da. 감사합니다 / Go-map-seum-ni-da. 고맙습니다
🇬🇧No it’s not.
🇰🇷Ah-nim-ni-da. 아닙니다 🇬
🇬🇧No it’s ok
🇰🇷Gwen-cha-na-yo. 괜찮아요.
🇬🇧Don’t mention it
🇰🇷Byeul-mal-sseu-meul-yo. 별말씀을요.
Being a foreigner, you will be always asked where you are from. And it’s a fundamental phrase to get to know each other. How do you introduce yourself in Korean? How do you say where you are from? Let’s learn how to say them.
🇬🇧 Where are you from?
🇰🇷 어느 나라에서 왔어요? (er-nu na-ra-e-seo wa-seo-yo?)
🇬🇧 I’m from England
🇰🇷 저는 (잉글랜드)에서 왔습니다 (Jeo-nun (England) e-seo wat-sum-ni-da)
🇬🇧 I’m British
🇰🇷 저는 (잉글랜드) 사람입니다.(Jeo-nun (England) sa-ram-im-ni-da)
Dining
When you are traveling abroad, even simple things like ordering can be nerve wrecking! However, in many Korean restaurants, you will not have to worry about this as there are little bells that are built into the table. You can just press it when you need your server! But what if the bell doesn’t work or there’s no bell at all. Learn different ways to get the waiters attention in this episode.
🇬🇧Excuse me, I am ready to order.
🇰🇷저기요 주문이요 Jeo-gi-yo! Ju-moo-ni-yo
🇬🇧I am ready to order
🇰🇷주문이요 Ju-moo-ni-yo
🇬🇧Antie, I am ready to order
🇰🇷이모님! 주문이요 I-mo-nim! Ju-moo-ni-yo
🇬🇧Can I have a menu?
🇰🇷메뉴판 좀 주세요(Menu-pan jom ju-se-yo)
🇬🇧Can I have some water?
🇰🇷물 좀 주세요(Mul jom ju-se-yo)
🇬🇧Any recommendation?
🇰🇷추천 좀 해 주세요(chu-chun jom hae ju-se-yo)
Are you a vegan or vegetarian? What would you say in Korean if you can’t eat meat, spicy, or even if you have any allergies? These phrases are useful to express your personal tastes.
🇬🇧I’m Vegan.
🇰🇷저는 채식주의자 입니다(Jeo-nun che-sik-ju-ui-ja im-ni-da)
🇬🇧I can’t eat spicy
🇰🇷저는 매운것 못 먹어요(Jeo-nun mae-un-geo mot meo-geo-yo)
🇬🇧I can’t eat meat
🇰🇷저는 고기를 못 먹어요(Jeo-nun go-gi rul mot meo-geo-yo)
Shopping
Korea is known to be a shopping haven, where you can buy all the famous Korean cosmetic brands, KPop merchandises, traditional hanbok and much more. If you’re a shopping fanatic, you can even shop all night in Dongdaemun, a mega shopping district where shops are open till the morning.
We understand the language barrier can be a great inconvenience, learn these travel survival Korean and improve your travel experience in Korea.
🇬🇧 How much is it?
🇰🇷 이거 얼마예요? I-geo Eol-ma-ye-yo?
🇬🇧I will take this one.
🇰🇷이거 주세요 I-geo Ju-se-yo.
Question:
🇬🇧 How do you want to pay?
🇰🇷 결제는 어떻게 해드릴까요?
Gyeol-je-neun Eo-ddeo-ke Hae-deu-ril-kka-yo?
🇬🇧 I will pay by card.
🇰🇷 카드로 할게요. Ca-deu- ro Hal-ge-yo.
🇬🇧 I will pay by cash.
🇰🇷 현금으로 할게요. Heon-geu-meu-ro Hal-ge-yo.
We believe most people traveling to Korea knowing what they want to bring back home – be it your favourite KBeauty products, KPop merchanises, gadgets etc. Instead of wasting time searching for a specific item, you can just ask the store assistant if they do have it in stock. This is especially useful when you have limited time in Korea.
🇬🇧 Do you have (something) ?
🇰🇷 여기 (우산) 있어요?
Yeo-gi (something) I-sseo-yo?
🇬🇧 Can I try this one?
🇰🇷 이거 입어봐도 돼요?
I-geo I-beo-bwa-do Dae-yo?
🇬🇧 Do you have a bigger one?
🇰🇷 이거 더 큰 거 있어요?
I-geo Deo Keun Geo I-sseo-yo?
🇬🇧 Do you have a smaller one?
🇰🇷 이거 더 작은 거 있어요?
I-geo Deo Ja-geun Geo I-sseo-yo?
Getting around
South Korea has a renowned public transportation system. It’s clean, cheap, and efficient, so you can get from one end of the country to the other in no time at all. Although most travel hubs have some English, you still might need to use these phrases when you need some help with the direction.
🇬🇧 Excuse me, how can I get to (Gyeongbokgung Palace)?
🇰🇷 저기요, (경복궁) 어떻게 가요?
Jeo-gi-yo, (Kyeoung-bo-ggoong) Eo-tteo-ke Ga-yo?
🇬🇧 Go straight
🇰🇷 직진해서 가세요.
Jik-jjin-hae-seo Ga-se-yo
🇬🇧 Turn left / right
🇰🇷 왼쪽으로 도세요 / 오른쪽으로 도세요.
Wen-jjo-geu-ro Do-se-yo./ Oh-reun-jjo-geu-ro Do-se-yo.
🇬🇧Bus Stop
🇰🇷버스 정류장
Bu-seu Jung-ryu-jang
🇬🇧Tube Station
🇰🇷지하철역
Ji-ha-cheol-yeok
🇬🇧Tube Station
🇰🇷기차역
Gi-cha-yeok
🇬🇧Bicycle
🇰🇷자전거
Ja-jeon-geo
🇬🇧Where is ____?
🇰🇷 ____ 은/는 어디에 있어요?
____ Eun/Neun Eo-di-eh I-sseo-yo?
🇬🇧 Is this Gangnam here?
🇰🇷 여기가 강남 맞나요? (yeo-gi-ga Gangnam Man-na-yo?)
🇬🇧 Please take me to Gangnam
🇰🇷 강남으로 가 주세요(Gangnam-u-ro ga joo-se-yo)
🇬🇧 Does this go to Gangnam?
🇰🇷 이거 강남 가나요? (i-geo Gangnam ga-na-yo?
Sightseeing
South Korea offers everything a traveler could want in a destination. It has a long and fascinating history, a wonderful culture, amazing food and a long list of attractions. Learn below vocabularies, you will be equipped with the essential Korean vocabulary useful for going to attraction and sightseeing.
🇬🇧Toilet
🇰🇷 화장실
Hwa-jang-sil
🇬🇧Tourist Information Centre
🇰🇷관광 안내소
Gwan-gwang An-nae-so
🇬🇧Ticket office
🇰🇷매표소
Mae-pyo-so
🇬🇧Entrance
🇰🇷입구
Ip-gu
🇬🇧Exit
🇰🇷출구
Chul-gu
🇬🇧Where is the toilet?
🇰🇷 화장실은어디에 있어요?
Hwa-jang-sil Eun Eo-di-deh I-sseo-yo?
If you are travelling solo, we are going to teach you the most useful phrase to learn! How to confidently ask a local to take a picture for you.
🇬🇧 Excuse me, could you take a photo of me?
🇰🇷 저기요, 혹시 사진 좀 찍어주실 수 있나요? Jeo-gi-yo, Hok-si, Sa-jin Jom Jji-geoh-Ju-shil Sue In-na-yo?
🇬🇧 What is this line for?
🇰🇷 이 줄은 무슨 줄이에요? I Ju-reun Mu-seun Ju-li-eh-yo?
🇬🇧 I’m sorry, could you say that again please?
🇰🇷 죄송하지만 다시 한 번 말씀해주시겠어요? Joi-song-ha-ji-man Da-shi Han Beon Mal-sseum-hae-ju-shi-ge-sseo-yo?
Traveling to Korea is an incredible experience that can be further enriched by learning the Korean language. Taking the initiative to learn even basic Korean phrases can lead to more meaningful interactions and a deeper appreciation of the culture. If you want to learn beyond these very basis Korean survival, you can take a look and book one of our beginner courses. So, as you prepare for your journey to Korea, embrace the opportunity to connect with locals, explore the language, and make your visit truly unforgettable. Happy travels!
