Korean phrasebook

Grammar / Pronunciation guide / Vowels / Common diphthongs / Consonants / Loanwords / Written language / Phrase list / Phrase list 2 / Basics / Problems / Numbers / Sino-Korean numbers / Native Korean numbers / Time / Clock time / Duration / Days / Months / Writing time and date / Colors / Transportation / Bus and train / Directions / Taxi / Lodging / Money / Eating / Korean phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Shopping / Driving / Authorities / Learning more

Korean (한국말 hangungmal or 조선말 chosŏnmal) is spoken in South and North Korea, as well as some parts of China. It may be distantly related to Japanese, but is certainly entirely distinct from Chinese, although it uses large amounts of imported Chinese vocabulary.

Grammar

Korean word order is subject-object-verb: "I-subject him-object see-verb." Subjects, especially, I and you, are often omitted if these are clear from the context.

There are no adjectives but verbs with the meaning of an adjective which can be used as a verb or like an adjective.

There are no articles, genders, or declensions. It has extensive verb conjugations indicating tense and honorific level. There is a plural form, but it is very often omitted.

Korean has postpositions instead of prepositions: hanguk-e, "Korea-in" instead of "in Korea."

Koreans refer to each other rather in terms like elder brother, elder sister, younger sibling, uncle, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, manager, teacher etc. than by using the word you. It's not uncommon to refer to yourself by using such an expression. You can also call somebody an aunt, uncle or brother if this person is actually not. Most korean girls call their boyfriend older brother.

Depending on the relation to the person you have conversation with, it's necessary to find the correct level of politeness. If the person is considered to be higher in the hierarchy, a very polite form has to be used, while this person will use a less polite form to address you as a lower person. Koreans often ask very personal questions (about your age, occupation, income, family status etc.) in order to find out in which form they should use when talking to you. This phrasebook assumes the highest speech level in most cases.

Pronunciation guide

The good news is unlike Chinese, Korean is not tonal, so you don't need to worry about singing your syllables to get the pitch right. The bad news is that Korean has a few too many vowels for comfort and nigglesome distinctions between consonants, so pronouncing things exactly right is still a bit of a challenge.

This phrasebook uses the Revised Romanization of Korean, which is overwhelmingly the most popular system in South Korea. The McCune-Reischaur romanization, used in North Korea and older South Korean texts, is noted in parentheses when different.

Vowels

Korean vowels can be short or long, but this is not indicated in writing and the distinction rarely if ever affects meaning.

a ㅏ: like 'a' in "father"
o ㅗ: like 'o' in "tone"
eo (ŏ) ㅓ: like 'aw' in "lawyer"
u ㅜ: like 'oo' in "hoop"
eu (ŭ) ㅡ: like 'i' in "cousin"
i ㅣ: like the 'i' in "ship" (short) OR the 'ee' in "sheep" (long)
e ㅔ: like the 'e' in "set"
ae ㅐ: like the 'e' in "sat" ; in Seoul, often pronounced the same as e

Common diphthongs

Korean has two standalone diphthongs:

oe ㅚ: like 'whe' in "when"
ui ㅢ: like 'ŭ' + 'i'; often reduces to 'i' when preceded by a consonant (eg. 희 hui, pronounced "hee")

In addition, most vowels can be modified by prefixing them with 'y' or 'w':

wa ㅘ: like 'wa' in "watch"
wae ㅙ: like 'wa' in "wagon"
wo ㅝ: like 'wa' in "was"
wi ㅟ: like "we"
we ㅞ: like 'we' in "west"
ya ㅑ: like 'ya' in "yard"
yo ㅛ: like 'yo' in "hey! yo~"
yeo (yŏ) ㅕ: like 'you' in "young"
yu ㅠ: like "you"
ye ㅖ: like 'ye' in "yes"
yae ㅒ: like 'ye' in "yes", not same as 'ㅖ' but very similar sound

Consonants

Most Korean consonants come in three versions, namely unaspirated (without a puff of air), aspirated (with a puff of air) and tensed (stressed). Unaspirated consonants exist in English too, but never alone: compare the sound of 'p' in "pot" (aspirated) and "spot" (unaspirated). Many English speakers find it helpful to pronounce an imperceptible little "m" in front to 'stop' the puff. Tensing isn't really found in English, but pronouncing the consonant quick and hard is a reasonable substitute.

b (p) ㅂ: like 'p' in "spit" (unaspirated)
p (p', ph) ㅍ: like 'p' in "pig" (aspirated)
pp ㅃ: tensed 'p', like 'p' in "petit" in French
m ㅁ: like 'm' in "mother"
d (t) ㄷ: like 't' in "stab"
t (t', th) ㅌ: like 't' in "top"
tt ㄸ: tensed 't'
n ㄴ: like 'n' in "nice"
j (ch) ㅈ: like 'g' in "gin"
jj ㅉ: tensed 'j'
ch (ch') ㅊ: like 'ch' in "chin"
g (k) ㄱ: like 'k' in "skate" (unaspirated)
k (k', kh) ㅋ: like 'c' in "cat" (aspirated)
kk ㄲ: tensed 'k'
ng ㅇ: like 'ng' in "sing"
s ㅅ: like 's' in "soon"
ss ㅆ: tensed 's', 's' in 'sea'
l ㄹ: somewhere between 'l', 'r' and 'n', original sound is 'r' or 'l'. and 'n' sound is due to some grammatical thing.
h ㅎ: like 'h' in "help"

While the rules above are usually correct for the first consonant, those in the middle of a word are usually (but not always) voiced, which means that ㅂㄷㅈㄱ turn into English "b", "d", "j" and "k". The best rule of thumb is to concentrate on remembering that the first consonant is "special" and the rest are more or less as in English: bibimbap (비빔밥) is pronounced "pee-bim-bap", not "bee-bim-bap" or "p'ee-bim-bap".

The aspirated spellings with "h" are used only in the official North Korean orthography.

Loanwords

Native Korean words can end only in vowels or the consonants k, l, m, n, ng, p or s, and any words imported into Korean are shoehorned to fit this pattern, usually by padding any errant consonants with the vowel eu (ㅡ). For example, any English word ending in "t" will be pronounced as teu (트) in Korean, eg. Baeteumaen (배트맨) for "Batman". In addition, the English sound "f" is turned into p and has that vowel tacked on, so "golf" becomes golpeu (골프).

Written language

A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over; a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days. --King Sejong on hangul

Korean is generally written using a native alphabet known as hangul (chosongul in North Korea and China). Designed by a committee and rather scary-looking at first, it's in fact a very logical alphabetic writing system far simpler than Chinese characters or even the Japanese kana syllabary, and it's well worth putting in the time to learn them if staying in Korea for more than a day or two.

The basic idea is simple: hangul consists of letters called jamo combined into square blocks, where each block represents a syllable. The block is always in the order (consonant)-vowel-(consonant), stacked from top to bottom, where ㅇ is used as the first jamo if the first consonant is missing, and the space for the last consonant can be left empty is missing. For example, the word Seoul (서울) consists of the syllables seo (ㅅ s plus ㅓ eo, no final consonant) and ul (ㅇ plus ㅜ u plus ㄹ l). Tensed consonants are created by doubling the jamo (ㅅ s → ㅆ ss) and y-vowel diphthongs have an extra dash tacked on (ㅏ a → ㅑ ya). And that's pretty much it!

Many Korean words can also be written using Chinese characters, known as hanja in Korean. These are still occasionally seen in newspapers, formal documents and official signs, but are in general rarely used and have even been completely abolished in North Korea. While they remain official in South Korea, their use is largely restricted to the elderly, and many youths are unable to recognize even their own names written in hanja.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. (formal)

안녕 하십니까. (annyeong hasimnikka) Common in North Korea, provincial South Korea.

Hello.

안녕하세요 . (annyeong haseyo) Common in South Korea. to older people or to the people to meet first

Hello. (informal)

안녕. ( annyeong) to your friend or younger people

How are you?

어떻게 지내십니까? (Eotteoke jinaesimnikka? (U-Tteoh(t)-ge ji-ne-shib(p)-ni-kka [Changes because of liason])

Fine, thank you.

잘 지냅니다, 감사합니다. (Jal jinaemnida, gamsahamnida )

What is your name?

성함이 어떻게 되세요? (seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?)

My name is ______ .

제 이름은 ______입니다. (Je ireum-eun ____ imnida.)

Nice to meet you.

만나서 반갑습니다. (Mannaseo bangapseumnida)

Please.

부탁합니다. (butak hamnida)

Thank you.

감사합니다. ( Gamsa hamnida)

You're welcome.

천만입니다. (Cheonmanimnida)

Yes.

예/네. ( ye/ne)

No.

아니오. ( anio)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

실례합니다. (shill(y)e hamnida )

I'm sorry.

죄송합니다. ( joesong-hamnida)

Goodbye

안녕히 가십시오/계십시오. (annyeonghi gasipsio/gyesipsio)

Goodbye (informal)

안녕. (annyeong)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

여기에 영어를 하시는 분 계십니까? (yeogie yeong-eo-reul hasineun bun gyesimnikka?)

Please speak slowly.

천천히 말해 주십시오. (cheoncheonhi malhae jusipsio)

Please say it again.

다시 한번 말해 주십시오. (dasi hanbeon malhae jusipsio)

I can't speak {language} [well].

저는 {언어를} [잘] 못합니다. (ju-neun {un-u-reul} [jal] mot-hab-nida)

I can't speak English [well].

저는 영어를 [잘] 못합니다. (ju-neun yung-u-reul [jal] mot-habnida)

Do you speak {language}?

____를 하십니까? (____reul hashimnikka?)

English: 영어 (yeong-eo)
Korean: 한국어 (hanguk-eo)
Chinese: 중국어 (jungguk-eo)
Japanese: 일본어 (ilbon-eo)

Yes, a little.: 네, 조금만. (ne, jogeum-man)
Help!: 도와주십시오! (Dowa jushipshio!)
Look out!: 조심하십시오! (Joshim hashipshio!)
Good morning.: 좋은 아침입니다. (Joh-eun ah-chim-imnida)
Good evening.: 좋은 저녁입니다. (Joh-eun jeonyeok imnida)
Good night.: 좋은 밤입니다. (joh-eun bamimnida)
Good night (to sleep): 안녕히 주무십시오. (annyeonghi jumushipshio)
I don't understand.: 이해가 안갑니다. (ihaega ankamnida)
Where is the toilet?: 화장실이 어디에 있습니까? (hwajangshili odi-e itseumnikka?)
What?: 무엇? (mu-eot?)
Where?: 어디? (eodi?)
Who?: 누구? (nugu?)
When?: 언제? (eonje?)
Which?: 무슨? (museun?)
How much?: 얼마? (eolma?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: 혼자 내버려 두십시오. (honja naebeoryeo dushipshio.)
Don't touch me!: 만지지 마십시오! (manjiji mashipshio!)
I'll call the police.: 경찰을 부르겠습니다. (Kyeongchareul bureuket-seumnida!)
Police!: 경찰! (Kyeongchal!)
Stop! Thief!: 서라! 도둑이야! (Seora! Dodookiya!)
I need your help.: 당신의 도움이 필요합니다. (Dangshin-ui do-oomee p'ilyohamnida.)
It's an emergency.: 응급 상황입니다. (eungkeup sanghwangimnida.)
I'm lost.: 길을 잃었습니다. (kil-eul ireot-seumnida.)
I lost my bag.: 가방을 잃었습니다. (kabangeul ireotseumnida.)
I lost my wallet.: 지갑을 잃었습니다. (jikapeul ireotseumnida.)
I'm sick.: 아픕니다. (ah-peumnida.)
I've been injured.: 상처를 입었습니다. (sangcheoreul ibeotseumnida.)
I need a doctor.: 의사가 필요합니다. (ui-saga p'ilyohamnida.)
Can I use your phone?: 당신의 전화기를 사용해도 되겠습니까? (dangshin-ui jeonhwagireul sayonghaedo dwe-get-seumnikka?)

Numbers

Korean has two sets of numbers, namely native Korean numbers and Sino-Korean numbers (which are borrowed from Chinese). Both come in handy, but in a pinch the Sino-Korean series is more important to learn.

Sino-Korean numbers

Sino-Korean numbers are used for amounts of currency, telephone numbers, the 24-hour clock and counting minutes. Remember that sip is pronounced "ship".

0: 공 (gong) / 영 (yung)
1: 일 (il)
2: 이 (i)
3: 삼 (sam)
4: 사 (sa)
5: 오 (o)
6: 육 (yuk)
7: 칠 (chil)
8: 팔 (pal)
9: 구 (gu)
10: 십 (ship)
11: 십일 (shib-il)
12: 십이 (shib-i)
13: 십삼 (ship-sam)
14: 십사 (ship-sa)
15: 십오 (shibo)
16: 십육 (shim-yook)
17: 십칠 (ship-chil)
18: 십팔 (ship-pal)
19: 십구 (ship-gu)
20: 이십 (i-ship)
21: 이십일 (i-shibil)
22: 이십이 (i-shibi)
23: 이십삼 (i-ship-sam)
30: 삼십 (sam-ship)
40: 사십 (sa-ship)
50: 오십 (oship)
60: 육십 (yukship)
70: 칠십 (chilship)
80: 팔십 (palship)
90: 구십 (kuship)
100: 백 (baek)
200: 이백 (ibaek)
300: 삼백 (sambaek)
1,000: 천 (cheon)
2,000: 이천 (icheon)
10,000: 만 (man)
100,000: 십만 (shipman)
1,000,000: 백만 (baekman)
10,000,000: 천만 (cheonman)
100,000,000: 억 (uk)
1,000,000,000: 십억 (shibaek)
10,000,000,000: 백억 (baek=uk)
100,000,000,000: 천억 (chun-uk)
1,000,000,000,000: 조 (jo)
10,000,000,000,000: 십조 (ship-jo)
100,000,000,000,000: 백조 (baek-jo)
1,000,000,000,000,000: 천조 (chun-jo)
10,000,000,000,000,000: 경 (Gyung)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.): _____ 번 (열차, 버스, etc.) (beon (yeolcha, beoseu, etc.)
half: 반 (ban)
less: 덜 (dul)
more: 더 (du)

Native Korean numbers

Native Korean numbers are used for hours and with counting words.

1: 하나 (hana)
2: 둘 (dul)
3: 셋 (set)
4: 넷 (net)
5: 다섯 (dasut)
6: 여섯 (yeoseot)
7: 일곱 (ilgop)
8: 여덟 (yeodeol)
9: 아홉 (ahop)
10: 열 (yeol)
11: 열하나 (yeolhana)
20: 스물 (seumul)
30: 서른 (seoreun)
40: 마흔 (maheun)
50: 쉰 (swin)
60: 예순 (yesun)
70: 일흔 (ilheun)
80: 여든 (yeodeun)
90: 아흔 (aheun)

Numbers above 100 are always counted with Sino-Korean numbers.

Time

now: 지금 (jigeum)
later: 나중에 (najung-e)
before: 전에 (jeon-e)
after: 후에 (hu-e)
morning: 아침 (a-chim)
afternoon: 오후 (o-hu)
evening: 저녁 (jeonyeok)
night: 밤 (bam)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: 오전 한 시 (ojeon han shi)
two o'clock AM: 오전 두 시 (ojeon du shi)
noon: 정오 (jeong-o)
one o'clock PM: 오후 한 시 (o-hu han shi)
two o'clock PM: 오후 두 시 (o-hu du shi)
midnight: 자정 (jajeong)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ 분 (___ bun)
_____ hour(s): _____ 시간 (___ shigan)
_____ day(s): _____ 일 (___ il)
_____ week(s): _____ 주 (___ ju)
_____ month(s): _____ 달 (___ dal)
_____ year(s): _____ 년 (___ nyeon)

Days

today: 오늘 (o-neul)
yesterday: 어제 (eo-je)
tomorrow: 내일 (nae-il)
this week: 이번 주 (i-beon ju)
last week: 지난 주 (jinan ju)
next week: 다음 주 (da-eum ju)
Sunday: 일요일 (ilyo-il)
Monday: 월요일 (wolyo-il)
Tuesday: 화요일 (hwayo-il)
Wednesday: 수요일 (suyo-il)
Thursday: 목요일 (mokyo-il)
Friday: 금요일 (keumyo-il)
Saturday: 토요일 (to-yo-il)

Months

The names of the months in Korean are simply the sino-korean numbers 1 through 12 followed by the word 월 (month).

January: 1월 (일월) ilwol
February: 2월 (이월) i-wol
March: 3월 (삼월) samwol
April: 4월 (사월) sawol
May: 5월 (오월) o-wol
June*: 6월 (유월) yu-wol
July: 7월 (칠월) chilwol
August: 8월 (팔월) palwol
September: 9월 (구월) ku-wol
October*: 10월 (시월) shiwol
November: 11월 (십일월) shipilwol
December: 12월 (십이월) ship-i-wol

The number component of 6월 and 10월 drop the final consonant for purposes of liaison.

Writing time and date

Koreans generally write the date in yyyy.mm.dd format (e.g. 2006.12.25 for December 25th, 2006).

March 1st, 2005: 2005년 3월 1일 (이천오년 삼월 일일) ee-cheon-oh-nyeon samweol il-il (____year, _____month, ____day)

Colors

black: 검은색 (geon-eunsaek)
white: 흰색 (huinsaek)
gray: 회색 (hoesaek)
red: 빨간색 (ppalgansaek)
blue: 파란색 (paransaek)
yellow: 노란색 (noransaek)
green: 초록색 (choroksaek)
orange: 주황색 (ju-hwangsaek)
purple: 자주색 (jaju-saek)
brown: 갈색 (kalsaek)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: _____에 가는 표가 얼마입니까? (_____e ganeun pyoga eolma-imnikka?)
One ticket to _____, please.: _____에 가는 표 한 장이요. (_____e ganeun pyo han jang-iyo.)
Where does this train/bus go?: 이 기차/버스는 어디로 갑니까? (i gicha/beo-seu neun eodiro gamnikka?)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: _____에 가는 기차/버스는 어디에 있습니까? (_____e ganeun gicha/beo-seu neun eodi-e isseumnikka?)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: 이 기차/버스는 _____에 섭니까? (i gicha/beo-seu neun _____e seomnikka?)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: _____에 가는 기차/버스는 언제 출발합니까? (_____e ganeun gicha/beo-seu neun eonje chulbalhamnikka?)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: 이 기차/버스는 _____에 언제 도착합니까? (e gicha/beo-seu neun _____e eonje dochakamnikka?)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: _____에 가려면 어떻게 해야 합니까 ? (____e karyeomyeon eotteoge hamnikka?)
...the train station?: 기차역...? (gicha yeok...?)
...the bus station?: 버스 정류장...? (beo-seu jeongnyujang...?)
...the airport?: 공항...? (gong-hang...?)
...downtown?: 시내...? (shinae...?)
...the youth hostel?: 유스 호스텔...? (yuseu hoseutel...?)
...the _____ hotel?: _____ 호텔? (____ hotel...?)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: 미국/캐나다/호주/영국 영사관...? (mi-guk/kaenada/hoju/yeong-guk yeongsagwan...?)
Where are there a lot of...: ...이 많은 곳은 어디에 있습니까? (man-heun...i eodi-e issumnikka?)
...hotels?: 호텔...? (hotel...)
...restaurants?: 식당...? (sikdang...)
...bars?: 술집...? (suljip...)
...sites to see?: 볼거리들...? (bolgeori-deul...)
Is it far from here?: 여기서 멉니까? (yeogi-seo meomnigga?)
Can you show me on the map?: 지도상에서 가르쳐 주시겠습니까? (...jidosang-eseo gareuchyeo jushigessumnikka?)
street: 길 (gil)
Turn left.: 왼쪽으로 도십시오. (oen-jjok-euro dosipsio)
Turn right.: 오른쪽으로 도십시오. (o-reunjjok-euro dosipsio)
left: 왼쪽 (oen-jjok)
right: 오른쪽 (o-reunjjok)
straight ahead: 곧장 가십시오 (got-jang gasipsio)
towards the _____: _____를 향해 (...reul hyang-hae)
past the _____: _____를 지나 (...jina)
before the _____: _____ 전에 (...)
Watch for the _____.: _____를 기다리십시오. (...reul gidarisipsio)
intersection: 교차로 (gyocharo)
3-way crossing: 삼거리 (samgeori)
4-way crossing: 사거리 (sageori)
north: 북 (buk)
south: 남 (nam)
east: 동 (dong)
west: 서 (seo)
uphill: 오르막길 (oreumakgil)
downhill: 내리막길(naerimakgil)

Taxi

Taxi!: 택시! (taeksi)
Take me to _____, please.: _____로 데려가 주십시오. (____ro deryeoga jusipsio)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: _____까지는 (요금이) 얼마입니까? (____ggajineun (yogeumi) eolma-imnigga?)
Take me there, please.: 저기에 데려가 주십시오. (jeogi-e deryeoga jusipsio)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: 방 있습니까? (bang issseubnikka?)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: 한 사람/두 사람당 방이 얼마입니까? (han salam/du salamdang bangi eolmaibnikka?)
Does the room come with...: 그 방에는 ...이 있습니까? (geu bangeneun ...i issseubnikka?)
...bedsheets?: ...침대보? (chimdaebo)
...a bathroom?: ...화장실? (hwajangshil)
...a telephone?: ...전화기? (jeonhwagi)
...a TV?: ...티브이? (tibeui)
May I see the room first?: 방을 먼저 봐도 되겠습니까? (bangeul meonjeo bwado doegessseubnikka?)
Do you have anything quieter?: 더 조용한 방 있습니까? (deo joyonghan bang issseubnikka?)
...bigger?: ...더 큰? (deo keon?)
...cleaner?: ...더 깨끗한? (deo kkaekkeushan?)
...cheaper?: ...더 싼? (deo ssan?)
OK, I'll take it.: 좋습니다, 그것으로 하겠습니다. (chohseubnida, geugeoseulo hagessseubnida.)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: _____ 밤 묵겠습니다. (_____ bam muggessseubnida.)
Can you suggest another hotel?: 다른 호텔을 권해 주시겠습니까? (dareun hoteleul gwonhae joshigessseubnikka?)
Do you have a safe?: 금고 있습니까? (geumgo issseubnikka?)
...lockers?: ...자물쇠? (...jamulsoe?)
Is breakfast/supper included?: 아침식사/저녁식사 가 포함됩니까? (achimshiksa/jeonyeokshiksa ga pohamdoenikka?)
What time is breakfast/supper?: 아침식사/저녁식사 는 몇시입니까? (achimshiksa/jeonyeokshiksa neun myeotshimnikka?)
Please clean my room.: 방을 청소해 주십시오. (bangeul cheongsohe jushibshio)
Can you wake me at _____?: _____ 시에 깨워주시겠습니까? (shie kkewojushigeseumnikka?)
I want to check out.: 체크 아웃하고 싶습니다. (chekeu authago shibsumnida.)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: 미국/오스트레일리아/캐나다 달러 받으십니까? (...)
Do you accept British pounds?: 영국 파운드 받으십니까? (...)
Do you accept credit cards?: 신용 카드 받으십니까? (...)
Can you change money for me?: 환전 해주시겠습니까? (...)
Where can I get money changed?: 어디에서 환전할 수 있습니까? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: 여행자 수표를 현금으로 바꿔주시겠습니까? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: 어디에서 여행자 수표를 현금으로 바꿀 수 있습니까? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: 환율이 얼마입니까? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: 현금 자동 지급기가 어디에 있습니까? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: 한 사람/두 사람 테이블 부탁합니다. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: 메뉴를 봐도 되겠습니까? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: 부엌을 봐도 되겠습니까? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: 이 집의 특별 요리가 있습니까? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: 이 지역의 특별 요리가 있습니까? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: 저는 채식주의자입니다. (...)
I don't eat pork.: 저는 돼지고기를 먹지 않습니다. (...)
I don't eat beef.: 저는 소고기를 먹지 않습니다. (...)
I only eat kosher food.: 저는 유대인 음식만 먹습니다. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal: 정가 음식 (...)
à la carte: à la carte (...)
breakfast: 아침 식사 (achim shigsa)
lunch: 점심 식사 (jeomshim shigsa)
tea (meal): 차 (cha)
supper: 저녁 식사 (jeonyeog shigsa)
I want _____.: 저는 _____을 원합니다. (jeoneun _____eul wonhamnida.)
I want a dish containing _____.: 저는 _____을/를 포함하는 요리를 먹고 싶습니다. (jeoneun ____eul/reul pohamhaneun yorireul meoggo shibsumnida.)
chicken: 닭고기/치킨 (dargogi/chikin)
beef: 소고기 (sogogi)
fish: 생선 (saengseon)
ham: 햄 (haem)
sausage: 소세지 (soseji)
cheese: 치즈 (chijeu)
eggs: 달걀/계란 (deolgyal/gyelan)
salad: 샐러드 (saelladeu)
(fresh) vegetables: (신선한) 야채 ((shinseonhan) yache)
(fresh) fruit: (신선한) 과일 ((shinseonhan) gwail)
bread: 빵 (ppang)
toast: 토스트 (toseuteu)
noodles: 국수 (gugsu)
rice: 밥 (bab)
beans: 콩 (kong)
May I have a glass of _____?: _____ 한 잔 주시겠습니까? (____ han jan jushigessumnikka?)
May I have a cup of _____?: _____ 한 컵 주시겠습니까? (____ han keob jushigessumnikka?)
May I have a bottle of _____?: _____ 한 병 주시겠습니까? (____ han byeong jushigessumnikka?)
coffee: 커피 (keopi)
tea (drink): 차 (cha)
juice: 주스 (joseu)
(bubbly) water: 탄산수 (tansansu)
water: 물 (mul)
beer: 맥주 (mek ju)
red/white wine: 적/백 포도주 (jeok/bek podoju)
May I have some _____?: _____을/를 조금 먹어도 되겠습니까? (____ eul/reul jogeum meokeodo doegessumnikka?)
salt: 소금 (sogeum)
black pepper: 후추 (huchu)
butter: 버터 (beoteo)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): 여기요? (Literally, this means "Here." (yogiyo?)
I'm finished.: 다 먹었습니다. (da meokeossumnida.)
It was delicious.: 맛있었습니다. (mashiseossumnida.)
Please clear the plates.: 접시를 치워주십시오. (jeobshireul chiwojushibshiyo.)
The check, please.: 계산서 부탁합니다. (gesanseo butakhamnida.)