한국어 - Korean Language

Learn the basics of Korean language, from Hangul to essential phrases for daily communication

Hangul - Korean Alphabet

Basic Consonants (자음)

g/k
n
d/t
r/l
m
b/p

Hangul is a phonetic alphabet created in the 15th century. Each character represents a sound.

Basic Vowels (모음)

a
eo
o
u
eu
i

Vowels combine with consonants to form syllable blocks that make up Korean words.

How Syllables Work

ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ = han
Korean (as in 한국어)
ㄱ + ㅜ + ㄱ = guk
Country
ㅇ + ㅓ = eo
Language

Essential Phrases

Greetings & Basics

안녕하세요
annyeonghaseyo
Hello
(formal)
감사합니다
gamsahamnida
Thank you
(formal)
죄송합니다
joesonghamnida
I'm sorry
(formal)
네 / 아니요
ne / aniyo
Yes / No

Useful Questions

어디예요?
eodiyeyo?
Where is it?
얼마예요?
eolmayeyo?
How much?
영어 할 수 있어요?
yeongeo hal su isseoyo?
Can you speak English?
도와주세요
dowajuseyo
Please help me

Numbers

Native Korean Numbers (1-10)

하나1 (hana)
2 (dul)
3 (set)
4 (net)
다섯5 (daseot)
여섯6 (yeoseot)
일곱7 (ilgop)
여덟8 (yeodeol)
아홉9 (ahop)
10 (yeol)

Used for: Age, hours, counting objects

Sino-Korean Numbers (1-10)

1 (il)
2 (i)
3 (sam)
4 (sa)
5 (o)
6 (yuk)
7 (chil)
8 (pal)
9 (gu)
10 (sip)

Used for: Dates, minutes, money, phone numbers

Politeness Levels

Formal (존댓말)

Used with strangers, elders, superiors, or in professional settings.

안녕하십니까
Very formal hello
감사드립니다
Very formal thank you

Polite (정중한)

Standard polite form for most daily interactions with people you don't know well.

안녕하세요
Standard hello
감사해요
Casual thank you

Casual (반말)

Used with close friends, family, or people younger than you.

안녕
Casual hello
고마워
Casual thanks