PHRASES/WORDS (SURVIVAL KOREAN)

The purpose of this section is to give a list of common "Survival Korean" words, phrases, and expressions learned from experience in Korea. This information is invaluable so learn it, pronto! 
The symbols (c), (f), and (i) stand for common speech (applicable in all situations), formal speech (to elders or persons deserving respect), and informal speech (to friends and children) respectively.

Hello:                     Annyong haseo (c), Annyong ha-shim-nee-ka (f), Annyong (i)
How are you?:       Oh-toe-kay Jinay-sayo? (c), Yojuum Oh-toe-Shim-nee-ka? (f)
I’m Fine:                Chal Jinay-sayo (c), Chal ji-nem-nee-da (f), Chal Jinay (i)
So-So:                   Kujoh-Kuray ssum-nee-da (c)
Nice to meet you:   Manaso ban-gap ssum-nee-da (f)
See you later:         Na-Juung-eh-bayo! (c) Na-Juung-eh-bah (i)
See you tomorrow: Nae-il-bayo (c), Nae-il-ba (i)
Goodbye:               Annyonghee kay-sayo (c) when you are leaving
                              Annyonghee kah-sayo (c) when others are leaving

Thank you:            Kamsa-ham-nee-da, Ko-mahp-ssum-nee-da (c), 
                             Ko-ma-wo-yo (i)
(Very much)          Dehdanee-kamsa-ham-nee-da (c)
Your welcome:      Chon-man-ay-yo (c), Chon-man-ay (i)
Please:                   Ju-say-yo (c) meaning "please give me" at a store or restaurant
                             Pootak-ham-nee-da (c) in a taxi or asking for something
Excuse me:           Cho-gee-yo (c) in a restaurant or to get someone's attention     
                            Shill-ay-ham-nee-da (c) when bumping into somebody
I’m Sorry:             Mee-an-ham-nee-da (c), Chwee-sung-ham-nee-da (f)

Who: Nu-gu
What: Mu-oht
Why: Wae
Where: O-dee
When: Ahn-jay

Laundromat:                 Bah-lay-bong
Movie store:                 Bee-dee-oh-bong
Game room:                 Geh-eem-bong
Bakery:                        Bay-ee-kuh-ri
Department store:         Bay-qwah-jum
Internet room:               Een-tuh-net-bong, PC-Bong
Mountain:                     San (eg. Sorak-san)
Temple:                        Sa (e.g. Pulguk-sa)
My home:                     Jee-bay

Expressions

I understand:                 Al-guess-ssum-nee-da (c)
I don’t understand:       Chal Mo-ruu-gey-ssum-nee-da, Mo-ruu-gey-ssum-nee-da (c)
Do you understand?:     Al-guess-a-shim-nee-ka? (c)
Good Morning!:           Cho-une-ah-cheem-ee-ay-yo! (c), Cho-une-ah-cheem! (i)
Have a good day:         Cho-une-ha-ru-twaysayo (c)
Have a good night:       Cho-une-baam-twaysayo (f)
Goodnight!:                  Chal-ja! (c)
No problem!:                Moon-jay-ohp-so-yo! (c), Moon-jay-ohp-so! (i)
Of course!:                   Than-yohn-ha-da (c) Tahn-goon-ee-gee! (i)
Relax! Calm Down!:     Cha-ma! Cha-ma! (i)
Cheers!:                        Kon-Bay! (c)
That’s interesting:          Jay-mee-ta (c)
It’s cold!:                      Chew-eye-yo! (c)
It’s hot!:                       Doh-eye-yo! (c)
Great/Best!:                  Chway-go-da! (c)(i)
Let’s go!:                      Kap-shi-da! (c), Ka-ja! (i)
How much is it?            Ol-ma-im-nee-kka? (c)
Sit down:                      An-jay-say-yo (c)
I’m from Canada:          Kae-na-da eeso-wa-ssum-nee-da (c)
What is your name?:      Eee-ru-mee oh-toe-kay dwee-shim-nee-ka (f)
My name is Peter:         Chee-ear-ee-mun-Peter-eem-nee-da (f)
What’s new?:                Sero-une-eel-ee-sye-yo? (c)
What’s up?:                   Moo-zuun-eell-ee-sye-yo? (c)

Words

Yes:                             Nay, Yay (c)
No:                              An-nee-yo (c)
Okay:                          Gwen-chen-ah-yo (c), Gwen-chen-ah (i)
Good:                          Cho-eye-yo (c)
Beer:                            Maek-ju, “ju” means “alcohol” (c)
Friend:                         Chin-guu (c)
Snack:                          An-ju (c)                        
Milk:                            Ooo-yu (c)
Nothing:                       Ohp-sye-yo, meaning “there is none” (c)
Cigarette:                      Tam-bae (c)
Pretty:                          Yep-boo-dah (c)
Bus:                              Boh-suh (c)
Room:                          Bong (c)
Bread:                          Bbahng (c)
Water:                          Mool (c)
Tea:                             Ch’ah (c)
English:                        ong-oh (c)
English Teacher:           Yong-oh Kang-sa (c), Yong-oh Sonseng-nim (f)
Koreans:                      Han-guk (c)
Americans:                   Mee-gook (c)
People/Group:              Sa-rahm (eg. Canadians are “Kae-na-da Sa-rahm”)

There are several sounds in English that are not made in Korean. If you are aware of these sounds it will help you understand better when Koreans try to communicate with you. It is also a good class lesson as proper pronunciation is very important.

English Sound Korean Sound

"f" or "ph" as in "friend" = "p" sounds like "prend"
"r" as in "rice" = "l" sounds like "lice"
"th" as in "thanks" = "s" sounds like "ssanks"
"v" as in "video" = "b" sounds like "bideo"
"z" as in "zebra" = "j" sounds like "jeebra"
"i" as in "big" = "ee" sounds like "beeg"

The Korean language does not use word (syllable) stress so this is a very important point to teach them also. When a Korean speaks a word to you without any stress, ask them to spell the word and then explain the proper pronunciation and syllable stress.

Many English words are used in the Korean language as "Anglicism’s". Once able to read Han-gul you will notice many words and store/business signs written in Korean characters that sound as close as possible to how they would in English. For example:

Video = "Bee-dee-o"
Bakery = "Beh-eek-uh-ri"
Game = "Geh-eem"
Orange Juice = "Orangey-Juice-uh"
Taxi = "Tak-shi"
Coffee = "Co-pee"
Whiskey = "Wiss-uh-key"
Internet = "Een-toe-net-uh"
Margarine = "Mar-ga-reen"

Koreans have adopted several words and expressions from the English language into the Korean language. These words and expressions (known as "Konglish") are not used as they are in conventional English but rather in a different form understood and utilized by Korean society only. For example:

Cell Phone = "Hand-uh-pohne" (Hand phone)
Window shopping = "Eye-shop-peen" (Eye shopping)
Prime time = "Goal-deen-tye-muh" (Golden time)
Actor = "Tal-in-tuh" (Talent)
Apartment = "Ah-par-tuh" (Apart)
Laptop Computer = "Note-uh-book" (Notebook)
Pool/Billiards = "Poh-kett-ball-uh" (Pocketball)
Greenhouse = "Vie-nall-hous-suh" (Vinyl House)

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