Seoul Survival Phrase Card

The trip phrases from HanVoice's Speak lessons — say them out loud before you fly.

Voice

인사Greetings & thanks

안녕하세요an-nyeong-ha-se-yoHello
감사합니다gam-sa-ham-ni-daThank you

Tip: 감사합니다 is spelled with a b but said with an m — gam-sa-ham-ni-da. Sounds rule over spelling.

카페At the café

아이스 아메리카노 주세요a-i-seu a-me-ri-ka-no ju-se-yoOne iced americano, please
얼마예요?eol-ma-ye-yo?How much is it?
카드로 할게요ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yoI'll pay by card

Tip: [thing] + 주세요 orders anything — the most useful word on this card. The ㅈ is softer than an English J: no puff of air.

만남First meetings

만나서 반가워요man-na-seo ban-ga-wo-yoNice to meet you
이름이 뭐예요?i-reu-mi mwo-ye-yo?What's your name?
저는 알렉스예요jeo-neun al-lek-seu-ye-yoI'm Alex (swap in your name!)
어느 나라에서 왔어요?eo-neu na-ra-e-seo wa-sseo-yo?Which country are you from?
한국어 조금 해요han-gu-geo jo-geum hae-yoI speak a little Korean

Tip: 한국어 조금 해요 said early buys you slower, kinder Korean for the whole conversation.

식당At the restaurant

메뉴 좀 주세요me-nyu jom ju-se-yoCould I get the menu, please?
이거 주세요i-geo ju-se-yoThis one, please
물 좀 주세요mul jom ju-se-yoSome water, please
너무 맛있어요neo-mu ma-si-sseo-yoIt's really delicious
계산할게요gye-san-hal-ge-yoI'd like to pay

Tip: 이거 주세요 + pointing = a full meal ordered. 맛있어요 runs together: ma-si-sseo-yo.

Getting around

죄송합니다joe-song-ham-ni-daExcuse me / I'm sorry
화장실이 어디예요?hwa-jang-si-ri eo-di-ye-yo?Where's the bathroom?
지하철역이 어디예요?ji-ha-cheol-lyeo-gi eo-di-ye-yo?Where's the subway station?
여기서 멀어요?yeo-gi-seo meo-reo-yo?Is it far from here?
천천히 말해 주세요cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yoPlease speak slowly

Tip: [place] + 이/가 어디예요? finds anything. 천천히 말해 주세요 is your reset button when the answer comes back too fast.

시장Money & markets

하나, 둘, 셋ha-na, dul, setOne, two, three
카드 돼요?ka-deu dwae-yo?Do you take card?
현금으로 할게요hyeon-geu-meu-ro hal-ge-yoI'll pay in cash
너무 비싸요neo-mu bi-ssa-yoThat's too expensive
깎아 주세요kka-kka ju-se-yoCould you give me a discount?

Tip: doubled letters (비싸요, 깎아) are tense — tight, zero breath, like the k in "sky" not "key". Haggle at markets, not department stores — and smile.