Korean

PHRASEBOOK & DICTIONARY

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 HOW
TO USE
THIS
BOOK
Look out for the following icons
throughout the book:
Shortcut Phrase
Easy to remember alternative to the full phrase

Q&A Pair
Question-and-answer pair we suggest a
response to the question asked

Look For
Phrases you may see on signs, menus etc

Listen For
Phrases you may hear from ocials, locals etc

Language Tip
An insight into the foreign language

Culture Tip
An insight into the local culture

How to read the phrases:

Coloured words and phrases throughout the book are
phonetic guides to help you pronounce the foreign language.
Lists of phrases with tinted background are options you
can choose to complete the phrase above them.

These abbreviations will help you choose the right

words and phrases in this book:
a adjective n noun pron pronoun
adv adverb pl plural sg singular
inf informal pol polite v verb
lit literal prep preposition

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 PAGE About Korean

6
Learn about Korean, build your own
sentences and pronounce words correctly.
Introduction ................................................................................................... 6
Top Phrases .................................................................................................... 8
Pronunciation .......................................................................................... 10
Grammar ......................................................................................................... 18

PAGE Travel Phrases

35
Ready-made phrases for every situation
buy a ticket, book a hotel and much more.

Basics ........................................................................... 35
Understanding ............................................ 36
Numbers & Amounts ................................. 38
Time & Dates ...............................................45

Practical .................................................................... 51
Transport ......................................................52
Border Crossing ......................................... 69
Directions ..................................................... 71
Accommodation..........................................75
Shopping ......................................................87
Communications .........................................97
Money & Banking ......................................104
Business .....................................................108

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 Sightseeing ................................................ 110
Senior & Disabled Travellers......................115
Travel with Children ....................................117

Social ..................................................................... 119

Meeting People ..........................................120
Interests .....................................................134
Feelings & Opinions ...................................139
Going Out ...................................................144
Romance ....................................................150
Beliefs & Culture........................................154
Sports .........................................................158
Outdoors ....................................................164

Safe Travel ....................................................... 171

Emergencies .............................................. 172
Police .......................................................... 175
Health ......................................................... 178

Food .......................................................................... 189

Eating Out ..................................................190
Self-Catering ............................................. 206
Vegetarian & Special Meals ..................... 209

PAGE Menu Decoder

212 Dishes and ingredients explained
order with confidence and try new foods.

PAGE Two-Way Dictionary

221 Quick reference vocabulary guide
3500 words to help you communicate.
EnglishKorean Dictionary ...................................... 221
KoreanEnglish Dictionary ..................................... 253

Index ............................................................................................................ 268

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 6

Korean
ABO UT KO RE AN

hangug

Who Speaks Korean?

I NTRO D U CTI O N

cle Arctic Circle

OFFICIAL
C ancer Tropic of Cancer

LANGUAGE Equator

NORTH KOREA CO-OFFICIAL

SOUTH KOREA
C apri corn LANGUAGE T ropic of Capricorn

YANBIAN
AUTONOMOUS
PREFECTURE
(CHINA)

Why Bother haseyo ? (How

are you?) is literally trans-
To understand what makes
lated as Are you peaceful?.
Koreans tick, you should
know something about Distinctive Sounds
harmony and hierarchy,
Korean distinguishes
highly valued principles that
between aspirated conso-
draw on Confucian ideals.
nants (pronounced with a
Start with the language: the
pu of air) and unaspirated
Korean greeting annyng
ones.

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 8

Do you have a Western-style room?

? syangshik pang innayo
Smaller lodgings may only have Korean-style rooms (with floor
mattresses). If you want a proper bed, check ahead.

Please bring a fork/knife.

/ . pok/naip kajda juseyo
In Korean restaurants the spoon is meant for rice and soup,
and chopsticks are for everything else; ask if you need other
utensils.

Can you make it less spicy?

? tl maepk haejushigessyo
Korean food is an enthusiastic assault on the senses, often
spicy enough to trigger o sweat or tears you may want to
play it safe.

Where can I find a steam-room?

? jjimjilbang di innayo
Generally open 24 hours, these facilities at public baths are
perfect when you need some down time whether to watch
TV, read, just relax or even sleep overnight.

Please call the tourist interpreting

service.
.
tongyk sbis chnhwahaejuseyo
To ensure that you get to the right place, Korean taxi drivers
have a number to call to hook you up with someone who will
translate directions for you.

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 9

Hey! ! ygiyo

Great! ! choayo

Sure! ! mullonijo

Maybe. . amadoyo

No way! ! andwaeyo

Just a minute. . chamshimannyo

Just joking. . nongdamieyo

Never mind. . kwaenchanayo

No problem. . munj psyo

OK! . krk haeyo

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 11
Vowel Sounds
Korean has six basic vowels, all of which are found in English.

ABO UT KO RE AN
The dierence between the two combination vowels (ae and
e) is very subtle, and younger Koreans often dont make the
distinction in their speech.
ENGLISH KOREAN
LETTER SYMBOL TRANSLITERATION
SOUND EXAMPLE
a father kasu
ae bag paeu
e/ net keshipan
i keen shijak

PRO N U N CIATI O N
o go oppa
son sul
as in no
o osamchon
entry
u nude uri
put krim
as in chop
i isa
suey
wa wander kwail
wae wag kwaerak
we wet kwedo
wi week kwishin
w wonder wnsungi
ya yahoo yagu
yae yank yaegi
ye yet yejl
yo yogurt hyodo
y young yhaeng
yu you yuhak

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