90 Korean Survival Phrases (2026): Restaurant, Taxi, Shopping, Pharmacy, Emergency 119/112, Transport, Housing, Allergies — Printable Sheet Builder
90 Korean phrases by situation with Revised Romanization: ordering, taxis, pharmacies, 119/112, transport, rent words, allergy lines. Build a printable card.
- Phrases91 in 9 situations
- Emergency119 · 112 · 1345 · 1330
- Number systems2 (native + Sino-Korean)
Contents
Every phrase you need in your first weeks in Korea ends in -요 (yo), the polite ending, and most requests end in 주세요 (juseyo), "please give me". Learn those two endings, learn 저기요 (jeogiyo) to get anyone's attention, and the 91 sentences below — sorted by where you will say them — do the rest. Romanization follows the National Institute of Korean Language's Revised Romanization, written as the words sound rather than as they are spelled — 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida), 한국말 (hangungmal). Use the builder to print only the situations you need, and the allergy line builder to assemble the one sentence that must be right.
Phrase sheet builder
Allergy line builder
Screenshot the sheet or print this page. Emergency numbers: 119 fire and ambulance, 112 police, 1345 immigration, 1330 tourist helpline. For a full written card covering broth, fish sauce and severity, use the generator in the [vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergies guide](/vegetarian-vegan-halal-allergies-korea/).
The phrases by situation
Say everything with a rising, friendly tone and the -요 (yo) ending; drop nothing. Where a phrase has ○○, put the place, item or ingredient in the blank — Koreans do the same with a pointed finger and 이거 (igeo, "this").
Greetings and basics
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) | Hello |
| 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) | Hello (formal) |
| 안녕 (annyeong) | Hi / bye (casual) |
| 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) | Thank you |
| 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) | Thank you |
| 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) | I'm sorry |
| 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) | Excuse me |
| 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) | It's OK |
| 네 (ne) / 아니요 (aniyo) | Yes / no |
| 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) | Goodbye (to the person leaving) |
| 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) | Goodbye (to the person staying) |
| 처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida) | Nice to meet you |
| 저는 (jeoneun) ○○입니다 (imnida) | I'm ○○ |
| 한국말 잘 못해요 (hangungmal jal motaeyo) | My Korean is poor |
| 영어 할 수 있어요 (yeongeo hal su isseoyo?) | Do you speak English? |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) | Please speak slowly |
| 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida) | Said before eating (thanks for the meal) |
| 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida) | Said after eating |
Restaurant
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 저기요 (jeogiyo) | Excuse me (to call staff) |
| 메뉴판 주세요 (menyupan juseyo) | Menu, please |
| 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) | This one, please |
| 이거 하나 주세요 (igeo hana juseyo) | One of these, please |
| 두 명이요 (du myeongiyo) | Two people |
| 맵지 않게 해 주세요 (maepji anke hae juseyo) | Not spicy, please |
| 덜 맵게 해 주세요 (deol maepge hae juseyo) | Less spicy, please |
| 포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo) | To go, please |
| 여기서 먹을게요 (yeogiseo meogeulgeyo) | For here |
| 물 주세요 (mul juseyo) | Water, please |
| 반찬 더 주세요 (banchan deo juseyo) | More side dishes, please |
| 계산서 주세요 (gyesanseo juseyo) | Bill, please |
| 계산할게요 (gyesanhalgeyo) | I'll pay now |
| 카드 돼요 (kadeu dwaeyo?) | Do you take cards? |
| 따로 계산해 주세요 (ttaro gyesanhae juseyo) | Separate bills, please |
| 얼마예요 (eolmayeyo?) | How much is it? |
| 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) | It's delicious |
| 고기 안 먹어요 (gogi an meogeoyo) | I don't eat meat |
| 건배 (geonbae) | Cheers |
| 한 잔 더 주세요 (han jan deo juseyo) | One more glass, please |
Taxi
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| ○○로 가 주세요 (○○ro ga juseyo) | To ○○, please |
| 이 주소로 가 주세요 (i jusoro ga juseyo) | To this address, please |
| 여기서 세워 주세요 (yeogiseo sewo juseyo) | Stop here, please |
| 다 왔어요 (da wasseoyo?) | Are we there? |
| 카드로 할게요 (kadeuro halgeyo) | I'll pay by card |
| 영수증 주세요 (yeongsujeung juseyo) | Receipt, please |
| 트렁크 열어 주세요 (teureongkeu yeoreo juseyo) | Please open the trunk |
Convenience store and shopping
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 봉투 필요 없어요 (bongtu piryo eopseoyo) | No bag, thanks |
| 봉투 하나 주세요 (bongtu hana juseyo) | One bag, please |
| 데워 주세요 (dewo juseyo) | Please heat it up |
| 이거 있어요 (igeo isseoyo?) | Do you have this? |
| 입어 봐도 돼요 (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?) | Can I try it on? |
| 좀 깎아 주세요 (jom kkakka juseyo) | A discount, please |
| 환불해 주세요 (hwanbulhae juseyo) | Refund, please |
| 그냥 볼게요 (geunyang bolgeyo) | Just looking |
| 현금영수증 해 주세요 (hyeongeumyeongsujeung hae juseyo) | Cash receipt, please |
Pharmacy and clinic
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 두통이 있어요 (dutongi isseoyo) | I have a headache |
| 감기약 주세요 (gamgiyak juseyo) | Cold medicine, please |
| 진통제 있어요 (jintongje isseoyo?) | Do you have a painkiller? |
| 배가 아파요 (baega apayo) | I have a stomach ache |
| 열이 나요 (yeori nayo) | I have a fever |
| 알레르기 있어요 (allereugi isseoyo) | I have an allergy |
| 소화제 주세요 (sohwaje juseyo) | Digestive aid, please |
| 하루에 몇 번 먹어요 (harue myeot beon meogeoyo?) | How many times a day? |
| 병원에 가야 해요 (byeongwone gaya haeyo) | I need a hospital |
Emergency (119 fire and ambulance · 112 police · 1345 immigration · 1330 tourist line)
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo) | Help! |
| 119 불러 주세요 (il-il-gu bulleo juseyo) | Call 119 |
| 경찰 불러 주세요 (gyeongchal bulleo juseyo) | Call the police |
| 응급실 어디예요 (eunggeupsil eodiyeyo?) | Where is the ER? |
| 여권을 잃어버렸어요 (yeogwoneul ireobeoryeosseoyo) | I lost my passport |
| 지갑을 잃어버렸어요 (jigabeul ireobeoryeosseoyo) | I lost my wallet |
| 불이야 (buriya!) | Fire! |
Transport
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 환승 (hwanseung) | Transfer |
| 이 버스 (i beoseu) ○○ 가요 (○○ gayo?) | Does this bus go to ○○? |
| 어디로 가요 (eodiro gayo?) | Where does it go? |
| 어디서 내려요 (eodiseo naeryeoyo?) | Where do I get off? |
| 다음 역이 어디예요 (daeum yeogi eodiyeyo?) | What's the next station? |
| 티머니 충전해 주세요 (timeoni chungjeonhae juseyo) | Top up my T-money, please |
| 내릴게요 (naerilgeyo) | I'm getting off |
Housing
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 월세 (wolse) | Monthly rent |
| 전세 (jeonse) | Lump-sum deposit lease |
| 보증금 (bojeunggeum) | Deposit |
| 관리비 포함이에요 (gwallibi pohamieyo?) | Is the maintenance fee included? |
| 계약서 (gyeyakseo) | Contract |
| 집주인 (jipjuin) | Landlord |
Allergies
| Korean (romanization) | English |
|---|---|
| 땅콩 알레르기 있어요 (ttangkong allereugi isseoyo) | I have a peanut allergy |
| 갑각류 알레르기 있어요 (gapgangnyu allereugi isseoyo) | I have a shellfish allergy |
| 견과류 (gyeongwaryu) | Tree nuts |
| 우유 (uyu) / 유제품 (yujepum) | Milk / dairy |
| 밀 (mil) / 글루텐 (geulluten) | Wheat / gluten |
| 계란 (gyeran) | Egg |
| 이거 (igeo) ○○ 들어 있어요 (○○ deureo isseoyo?) | Does this contain ○○? |
| 빼 주세요 (ppae juseyo) | Leave it out, please |
The restaurant list works with the manners in the dining etiquette part; the pharmacy list pairs with the pharmacy and OTC medicine guide, which lists the actual product names to ask for. For rent vocabulary in context, see jeonse explained.
Numbers: two systems, and which one to use
Korean counts with two number systems and the choice depends on what is being counted, not on the size of the number. Native Korean numbers count objects, people, age in years and the hour; Sino-Korean numbers handle money, dates, minutes, phone numbers, floors, bus routes and anything read off a display. Above about twenty, native numbers fade out of everyday speech and Sino numbers do all the work.
| Native | Sino-Korean | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 하나 (hana) 1 | 일 (il) 1 | counting things, people, age, hours |
| 둘 (dul) 2 | 이 (i) 2 | money, dates, minutes, phone numbers, floors, bus numbers |
| 셋 (set) 3 | 삼 (sam) 3 | |
| 넷 (net) 4 | 사 (sa) 4 | |
| 다섯 (daseot) 5 | 오 (o) 5 | |
| 여섯 (yeoseot) 6 | 육 (yuk) 6 | |
| 일곱 (ilgop) 7 | 칠 (chil) 7 | |
| 여덟 (yeodeol) 8 | 팔 (pal) 8 | |
| 아홉 (ahop) 9 | 구 (gu) 9 | |
| 열 (yeol) 10 | 십 (sip) 10 | |
| — | 백 (baek) 100 | |
| — | 천 (cheon) 1,000 | |
| — | 만 (man) 10,000 |
Before a counter, four native numbers shorten: 하나 (hana) → 한 (han), 둘 (dul) → 두 (du), 셋 (set) → 세 (se), 넷 (net) → 네 (ne). So "one bottle" is 한 병 (han byeong), not 하나 병 (hana byeong). The counters you will use:
| Counter | Counts | Number system | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개 (gae) | things | native | 사과 두 개 (sagwa du gae) — two apples |
| 명 (myeong) | people | native | 두 명이요 (du myeongiyo) — two people |
| 병 (byeong) | bottles | native | 소주 한 병 (soju han byeong) — one bottle of soju |
| 잔 (jan) | glasses | native | 한 잔 더 (han jan deo) — one more glass |
| 장 (jang) | sheets, tickets | native | 표 두 장 (pyo du jang) — two tickets |
| 마리 (mari) | animals | native | 치킨 한 마리 (chikin han mari) — one whole chicken |
| 인분 (inbun) | servings | Sino | 이 인분 (i inbun) — two servings |
| 시 (si) | o'clock | native | 세 시 (se si) — three o'clock |
| 분 (bun) | minutes | Sino | 삼십 분 (samsip bun) — thirty minutes |
| 살 (sal) | years old | native | 스무 살 (seumu sal) — twenty years old |
| 원 (won) | won | Sino | 오천 원 (ocheon won) — ₩5,000 |
| 층 (cheung) | floor | Sino | 삼 층 (sam cheung) — third floor |
| 번 (beon) | number, times | Sino | 칠 번 (chil beon) — number seven |
Prices are read in Sino numbers with 만 (man, 10,000) as the anchor: ₩35,000 is 삼만 오천 원 (samman ocheon won). Hearing 만 (man) or 천 (cheon) tells you the order of magnitude when a market seller quotes a price.
How to use the sheet
- Tick the situations you will meet this week; a first trip needs greetings, restaurant and emergency, and a tenant needs housing and pharmacy.
- Read the romanization with Spanish or Italian vowels: "eo" is the vowel in "son", "eu" a flat "uh" with lips spread, "ae" is "eh". Double consonants (tt, kk, pp, jj) are tense.
- Point at the thing while you say the phrase. 이거 (igeo) plus a finger replaces most nouns.
- When you do not understand the answer, 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) buys time and 한국말 잘 못해요 (hangungmal jal motaeyo) lowers expectations; many staff will switch to a translation app.
- Check whom you are talking to before you choose 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) or the casual 안녕 (annyeong); the names and honorifics part explains the registers.
Mistakes people make
- Dropping the -요 (yo). 주세 (juse) instead of 주세요 (juseyo) is a command; the ending is the politeness.
- Using 안녕 (annyeong) with staff or strangers. It is for friends and children; 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the default.
- Sino numbers for people and bottles. 이 명 (i myeong) will be understood but marks you as a beginner; 두 명 (du myeong) is right.
- Saying "allergy" in English. Staff often hear it as a preference. The Korean 알레르기 (allereugi), preferably written, is taken as medical.
- Whistling or "hey" to get attention. 저기요 (jeogiyo) is the only acceptable way to call a server or a stranger.
Next: which holidays close what in 2026 and 2027, and the long-weekend finder — public holidays 2026–2027.
Frequently asked questions
Which Korean phrases do I actually need?
For a short trip: 안녕하세요 (hello), 감사합니다 (thank you), 저기요 (excuse me, to call staff), 이거 주세요 (this one please), 얼마예요 (how much), 카드 돼요 (card OK?), 계산할게요 (I'll pay), and ○○로 가 주세요 (to ○○ please) in a taxi. Add 맵지 않게 해 주세요 (not spicy please) and 물 주세요 (water please) and you can eat anywhere. The builder above prints only the situations you tick.
How do I call 119 or 112 if I don't speak Korean?
Dial 119 for fire and ambulance and 112 for police; both have interpretation available, and you can say 도와주세요 (help) and 영어 (English). 1345 is the immigration contact center and 1330 the tourist helpline, both with English. In person, 119 불러 주세요 (il-il-gu bulleo juseyo) asks a passer-by to call an ambulance, and 응급실 어디예요 (eunggeupsil eodiyeyo) asks for the emergency room.
Why are there two sets of numbers?
Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋…) count things, people, age in years and the hour on the clock; Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼…) do money, dates, minutes, phone numbers, floors and bus routes. So two beers is 맥주 두 병 (maekju du byeong) with a native number, but ₩5,000 is 오천 원 (ocheon won) with a Sino number. Native numbers stop being used above 20 or so in everyday speech; from there Sino numbers take over.
How do I say I have a food allergy?
○○ 알레르기 있어요 (allereugi isseoyo): 땅콩 (peanut), 갑각류 (shellfish), 견과류 (tree nuts), 우유 (milk), 밀 (wheat), 계란 (egg). Then ask 이거 ○○ 들어 있어요 (does this contain ○○?) and, to have it left out, 빼 주세요 (ppae juseyo). The allergy builder above assembles the sentence with romanization; for a written card that covers broth, fish sauce and severity, use the generator in the vegetarian and allergy guide.
Sources
※ This article summarises publicly available rules as of the date shown. Your situation may differ; confirm with the relevant Korean authority (National Tax Service, Ministry of Employment and Labor, National Pension Service, Immigration) or a licensed professional before making decisions.