5. Survival Korean Phrases for Travelers (2025 Edition)🗣️

Even if you don’t speak Korean fluently, knowing a few basic phrases can make your trip smoother and way more fun 🙌.
Locals always appreciate it when you try, and sometimes that little effort leads to friendlier service (and maybe extra side dishes 🥢).

Here’s my pocket guide to the most useful phrases for cafés, restaurants, shopping, and getting around Seoul.

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🍽️ Ordering Food & Drinks

• Hello → Annyeong-haseyo (안녕하세요) 👋

• Please give me this → Igeo juseyo (이거 주세요) ✋

• One coffee, please → Keopi hana juseyo (커피 하나 주세요) ☕

• Less spicy, please → An maep-ge haejuseyo (안 맵게 해주세요) 🌶️❌

• Water, please → Mul juseyo (물 주세요) 💧

💡 Tip: Most cafés will ask if your drink is “hot” or “iced” — just say “hot” or “ice” in English; they’ll understand.

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🛍️ Shopping & Markets

• How much is this? → Eolma-eyo? (얼마예요?) 💵

• Can you make it cheaper? → Kka-kkae juseyo (깎아주세요) 😉

• I’ll take it → Igeo halgeyo (이거 할게요) 👜

• It’s okay, thank you → Gwaenchanayo, gamsahamnida (괜찮아요, 감사합니다) 🙏

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🚇 Getting Around

• Where is the subway station? → Jihacheol-yeok eodi-eyo? (지하철역 어디예요?) 🚇

• Please take me to [place] → [Place] gajuseyo ([플레이스] 가주세요) 🚖

• Stop here, please → Yeo-gi-seo se-ojuseyo (여기서 세워주세요) 🛑

• How long does it take? → Eolmana geollyeoyo? (얼마나 걸려요?) ⏱️

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🙏 Polite Everyday Phrases

• Thank you → Gamsahamnida (감사합니다) 🙏

• Excuse me (to get attention) → Jeogiyo (저기요) ✋

• Sorry → Mianhamnida (미안합니다) 😅

• Yes / No → Ne (네) / Aniyo (아니요) ✅❌

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📌 How to Make It Easier to Speak Korean

• Listen for politeness endings like “-yo” — using them makes you sound more friendly.

• Speak slowly and clearly — even if you mix English in, Koreans will often understand.

• Use gestures 🖐️ — pointing at menus or maps works wonders.

• Download a translation app (Papago or Google Translate) for backup.

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✨ My Quick Café Example

Barista: “Hot? Iced?”
You: “Iced latte hana juseyo” (아이스 라떼 하나 주세요) 🧊☕
Barista: “For here? Take out?”
You: “For here, juseyo” (매장에서 주세요) 🪑

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Even if you only remember hello, thank you, and please give me this, you’ll get by just fine.
And who knows — you might even make a local friend or two 🥰.

Next time, I’ll be sharing “Beginner’s Guide to Seoul’s Subway System” 🚇 — so you can travel the city like a pro.