New Podcast Episode: Korean for Beginners #1 – My First Day in Seoul

Hello everyone! 

I’m excited to share the first episode of my Korean Podcast for Beginners! This episode is perfect for anyone starting their Korean journey — it’s slow, clear, and easy to follow.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: 

💡 Follow along with the FREE script PDF → Download here
Reading along while listening makes learning much easier and more fun!

 Everyday Polite Phrases in Korean

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

“Hi everyone! Today we’re learning 10 everyday polite phrases in Korean that you can use right away. Let’s get started!”

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1. Excuse me (to get attention)

• 저기요 (Jeo-gi-yo)

• 실례합니다 (Sil-lye-ham-ni-da)

저기요 is the most common way to politely get someone’s attention in cafés, restaurants, or on the street.

실례합니다 is more formal and less common in daily life, often used in announcements or very polite situations.

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2. Just a moment / Wait a second

• 잠시만요 (Jam-si-man-yo)

 Use when passing by someone or asking them to wait.

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3. Please

• 주세요 (Ju-se-yo)

 Add it after what you want:

“아메리카노 주세요” = One Americano, please.

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4. I don’t understand

• 이해 못 했어요 (I-hae mot haess-eo-yo)

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5. I don’t know

• 잘 모르겠어요 (Jal mo-reu-ges-seo-yo)

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6. Please say it again

• 다시 말해 주세요 (Da-si mal-hae ju-se-yo)

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7. Speak slowly

• 천천히 말해 주세요 (Cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo)

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8. Where is the bathroom/toilet?

• 화장실 어디예요? (Hwa-jang-sil eo-di-ye-yo?)

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9. Sorry (formal)

• 미안합니다 (Mi-an-ham-ni-da)

👉 A polite apology used in formal situations, but softer and slightly less formal than 죄송합니다. Suitable when speaking to teachers, colleagues, or acquaintances respectfully.

✨ Tip:

• 죄송합니다 (Jwe-song-ham-ni-da) = more formal, humble (used with strangers, customers, or elders).

• 미안합니다 (Mi-an-ham-ni-da) = formal and polite, but feels a little more casual.

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10. It’s okay / No worries

• 괜찮아요 (Gwaen-chan-a-yo)

 Friendlier and more common than 괜찮습니다.

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These 10 polite phrases are super useful for everyday conversations in Korea—whether you’re ordering coffee, asking for directions, or just being polite.

Start practicing them little by little, and you’ll sound more natural and respectful in no time!

Master the 10 Basic Korean Vowels (Hangul Basics)

Learning Hangul, the Korean alphabet, starts with its 10 basic vowels. Once you master these, you’ll already be able to read and pronounce many real Korean words. In this guide, we’ll cover each vowel step by step, along with simple memory tricks to make them stick.

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

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Quick Tip #1: Hangul Was Designed, Not Random

One of the coolest things about Hangul is that it wasn’t just invented randomly. It was designed in the 15th century with inspiration from nature and human beings.

All vowels come from three basic shapes:

• Dot (•) = the sky

• Horizontal line (ㅡ) = the earth

• Vertical line (ㅣ) = a person

From these, the vowels split into two main groups:

• Vertical vowels: ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ

• Horizontal vowels: ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ

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Quick Tip #2: The Y-Sound Rule

Here’s an easy rule:

If a vowel has two lines instead of one, it adds a Y sound.

• ㅏ = a → ㅑ = ya

• ㅗ = o → ㅛ = yo

Simple, right? Let’s go through them all.

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Vertical Vowels: The “AH” Group

These vowels are built with a vertical line (ㅣ) as the base.

• ㅏ (a) → “ah,” like in father.
  Example: 아빠 (appa = dad)

• ㅑ (ya) → “yah,” like in yard.
  Example: 야구 (yagu = baseball)

• ㅓ (eo) → soft “uh,” like in son.
  Example: 어머니 (eomeoni = mother)

• ㅕ (yeo) → “yuh,” like in young.
  Example: 여름 (yeoreum = summer)

• ㅣ (i) → “ee,” like in see.
  Example: 이름 (ireum = name)

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Horizontal Vowels: The “OH” Group

These vowels are built with a horizontal line (ㅡ) as the base.

• ㅗ (o) → “oh,” like in open.
  Example: 오늘 (oneul = today)

• ㅛ (yo) → “yo,” like in yoga.
  Example: 요리 (yori = cooking)

• ㅜ (u) → “oo,” like in blue.
  Example: 우리 (uri = we/us)

• ㅠ (yu) → “you,” like the pronoun.
  Example: 유명 (yumyeong = famous)

• ㅡ (eu) → “eu,” a unique sound with no English equivalent. Keep your lips wide and flat.
  Example: 음식 (eumsik = food)

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Practice Drill: Minimal Pair Challenge

These pairs often get mixed up. Try saying them side by side:

• ㅏ (a) vs. ㅓ (eo) → 아 vs 어

• ㅗ (o) vs. ㅜ (u) → 오 vs 우

• ㅏ (a) vs. ㅑ (ya) → 아 vs 야

• ㅗ (o) vs. ㅛ (yo) → 오 vs 요

• ㅡ (eu) vs. ㅣ (i) → 으 vs 이

Practice these daily, and soon the sounds will come naturally.

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Review & Mnemonics

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 vowels:

ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, ㅣ

Memory tips:

• Right or top line → bright sounds (ㅏ = ah, ㅗ = oh)

• Left or bottom line → darker sounds (ㅓ = uh, ㅜ = oo)

• Double lines = add Y (ㅑ, ㅕ, ㅛ, ㅠ)

• ㅡ = lips spread flat

In our last lesson, we covered the first five Korean consonants: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅅ, and ㅇ. 

These are the building blocks of Hangul, and today, we’re going to complete the full set of 14 basic consonants by learning the remaining nine. 

Don’t worry—they’re easier than they look! Once you combine them with vowels, you’ll be reading real Korean syllables in no time.

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

1. ㄷ (Digeut)

• Sound: Soft “d” as in dog (duh / de). At the end of a syllable, it changes to a “t” sound.

• Tip: Lightly touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue.

• Example: ㄷ + ㅏ = 다 (da)

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2. ㄹ (Rieul)

• Sound: Somewhere between “r” and “l.” At the beginning of a word, it sounds like a soft “r” (run). In the middle or end, it’s closer to “l” (leaf).

• Tip: Flick your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

• Example: ㄹ + ㅏ = 라 (ra/la)

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3. ㅂ (Bieup)

• Sound: Like “b” in bat. At the start of a word, it can sound like a soft “p,” and between vowels, it leans toward “b.”

• Tip: Lips stay gently closed.

• Example: ㅂ + ㅏ = 바 (ba)

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4. ㅈ (Jieut)

• Sound: Soft “j” as in jam, unaspirated. At the start of a word, it may sound a bit like “ch,” but without a strong burst of air.

• Tip: Teeth slightly raised, tongue just under the roof of your mouth.

• Example: ㅈ + ㅏ = 자 (ja)

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5. ㅊ (Chieut)

• Sound: Strong “ch” as in chat, with a noticeable burst of air. Sharper than ㅈ.

• Tip: Think of it as ㅈ with an extra stroke, showing more breath.

• Example: ㅊ + ㅏ = 차 (cha)

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6. ㅋ (Kieuk)

• Sound: Strong “k” as in kite, with more aspiration than ㄱ.

• Tip: ㄱ with an extra stroke = more air.

• Example: ㅋ + ㅏ = 카 (ka)

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7. ㅌ (Tieut)

• Sound: Strong “t” as in top, more pronounced than ㄷ.

• Tip: ㄷ + extra stroke = stronger aspiration.

• Example: ㅌ + ㅏ = 타 (ta)

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8. ㅍ (Pieup)

• Sound: Strong “p” as in pot, stronger than ㅂ.

• Tip: ㅂ + extra stroke = more breath.

• Example: ㅍ + ㅏ = 파 (pa)

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9. ㅎ (Hieut)

• Sound: Soft “h” as in hat. Breathy and can slightly affect the following vowel.

• Tip: The open circle = throat, the stroke = airflow.

• Example: ㅎ + ㅏ = 하 (ha)

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🔄 Quick Review with ㅏ

Let’s pair all nine consonants with the vowel ㅏ. Read them slowly at first, then gradually faster:

다 (da), 라 (ra/la), 바 (ba), 자 (ja), 차 (cha), 카 (ka), 타 (ta), 파 (pa), 하 (ha)

The Five Basic Consonants (ㄱ ㄴ ㅁ ㅅ ㅇ): Hangul Lesson 2-1

we’ll explore the five basic consonants that form the foundation of the Hangul alphabet. These consonants are designed based on the shape of your mouth and throat when you make their sounds.

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

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1. ㄱ (Giyeok)
Sound: A soft “g” (like in go) at the beginning of a syllable or a “k” sound at the end.
Analogy: The shape represents the back of your tongue touching the palate.
Example: ㄱ + ㅏ = 가, pronounced “ga”.

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2. ㄴ (Nieun)
Sound: A soft “n” (like in no).
Analogy: The shape represents your tongue touching the roof of your mouth.
Example: ㄴ + ㅏ = 나, pronounced “na”.

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3. ㅁ (Mieum)
Sound: An “m” sound (like in mom).
Analogy: The shape represents a closed mouth.
Example: ㅁ + ㅏ = 마, pronounced “ma”.

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4. ㅅ (Siot)
Sound: An “s” sound (like in sun).
Analogy: The shape represents the side of your mouth or a tooth.
Example: ㅅ + ㅏ = 사, pronounced “sa”.

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5. ㅇ (Ieung)
Sound: Silent at the beginning of a syllable; sounds like “ng” at the end.
Analogy: The shape represents your throat.
Example: ㅇ + ㅏ = 아, pronounced “a” (like “ah”).

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Practice Time!
Write each consonant and combine it with the vowel ㅏ. Say the consonant’s name and the sound of the new syllable. You can follow along with the video above to see the mouth shapes and hear the pronunciation—perfect for beginners!

How to Say Yes, No, Thank You & Sorry in Korean”

 Today, we’ll learn some essential polite expressions and everyday phrases in Korean. These are words you’ll use all the time, whether you’re in Korea or speaking with Korean friends. Let’s get started!”

Watch the Lesson Video

You can follow along with this lesson in our YouTube video:

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1. 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida) – Thank you

“Our first phrase is 감사합니다.
Let’s break it down: 감 / 사 / 합 / 니 / 다.
Say it with me: 감사합니다.

This is the most common polite way to say thank you. You’ll hear it everywhere—when receiving food, a gift, or even directions.

Tip: Add a small bow as you say 감사합니다 to show extra respect.”

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2. 죄송합니다 (Joesonghamnida) – I’m sorry

“Next is 죄송합니다.

Repeat after me: 죄 / 송 / 합 / 니 / 다.
One more time: 죄송합니다.

Use this when apologizing politely. For example, if you bump into someone on the street, simply say ‘죄송합니다!’ It’s very polite and commonly used.”

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3. 괜찮아요 (Gwaenchanayo) – It’s okay / No problem

“Now let’s learn 괜찮아요.
Say it with me: 괜-찮-아-요.

This phrase is really versatile. It can mean It’s okay, No problem, or I’m fine.

Example: If someone apologizes to you, you can reply ‘괜찮아요!’ with a smile to reassure them.”

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4. 네 / 아니요 (Ne / Aniyo) – Yes / No

“Finally, two very simple but powerful words:
네 means Yes.
아니요 means No.

Example:
‘Do you like ice cream?’ 네!

‘Do you like spiders?’ 아니요! (laughs)

Extra tip: With friends, you can use the casual versions: 응 (eung) for yes and 아니 (ani) for no. We’ll learn more casual phrases in another lesson!”

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[Review Section]
“Let’s review today’s phrases:

• 감사합니다 = Thank you
  
  

• 죄송합니다 = I’m sorry
  
  

• 괜찮아요 = It’s okay / No problem
  
  

• 네 / 아니요 = Yes / No
  
  

These are essential and polite phrases you can start using right away.”

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[Closing Scene]
“Great job, everyone! Keep practicing these out loud until they feel natural.

If you found this helpful, don’t forget to like this video, subscribe for more Korean lessons, and share your favorite phrase in the comments.

다음에 또 만나요! (See you next time!) Bye!”
(Outro music fades)

Learn Korean Greetings & Introductions

 Why Learn Korean Greetings First? Greetings are the foundation of communication. In Korean, the way you greet someone shows respect and sets the tone for your conversation. Since Korean is a language deeply connected to culture and relationships, learning greetings is the first step to speaking Korean like a local.

Watch the Video

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1. Saying Hello in Korean

There are two common ways to say hello in Korean:

• Polite greeting: 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)

  • Use this with strangers, teachers, elders, or formal situations.

• Casual greeting: 안녕 (annyeong)

  • Use this with close friends, people your age, or younger people.

💡 Pro tip: If you’re unsure which to use, always start with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo). It’s safer and shows respect.

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2. Polite vs. Casual Speech in Korean

Korean has two main speech levels:

• Polite speech (존댓말, jondaetmal): Shows respect and politeness. Essential in most everyday situations.

Casual speech (반말, banmal): Friendly and informal. Used only with close friends, family, or younger people.

Example:

• 안녕하세요 – Hello (polite)

• 안녕 – Hi (casual)

👉 Using casual speech with strangers or elders can sound rude, so learn to use 존댓말 first.

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3. Saying “Nice to Meet You”

To politely say “Nice to meet you”:

• 만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida)

  • 만나서 (mannaseo) = to meet

  • 반갑습니다 (bangapseumnida) = I am glad / happy

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4. Introducing Yourself in Korean

To say “My name is [Name]”:

• 제 이름은 [Name]입니다 (je ireumeun [Name]imnida)

Examples:

• 제 이름은 지민입니다. (Je ireumeun Jiminimnida) – My name is Jimin.

• 제 이름은 이든입니다. (Je ireumeun Ideunimnida) – My name is Eden.

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5. Saying Where You’re From

To say “I’m from [Country]”:

• 저는 [Country]에서 왔어요 (jeoneun [country]eseo wasseoyo)

  • 저는 (jeoneun) = I

  • 에서 (eseo) = from

  • 왔어요 (wasseoyo) = came

Examples:

• 저는 미국에서 왔어요. (Jeoneun migukeseo wasseoyo) – I’m from the USA.

• 저는 캐나다에서 왔어요. (Jeoneun kaenadaeseo wasseoyo) – I’m from Canada.

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6. Example Dialogue

Here’s a short natural conversation in Korean:

A: 안녕하세요! (Annyeonghaseyo – Hello!)
B: 안녕하세요! 처음 뵙겠습니다. (Nice to meet you.)
A: 제 이름은 지민입니다. 만나서 반가워요. (My name is Jimin. Nice to meet you.)
B: 저도 반가워요. 저는 미국에서 왔어요. (Nice to meet you too. I’m from the USA.)

Try practicing this dialogue with your own name and country!

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7. Quick Self-Introduction Summary

Here’s your mini speech in Korean:

1. 안녕하세요. – Hello.

2. 만나서 반갑습니다. – Nice to meet you.

3. 제 이름은 [Name]입니다. – My name is [Name].

4. 저는 [Country]에서 왔어요. – I’m from [Country].

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Final Thoughts

Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve just learned the basics of Korean greetings, polite vs. casual speech, and self-introduction. These phrases are the perfect way to start practicing real conversations.

👉 Watch the full video lesson here for pronunciation and practice:
Greetings & Introducing Yourself – Talk Korean Like a Local

감사합니다! (Gamsahamnida – Thank you!)

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